20 Underrated Actresses You've Seen But Don’t Know by Name

Robin Wright

She’s gone from fantasy princess to political powerhouse, but still doesn’t always get the name recognition she deserves. Robin Wright first stole hearts as the luminous Buttercup in The Princess Bride, but she truly cemented her legacy as Claire Underwood in House of Cards. That role not only earned her critical acclaim – it made her the first woman to win a Golden Globe for a streaming series. With quiet intensity and razor-sharp delivery, Wright proved she could command the screen every bit as much as any A-lister. And yet, many still say, “Isn’t that Jenny from Forrest Gump?” Yes. Yes it is. | © Netflix

Rebecca Ferguson

If you’ve watched any modern action film and found yourself wondering, “Who is that woman killing it on screen?” – it was probably Rebecca Ferguson. She broke out in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation as the mysterious and lethal Ilsa Faust and has since become one of the most compelling presences in blockbuster cinema. From Dune to Doctor Sleep to The Greatest Showman, Ferguson has range, style, and gravitas for days. And still, she somehow doesn’t get the red carpet spotlight like many of her peers. She’s the cool, calm scene-stealer everyone recognizes – but not quite by name. | © Paramount Pictures

Toni Collette

If there’s a patron saint of underappreciated versatility, it’s Toni Collette. She can do dark comedy (United States of Tara), horror (Hereditary), feel-good drama (Little Miss Sunshine), and Oscar-nominated brilliance (The Sixth Sense) – often in the same decade. Collette has the uncanny ability to play unhinged, hilarious, heartbreaking, and relatable characters, sometimes all at once. She’s one of those rare talents who elevates every project she’s in. And yet, she's still not quite a household name. Let’s be honest: if you don’t know Toni Collette, your movie-watching life is missing something. | © A24

Carrie-Anne Moss

It takes serious presence to wear a leather trench coat and make movie history – and Carrie-Anne Moss did exactly that in The Matrix. As Trinity, she was the epitome of calm badassery, redefining female action heroes for a whole generation. But outside of that iconic role, Moss has continued to do quiet, excellent work in series like Jessica Jones, indie films, and more recent Matrix sequels – often without the fanfare she deserves. She’s the kind of actress who defined a look, a vibe, and a genre, but whose name people still somehow blank on. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Julia Stiles

She was the cool girl before the term even existed. Julia Stiles made a name for herself in teen classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and then turned heads in the Bourne franchise with her understated, steely performances. While many of her '90s peers faded from the spotlight, Stiles continued to evolve, appearing in indie dramas, prestige TV like Riviera, and most recently the acclaimed thriller The Lake. Still, despite her longevity and talent, she remains just a little under the radar. She's that actress you always root for – especially once you remember her name. | © Universal Pictures

Vera Farmiga

Haunted houses. High-stakes drama. Complicated mothers. Vera Farmiga has done it all – and somehow still doesn’t get the full credit she deserves. Most recognize her as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring franchise, where she brings an eerie calm and emotional depth to every ghost hunt. But her range goes far beyond horror. She earned an Oscar nomination for Up in the Air, captivated audiences in Bates Motel, and continues to be one of the most nuanced actresses working today. Her ability to balance vulnerability with quiet power is unmatched. And yet… people still say, “Wait, is that the mom from The Conjuring?” Yes. And so much more. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Famke Janssen

She’s played psychic mutants, seductive villains, and morally conflicted detectives – all with that unmistakable cool European elegance. Famke Janssen made waves as Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise, a role that introduced her to a global audience and cemented her as a sci-fi icon. But even with such a high-profile credit, she’s somehow managed to dodge mainstream name recognition. She’s also shown her range in projects like Taken, Nip/Tuck, and Hemlock Grove, often playing women who are far more complex than they first appear. Her career has been long, layered, and quietly excellent. | © 20th Century Fox

Noomi Rapace

She set the screen on fire – both literally and figuratively – as Lisbeth Salander in the original Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Noomi Rapace brought raw vulnerability and razor-edged strength to a role that defined modern female antiheroes. Since then, she’s crossed over into Hollywood with roles in Prometheus, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Lamb, often choosing parts that are intense, weird, or quietly harrowing. Rapace is the kind of actress who thrives on complexity – and though her performances stick with you, her name often gets left behind. | © Nordisk Film

Nia Long

She’s been stealing scenes since the ’90s, but Nia Long has never gotten the A-list spotlight she clearly deserves. From Boyz n the Hood and Love Jones to her recent turns in The Best Man series and You People, Long brings intelligence, grace, and real emotional depth to every role. She’s also one of those rare actresses who seems to get better as the years go on – whether in comedy, drama, or something in between. Her presence is so natural that you forget she’s acting – which might explain why so many people forget her name, even while loving her work. | © Universal Pictures

Diane Kruger

Yes, you’ve seen her – and yes, she made an impression. Whether she’s playing Helen of Troy in Troy, a sharp-witted archaeologist in National Treasure, or a vengeance-fueled mother in In the Fade, Diane Kruger always brings elegance with a bite. She even won Best Actress at Cannes for her work in that last one, but remains one of the most quietly accomplished actresses in Hollywood. Maybe it’s the multilingual resume, or maybe she’s just too subtle for the loud press circuit – but Kruger is overdue for wider recognition. She’s not just a pretty face – she’s a powerhouse hiding in plain sight. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Amanda Peet

