Let’s take a trip back to the early 2000s, low-rise jeans, DVD rentals, and Hollywood humming with renewed energy. It was the era when actresses weren’t merely acting in movies or television shows–they were reshaping what it meant to be a leading lady. Some bore franchises on their shoulders, others pioneered bold roles, and many became cultural icons whose relevance persists even today. From rom-com queens to action heroines, these women defined a generation of film fans and left their mark on pop culture. Here’s a reverse countdown of 10 actresses who made the 2000s memorable with talent, charisma, and unforgettable performances.
10. Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams initially won over audiences as Jen Lindley on Dawson’s Creek, but soon outgrew her teen-drama roots. Gliding effortlessly from television into films, she showed herself with complex, emotionally naked performances. Her Oscar-nominated, heartbreaking turn in Brokeback Mountain set the stage for a career involving complex characters. In independent critical darlings Wendy and Lucy and Synecdoche, New York, Williams was known for her understated intensity and vulnerability, making subtle, human narratives extraordinary. She personified the turn of the 2000s toward independent-driven art, forging a path many up-and-coming actresses would later tread.
9. Reese Witherspoon
Few actresses embodied the early 2000s as well as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Reese Witherspoon transformed a potentially one-dimensional role into an inspiring, laugh-out-loud, and surprisingly incisive performance that solidified her as a pop culture icon. But she wasn’t only a rom-com sensation–movies like Sweet Home Alabama demonstrated her charm, and Walk the Line won her an Academy Award and exhibited her dramatic range. By decade’s close, Witherspoon was one of Hollywood’s most bankable and versatile leading ladies, carrying crossover appeal as well as critical respect.
8. Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts’s decade-long ride in the 2000s was a ride of pure tenacity and variety. Years of knocking on the door finally paid off with David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, a dreamlike thriller that proved her remarkable versatility. She then frightened audiences around the globe in The Ring, earning her a place in the horror pantheon. But Watts was also good in dark dramas such as 21 Grams and Eastern Promises, where she gave bold, emotionally raw performances. She even crossed over into blockbusters with King Kong, demonstrating that she could own the screen in arthouse endeavors or big-budget blockbusters.
7. Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler infused one of the decade’s most popular franchises with magic and romance through her Arwen in The Lord of the Rings. Her otherworldly loveliness and ethereal presence provided the fantasy classic with an emotional center that continues to be cherished by fans. But Tyler’s impact extended beyond Middle-earth. She diversified her range with parts in comedies, tearful dramas, and action movies, including her appearance in The Incredible Hulk. Though she usually sported quiet sophistication, Tyler was also bold in her decision-making, demonstrating she wasn’t afraid to alternate blockbusters with smaller, more character-driven endeavors.
6. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron rewrote the book on going all out in a role during the 2000s. Her Oscar-winning performance in Monster astonished fans and critics alike with a demonstration of her being greater than a glamorous leading lady; she was a force to be reckoned with who wasn’t afraid of grit and depth. She brought that same passion to North Country, as well as balancing lighter material and action-driven blockbusters such as The Italian Job and Æon Flux. Theron’s skill at moving between raw drama and slick action made her one of the most dynamic and highly regarded actresses of the decade.
5. Emma Stone
Emma Stone emerged a little later in the decade, but she had a huge impact on arrival. With her quick wit and irresistible charm, she stole every scene in Superbad before taking charge of comedies such as The House Bunny and Zombieland. Stone’s people-first, non-showbiz vibe appealed to viewers who identified with her. She was new, humorous, and spontaneously likeable, and she was among the late-2000s breakout stars. At the decade’s end, it was obvious Emma Stone was headed for superstardom.
4. Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried might have kicked off the decade playing the ditzy and funny Karen in Mean Girls, but she soon made it clear that she had so much more to give. Her singing and presence on stage dazzled in Mamma Mia!, and her work on HBO’s Big Love provided her with the opportunity to deal with more serious, dramatic material. Seyfried’s range, moving seamlessly from comedy and musicals to drama, allowed her to become one of the most reliable performers of the 2000s. Whether dancing her way through quirky, sweet, or serious roles, she had a magnetic screen presence that set her apart.
3. Zoe Saldaña
Zoe Saldaña’s ascent was a combination of beauty, determination, and impeccable timing. She was noticed first dancing her way through Center Stage, then won over crowds in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. But it was her late-2000s foray into two blockbuster franchises, Avatar and Star Trek, that catapulted her into the stratosphere. Saldaña infused both grit and emotion into her performances, playing a contemporary heroine who could direct a fight scene while still providing depth. By the end of the decade, she was among Hollywood’s most valuable franchise stars.
2. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal flourished on bold, unconventional performances that challenged conventions and reshaped what audiences came to anticipate from leading ladies. Her daring turn in Secretary startled and mesmerized audiences, while movies such as Sherrybaby and Donnie Darko solidified her status as a fearless indie star. Even when venturing into blockbuster franchise territory with The Dark Knight, Gyllenhaal never compromised her authenticity or razor-sharp edge. She was one of the decade’s most distinctive voices, an actress who never hesitated to push boundaries.
1. Natalie Portman
At the top is Natalie Portman, whose 2000s were nothing less than incredible. From reprise as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequels through to laying waste to performances in Closer and V for Vendetta, Portman was ubiquitous. She managed to balance big franchises with dramatic, actor-driven pictures such as Garden State, both highlighting her box office appeal and her range.
Intelligent, elegant, and profoundly dedicated to her art, Portman emerged as one of the decade’s most admired and powerful actresses. The 2000s were a thrilling decade for movies, and these actresses defined it in indelible ways. They were not mere faces on posters; they were those who told stories, broke rules, and were cultural signposts who redefined Hollywood’s face. Through blockbusters, arthouse fare, or unconventional decisions, they made their mark on the decade, and their legacy continues to reverberate today.