The Most Iconic Film Actress Of The 1980s

The ’80s were a pivotal time for actresses. Equity feminism began to take force, and the basis for what would become third-wave feminism in the ’90s slowly took root. Hollywood saw the return of studio-driven films and blockbuster tent poles after the auteur-focused New Hollywood era of the 1970s. Teen movies achieved their peak, both critically and commercially, and some of the most enduring and beloved franchises made their big-screen debuts.

The decade gave audiences an embarrassment of riches in terms of cinematic content, and several high-profile actresses were at the centre of it all. Kathleen Turner ruled the ’80s, carving out screen personas that would stand the test of time and turning them into cinematic icons.

Kathleen Turner rose to prominence at the beginning of the decade, thanks to her performance in Lawrence Kasdan’s neo-noir, Body Heat. What followed was a string of commercial and critical successes, including Romancing the Stone, Prizzi’s Honor, The Accidental Tourist, The War of the Roses, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? For her performance in the 1986 comedy Peggy Sue Got Married, Turner received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Despite a slight career slow down in the ’90s after her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, Turner has been a steady presence on TV and in the occasional film ever since and is perhaps best known more recently for her role in The Kominsky Method.