She’s the epitome of “Wait, I know her!” Amanda Peet has long been the go-to actress for smart, sharp-tongued women in romantic comedies, political dramas, and offbeat indies. Whether in The Whole Nine Yards, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, or Something’s Gotta Give, she brings a dry wit and a disarming charm that makes every scene pop. She’s also made impressive turns behind the camera, co-creating the series The Chair. And yet, for all her talent and screen presence, she’s often overlooked in favor of flashier names. Amanda Peet is one of those actresses you trust to deliver – even if the credits don’t scream her name. | © Franchise Pictures

Jennifer Carpenter

If you’ve watched Dexter, you’ve already seen her bring chaos, heartbreak, and pitch-perfect swearing to your screen. Jennifer Carpenter’s role as Debra Morgan – the foul-mouthed, fiercely loyal sister-cop – was the emotional core of a show full of psychopaths. She made Deb feel real, raw, and human, often stealing scenes from the titular serial killer. She’s also popped up in horror cult favorites like The Exorcism of Emily Rose and lent her voice to animated DC projects. Despite her range and intensity, Carpenter doesn’t get the spotlight she deserves. She’s not just “Dexter’s sister” – she’s a scene-stealer in her own right. | © Showtime

Kelly Macdonald

She’s been in more iconic films and shows than most A-listers and yet you might still be asking, “Who is she again?” Kelly Macdonald got her start in Trainspotting, enchanted audiences in Gosford Park, and won hearts as Margaret Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. Oh, and she voiced Merida in Pixar’s Brave, so yes, she’s also literally a Disney princess. Whether playing coy, cutting, or quietly broken, Macdonald brings depth and nuance to every role. She’s not a loud celebrity presence, but that’s part of her magic. She's the quiet force that elevates whatever she’s in. | © HBO

Carla Gugino

She’s been the mom, the spy, the seductress, the hero and still, Carla Gugino somehow isn’t a household name. From Spy Kids to Watchmen to The Haunting of Hill House, she brings intensity, grace, and just the right amount of danger to every role. Whether it’s a gritty drama or a gothic horror, she never phones it in. Gugino also has serious stage chops and has quietly become a go-to for prestige streaming series, especially in collaborations with Mike Flanagan. She’s that actress who shows up, crushes it, and then vanishes until the next time you’re surprised by just how good she is. | © Netflix

Carrie Coon

Carrie Coon has a superpower: making emotionally damaged characters feel completely, painfully real. She wowed critics as Nora Durst in HBO’s The Leftovers, a performance so raw it felt like watching someone grieve in real time. She followed that with sharp turns in Fargo, Gone Girl, and The Gilded Age, showing off her versatility across genres. She’s not the flashiest actress in Hollywood, but that’s what makes her so damn good. She sinks into roles so deeply that you don’t realize how vital she is... until she’s not there. More people need to learn her name, like… yesterday. | © HBO

Judy Greer

Let’s just call it what it is: Judy Greer is Hollywood’s most iconic best friend. She’s played the sidekick, the ex, the sarcastic coworker, and the sister who tells it like it is in more movies than you can count – 13 Going on 30, The Wedding Planner, Jurassic World, and countless others. But here’s the twist: she’s also a brilliant actress in her own right, with dramatic chops on full display in indies like The Descendants and Halloween (2018). Somehow, despite her ubiquity, she still doesn’t get top billing. But trust us, every great movie has a little Greer magic somewhere in there. | © FX

Emily Mortimer

Emily Mortimer has a knack for bringing intelligence, warmth, and a little bit of emotional chaos to every role. Whether she’s the overwhelmed producer on The Newsroom, the loving mom in Mary Poppins Returns, or voicing a sword-wielding fire spirit in Howl’s Moving Castle, she moves effortlessly between genres. Her work in Lars and the Real Girl and The Bookshop shows she can lead a film with quiet grace, while her British charm makes everything feel a bit more sophisticated. Still, she’s rarely top-of-mind when people list their favorite actresses. And that, frankly, is a crime. | © HBO

CCH Pounder

If commanding presence were a superpower, CCH Pounder would be a full-on Marvel character. With a voice that cuts through a scene and eyes that seem to know everything, she’s been holding it down for decades in shows like The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, and NCIS: New Orleans. She’s also had memorable roles in Avatar and Bagdad Café, often playing women of unshakable strength and integrity. But despite being one of the most consistent character actors on TV, her name still escapes way too many people. Let’s change that. Say it with us: CCH Pounder is a queen. | © CBS

Lily Rabe

If you’ve seen American Horror Story, then you’ve seen Lily Rabe give about nine completely different (and completely committed) performances. A frequent Ryan Murphy collaborator, she’s played everything from ethereal witches to possessed nuns to 1940s housewives. And that’s just one show. She also shines in The Undoing, The First Lady, and a host of indie dramas, always bringing intelligence and eerie elegance to the screen. Yet for all her range and critical praise, she still flies under the radar. She’s a shape-shifter in the best way: one of those actresses you don’t recognize until she’s already wowed you. | © FX

Kaitlyn Dever

Let’s end with someone whose star is definitely rising, but not quite as fast as it should. Kaitlyn Dever broke hearts in Short Term 12, got serious buzz in Booksmart, and showed serious dramatic weight in Dopesick and Unbelievable. She’s one of those rare talents who can flip from deadpan comedy to gut-wrenching trauma without missing a beat. Critics love her, directors love her, but she still doesn’t have the widespread name recognition she’s earned. If there’s any justice, she’ll be a household name in a year or two (maybe after The Last of Us Season 3?). Until then, consider this a head start. | © Netflix