Katharine Hepburn
While there were other strong women in Hollywood, Katharine Hepburn's strength came out on the screen in every role she played, save maybe in Alice Adams (1935). That's the exception that proves the rule!
She either had to be a star or leave acting because she was just too big to be a character actor! Even after being labeled "box office poison," she proved everyone wrong, rising to the top again. Her successes continued into her 70's and her wide repute as an actress still remains to this day.
Her tenacious spirit can be seen on the screen in films, including Sylvia Scarlett (1935), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Holiday (1938), Woman of the Year (1942), Adam's Rib (1949), and The Lion in Winter (1968).
Core Films
*= my personal favorites
Morning Glory (1933)
Little Women (1933)
Alice Adams (1935)*
Sylvia Scarlett (1935)
Stage Door (1937)*
Bringing Up Baby (1938)*
Holiday (1938)*
The Philadelphia Story (1940)*
Woman of the Year (1942)*
State of the Union (1948)*
Adam's Rib (1949)*
The African Queen (1951)*
Pat and Mike (1952)*
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
The Lion in Winter (1968)*
On Golden Pond (1981)*
For More
Books
Memoir; Me: Stories of My Life by Katharine Hepburn: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/me-katharine-hepburn/1002179934/2677425117507?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_New+Marketplace+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP212653&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlK7cBRCnARIsAJiE3MjXF2DrtACOB05_Q1kvAEsu14RNiPJJeddxGQTpIXSEv9YOQZVFq64aAoojEALw_wcB
Biography; Katharine Hepburn: by Barbara Leading: https://www.amazon.com/Katharine-Hepburn-Barbara-Leaming/dp/0879102934
With Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen (1951)
With Spencer Tracy in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
Woman of the Year (1942)
as Jo in Little Women (1933)
Behind the scenes of The Philadelphia Story (1940)
On the Dick Cavett Show (1973)
Behind the scenes of Alice Adams (1935)
The Hepburn family; Hepburn is at the far left
On Golden Pond (1981) with Henry Fonda
The Philadelphia Story (1940) with Cary Grant
Holiday (1938) with Cary Grant
Katharine Hepburn: a fierce spirit looking small in a big chair