A lot of people first clocked Monica Bellucci through Malèna, where she basically became a shorthand for early-2000s movie-star glamour. She kept that mystique while bouncing between European cinema and big Hollywood titles like The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Later, she made headlines again as Lucia in Spectre, bringing a more mature, self-possessed energy to the Bond universe. | © A-Film Distribution
If you know her from Mean Girls, it’s still funny to remember she was the sweet-but-clueless Karen before she turned into a full-on leading lady. Amanda Seyfried’s career zig-zags in a way people really like: a huge musical hit with Mamma Mia!, prestige drama in Les Misérables, and then riskier stuff like Jennifer’s Body that aged into a cult favorite. More recently, her sharp transformation work in The Dropout reminded everyone she’s way more than “rom-com charming.” | © Sony Pictures Releasing
Mainstream audiences tend to associate Olga Kurylenko with Quantum of Solace, where she brought a colder, more guarded vibe than the typical Bond-era love interest. She also popped up in sleek sci-fi like Oblivion, which helped cement her as a go-to for stylish genre projects. Before acting took over, she worked as a model—part of why she’s often framed as both a screen presence and a fashion-world figure. | © Universal Studios
Kristen Bell’s career is basically built on being instantly likable without playing it “too cute,” starting with her cult-favorite lead turn in Veronica Mars. She’s bounced between comedy and voice work effortlessly—Anna in Disney’s Frozen is an entire generation’s reference point at this stage. And if you ever wondered why her narration feels so familiar, yep: she’s also the voice behind Gossip Girl’s omniscient chaos. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
For a certain era of teen comedies, Elisha Cuthbert is inseparable from The Girl Next Door, which turned her into a poster-name pretty much overnight. She followed that up with genre hits like House of Wax and, crucially, a long run on 24 that gave her a more serious, action-adjacent profile. Later, she leaned into sitcom timing on Happy Endings, which is where a lot of people realized how funny she actually is. | © 20th Century Studios
Minka Kelly became a real “TV crush of the week” phenomenon thanks to Friday Night Lights, where the show’s grounded vibe made her fame feel oddly personal. She kept working steadily in television, including stints on Parenthood and superhero fare like Titans. She also shows up in surprising places—like a later-season role on Euphoria—which keeps her from being locked into one specific era. | © Saban Capital Group
Amy Adams didn’t explode off one blockbuster; she built her reputation through performances that made people go, “Wait, who is that?”—starting with Junebug. From there it’s a wild range: the bright Disney charm of Enchanted, the sharp edge of American Hustle, and the quiet intensity of Arrival. She’s also one of those rare stars who’s both a critical favorite and a mainstream draw, which is why awards conversations seem to follow her everywhere. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
It’s impossible to separate Jennifer Aniston from Friends, because that show didn’t just make her famous—it basically set a template for modern celebrity. Even after that, she stayed bankable with crowd-pleasers like Marley & Me and rom-com staples like The Break-Up. Her public image has also always blended “girl-next-door” warmth with style-icon longevity, and The Morning Show helped update her persona for a newer TV era without ditching what people liked in the first place. | © Netflix
The turning point was Monster, the role that flipped Charlize Theron from “glamorous lead” to serious awards conversation overnight. She later locked in action-icon status with Mad Max: Fury Road, where Furiosa became the character everyone talked about. Atomic Blonde kept that momentum going, showing she’ll commit to the physical grind, not just the cool pose. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
A lot of viewers first noticed Eva Mendes in Training Day, where she popped even in a film packed with big personalities. She stayed mainstream with crowd-pleasers like Hitch and later joined the Fast & Furious universe, which kept her in blockbuster orbit. Her appeal has always mixed screen charisma with fashion-world visibility, which is why her red-carpet era still gets referenced. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
Sofía Vergara turned into a pop-culture fixture through Modern Family, where her timing and confidence did as much work as the punchlines. Even people who didn’t watch the show tend to recognize her instantly—voice, laugh, the whole presence. That larger-than-life energy is also why she’s been such a reliable talk-show and awards-season favorite. | © Lionsgate Films
She broke out fast: Bend It Like Beckham put Keira Knightley on the map, and Pirates of the Caribbean turned her into a global face. What’s impressive is how easily she pivoted into prestige, with Pride & Prejudice cementing her as a modern period-drama staple. Her screen persona is sharp and direct, which keeps even “classic” roles feeling current. | © Miramax Films
Halle Berry’s Oscar win for Monster’s Ball made her a major awards-era headline, not just a superstar. At the same time, X-Men made Storm one of the most visible superhero characters of the 2000s, even when the scripts didn’t give her much room. She also had that decade-defining celebrity profile where every big premiere look felt like a moment. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
