There are many reasons to remember the ’80s fondly. It was the decade of amazing movies, iconic films and some of the most distinct fashion in history. However, for many who grew up in the era, one thing that stands out is the abundance of breathtaking women who graced film, TV, magazines and more.
Actresses, models, singers and other entertainers helped define the period. Women made great strides in every facet of life throughout the decade, and the influence of 80s bombshells greatly impacted pop culture. While beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, here are 15 of the most stunning women of 1980s entertainment.
1. Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is an actress and model who made a big splash in the late ’70s and ’80s. She entered the movie business very young with some controversial roles. However, her career in the ’80s propelled her to superstar status.
She was the youngest model to ever appear on the cover of Vogue and starred in films like “Blue Lagoon” (1980), “Endless Love” (1981) and more. Shields continues to model and act, and she’s as beautiful as ever.
2. Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger was a model throughout the ’70s before getting her big break as a Bond girl in “Never Say Never Again” (1983). She later earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in “The Natural” (1984).
Roles in movies like “No Mercy” (1986) and “Batman” (1989) earned her the status as an ’80s sex symbol. She’s won many awards and is renowned for her long-running career that continues today.
3. Christie Brinkley
Christie Brinkley was the supermodel of the 1980s! She graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues three separate times and was the face of the CoverGirl brand for 25 years.
You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing Brinkley in a magazine or advert in the ’80s. That success continued into the ’90s and 2000s. Brinkley also had countless TV appearances, helping her craft a great public image throughout her career.
4. Michelle Pfeiffer
This blond bombshell is an award-winning actress who rose to prominence in the 1980s. Her first lead role was in “Grease 2” (1982). While that sequel was critically panned and a box office bomb, Michele Pfeiffer’s career only went up from there.
She appeared in films like “Scarface” (1983), “Married to the Mob” (1988), “Tequila Sunrise” (1988) and more. Her star grew in the 90s and 2000s, and Pfeiffer still appears in big-budget flicks today.
5. Farrah Fawcett
The late great Farrah Fawcett was one of the most recognizable beauties of the ’70s and ’80s. She rose to fame in “Charlie’s Angels” (1976-1981). In the ’70s, she posed in a red swimsuit to create the best-selling poster of all time.
Fawcett’s stardom continued in the ’80s. She starred in the drama “Extremities” (1986) and many TV films like “The Burning Bed” (1984) and “Small Sacrifices” (1989).
6. Kathleen Turner
Kathleen Turner started her career in live theater before transitioning to television and film work in the late ’70s. Her film debut was “Body Heat” (1981), in which she played a femme fatale. Her performance in that movie gained her international recognition and turned her into a sex symbol.
She later starred in classic films of the decade, like “Romancing the Stone” (1984), “Crimes of Passion” (1984), “The Jewel of the Nile” (1985) and more.
7. Heather Locklear
Heather Locklear was a frequent collaborator with Aaron Spelling, a television producer with a long history of hits. Locklear’s first major TV role was in the soap “Dynasty” (1981-1989).
Her performance in “Dynasty” made her a household name, leading to many additional roles in the ’80s. In the ’90s, she became even more famous by starring in “Melrose Place (1992-1995), another Aaron Spelling production.
8. Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson is the original platinum-blonde seductress. She became famous by appearing on the cover of Playboy in 1989, which later led to a role on “Baywatch” (1992-1997).
That performance cemented her sex symbol status, and images of her running on the beach in a red swimsuit are forever iconic! Anderson’s career has had highs and lows since the ’80s and ’90s, but her latest film role positions her for a new era of success.
9. Demi Moore
Demi Moore is one of the most famous actresses of the 1980s and 1990s. By 1995, she was the highest-paid actress in the world, and she worked hard to get there.
Moore gained prominence as a teen star and a member of the Brat Pack, appearing in iconic films like “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985) and “About Last Night” (1986). Later, she had starring roles in hits like “Ghost” (1990), “Striptease” (1996) and “G.I. Jane” (1997).
10. Lynda Carter
Hot off her starring role in “Wonder Woman” (1975-1979), Lynda Carter entered the 1980s with many fans eager to see what she’d do next. Carter is most known for her role as the titular superhero, but she would go on to appear in many films and TV shows. She also has a music career and voices many popular video game characters.
11. Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox was one of the most photographed women in the UK in the 1980s. She was a frequent target of tabloids. Originally a glamour model, Fox became a pop singer in the ’80s, releasing albums like “Touch Me” (1986), “Samantha Fox” (1987) and “I Wanna Have Some Fun (1987).
Her single “Touch Me (I Want Your Body) was a top-10 hit throughout Europe, Australia and North America.
12. Geena Davis
Geena Davis saw great success in the 1980s, earning several awards and cementing herself as a versatile actress. She gained famed with performances in “Tootsie” (1982) and “Beetlejuice (1988). However, Davis gained critical acclaim for her roles in “Thelma & Louise” (1991) and “A League of Their Own” (1992).
13. Whitney Houston
The voice of a generation, Whitney Houston was a vocal powerhouse whose career exploded in the 1980s. She’s among the most-awarded singers of all time, and it all began with the release of her self-titled debut album in 1985, which spawned the singles “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love of All.”
Houston later starred in “The Bodyguard” (1992), which had a soundtrack that gave us “I Will Always Love You,” the highest-selling female single ever.
14. Christina Applegate
In the ’80s, Christina Applegate was Kelly Bundy in “Married…With Children” (1987-1997). Her appearance in the iconic sitcom led to a hugely successful film and TV career. In the ’90s and ‘2000s, she became a Hollywood starlet, appearing in “The Sweetest Thing” (2002), “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004) and more.
15. Molly Ringwald
Is there a more iconic ’80s actress than Molly Ringwald? This red-haired beauty started as a child actress before becoming the star of several John Hughes films. Some of her most acclaimed performances are in “Sixteen Candles” (1984), “The Breakfast Club” (1985) and “Pretty in Pink” (1986).
Ringwald became the face of teen cinema in the ’80s. While her career continued after the decade ended, many will forever remember her as that beautiful teen star.
Beauty, Grace and a Permanent Place in Pop Culture History
We can’t help but gush over these pop culture icons and their undeniable beauty. However, these women were more than just sex symbols and 80s bombshells. They also contributed to the cultural zeitgeist, defining the decade and forever being a part of entertainment history.