The 2000s had plenty of famous faces, but Angelina Jolie felt like a full-scale phenomenon—movies, tabloids, style, all of it at once. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider turned her into the live-action version of a pop-culture character, then Mr. & Mrs. Smith pushed her into “can’t-escape-the-headlines” territory. On top of that, her humanitarian work became inseparable from her public identity, which only expanded the legend. | © 20th Century Studios
Hollywood noticed her early (Vanilla Sky), but Penélope Cruz’s staying power comes from how seriously she’s taken as an actor, especially through her work with Pedro Almodóvar like Volver. Then she hit awards-season peak again with Vicky Cristina Barcelona, proving she could dominate both art-house conversation and mainstream attention. The result is a career that’s glamorous on the surface, but built on choices that actually hold up. | © Entertainment One Films
Leather-clad action-hero cool is basically part of the 2000s visual archive, and Underworld is why Kate Beckinsale owns that lane. What people sometimes forget is she wasn’t boxed into one vibe—she could do romantic charm in Serendipity and jump into prestige ensemble territory with The Aviator. That mix of elegance and bite is exactly why she’s still a go-to name when people talk about the decade’s beauty icons. | © Blinder Films
A lot of people did a double take when Jessica Biel stepped out of her 7th Heaven image and into darker, more adult roles. Horror fans still associate her with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while The Illusionist showed she could carry old-school romantic-drama elegance on the big screen. That athletic, all-American vibe never went away—she just proved it could fit more than one lane. | © Gravitas Ventures
If you watched Smallville, you remember the shift the second Erica Durance arrived as Lois Lane—the show suddenly had sharper comedy and real spark. She became a defining “modern Lois” for a whole generation of DC fans, and it’s still the role people mention first. Later TV work kept her visible, but that Smallville run is the one that cemented her pop-culture footprint. | © TNT
Salma Hayek’s 2000s image wasn’t just “movie star,” it was “movie star who can drive a project,” especially with Frida. She stayed mainstream with crowd-friendly titles like Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Bandidas, balancing glamour with a playful edge. Between Hollywood visibility and fashion-world presence, she’s one of those names that never really dropped out of the spotlight. | © Dimension Films
Franchise fame would’ve been enough for most people, but Natalie Portman spent the decade making sure she wasn’t defined by one universe. She chased riskier, more adult material with Closer and V for Vendetta, then kept mixing prestige and mainstream in a way that felt deliberate. The through-line is range: smart choices, strong screen presence, and a career that never looks on autopilot. | © Searchlight Pictures
Before her movies really took over, Mila Kunis was already lodged in pop culture thanks to That ’70s Show. She slid easily into comedy roles—Forgetting Sarah Marshall is still the one people quote—while staying omnipresent through her voice work on Family Guy. Her appeal is the combo: approachable and funny first, then you realize she’s also a legit leading-lady presence. | © Columbia Pictures
Scarlett Johansson’s early breakthrough wasn’t just popularity—it was a whole “new movie star” moment, with Lost in Translation doing most of the heavy lifting. She kept the prestige streak going with films like Match Point and The Prestige, building that cool, classic-but-modern image that magazines loved. By the end of the decade, she wasn’t only famous—she was an aesthetic people tried to copy. | © Universal Pictures
Reese Witherspoon owned the era’s rom-com and comedy conversation with Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama, basically turning charisma into a brand. Then Walk the Line reminded everyone she could pivot into serious, awards-level work without losing her mainstream pull. That balance—bright, sharp, and genuinely formidable—is why her star power felt so durable. | © Lionsgate Films
The 2000s were peak multi-hyphenate J.Lo: music, movies, fashion, and constant headline energy all feeding into one massive persona. On screen, she dominated the crowd-pleasing lane with The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan, then kept the mainstream momentum with Monster-in-Law. What locked in the icon status wasn’t just beauty—it was confidence, styling influence, and the sense she was setting the pace. | © FilmDistrict
Jessica Alba’s rise is basically a snapshot of early-2000s celebrity culture: Dark Angel made her a breakout, then Fantastic Four and Sin City turned her into a fixture of blockbuster marketing and “cool” magazine covers. She had that rare blend of girl-next-door warmth and poster-ready glamour, which is why she dominated the era’s pop-culture imagery. Even beyond acting, her visibility stayed high—but the 2000s are where the icon status was built. | © Walt Disney Pictures
The 2000s had a special kind of star power: rom-com icons, franchise faces, and indie breakouts all sharing the same spotlight. A lot of actresses didn’t just trend for a moment—they defined the decade’s look and vibe.
This isn’t about one “perfect” standard, because the era never had just one. Here are 25 of the most beautiful actresses of the 2000s—memorable on screen, unforgettable on the red carpet, and still referenced whenever that decade comes up.
