I LOVED Dench in Notes on a Scandal. She was brilliant!
Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!

Vanessa Redgrave

In order of preference:
Helen Mirren
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
Tilda Swinton
Female Perversions
Angela Lansbury
The Manchurian Candidate
Emma Thompson
Howards End
Judi Dench
Iris
Joan Plowright
Drowning by Numbers
Glenda Jackson
The Music Lovers
Samantha Morton
Dreaming of Joseph Lees
Emily Watson
Breaking the Waves
Vanessa Redgrave
Wetherby
What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?

1. Judi Dench
2. Helen Mirren
3. Maggie Smith
4. Vanessa Redgrave
5. Emma Thompson
6. Miranda Richarson
7. Julie Christie
8. Diana Rigg
9. Olivia De Havilland
10. Tilda Swinton
    Honourable mentions: Kate Winslet, Julie Walters, Keira Knightley, Helena Bonham Carter, Rachel Weisz, Angela Lansbury

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In order:
Vanessa Redgrave
Kate Winslet
Glenda Jackson
Samantha Morton
Julie Christie
Helen Mirren
Maggie Smith
Charlotte Rampling
Emma Thompson
Emily Watson
I actually don't really respond much to Dame Dench. I see her abilities but I'm not drawn to her.

Class 1
Judi Dench
Joan Plowright
Maggie Smith
Dians Rigg
Vanessa Redgrave
border
Julie Christie
Class 2
Miranda Richardson
Emma Thompson
Tilda Swinton
Helena Bonham Carter

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1. Judi Dench
2. Glenda Jackson
3. Emma Thompson
4. Maggie Smith
5. Julie Andrews
6. Vanessa Redgrave
7. Helen Mirren
8. Kate Winslet
9. Angela Lansbury
10. Charlotte Rampling

1. Angela Lansbury
2. Maggie Smith
3. Elizabeth Taylor
4. Helen Mirren
5. Judi Dench
6. Vanessa Redgrave
7. Kristin Scott Thomas
8. Emma Thompson
9. Charlotte Rampling
10. Julie Christie
    FYC: Three-time Academy Awards nominee Angela Lansbury for Honorary Oscar 2009
    Which Of These Actresses Most Deserves To Receive The Academy Honorary Award?
    http://www.voote.com/jsp/WAppServerPage.jsp?TransID=RVOTES00&VoteI D=6926
    Vote for Favorite French Actress
    http://www.voote.com/jsp/WAppServerPage.jsp?TransID=RVOTES00&VoteI D=6280
    Vote for Favorite French Actor
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    Vote for Favorite Femme Fatale in Film Noir
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Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Judi Dench
Dame Eileen Atkins
Dame Helen Mirren
Glenda Jackson
Angela Lansbury
Julie Christie
Imelda Staunton
Kristin Scott-Thomas
Kate Winslet

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My favourites:
1/judi dench
2/helen mirren
3/kate winslet
4/emma thompson
5/brenda blethyn
6/emily watson
7/angela lansbury
8/charlotte rampling
9/vanessa redgrave
10/miranda richardson

Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Brenda Blethyn, Emma Thompson, Tilda Swinton, Sally Hawkins, Julie Christie.

Dame Judi Dench
Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Julie Andrews
Julie Walters
Celia Imrie
Dame Diana Rigg
Sue Johnston
Eileen Aitkens
Emma Thompson
Vanessa Redgrave
(I Know a few haven't been in big movies but their still great)

My top three:
Helena Bonham Carter
Angela Lansbury
Judi Dench

Dame Maggie Smith
Dame Judi Dench
Charlotte Rampling
Emily Watson
Vanessa Redgrave
Tilda Swinton
Helen Mirren
Brenda Blethyn
Imelda Staunton
Emma Thompson
Julie Christie

I don't know that I'd put Kate i that catagory. Maggie Smith, Judy, Helen Mirrren, vanessa redgrave..not completely sold on the rest.
On Nicole Kidman, (not english, austrailian, but who's keeping track,)
What I'd really like to see is Gweneth Paltro and Nicole Kidman standing next to one another. Similar bodies, no lips, slight, pointy noses, fair skin, same hight and same hair now that Nicole has straitened and dyed hers. She appears to be going for the Gwenteth Paltrow look in general.

i wont rank them, because they are all so different, but:
judi dench
hellen mirren
miranda richardson
emily watson
maggie smith
kristen scott thomas
kate winslet
brenda blethyn
vanessa redgrave
julie walters
"they should give nicole kidman an oscar for being able to show any emotion after THAT much botox".

Don't forget Miriam Margolyes (Ladies In Lavender, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Being Julia)

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1. Judi Dench
2. Angela Lansbury
3. Helena Bonham Carter
4. Emma Thompson
5. Brenda Blethyn
6. Keira Knightley
7. Kate Winslet
8. Helen Mirren
9. Julie Christie
10. Miranda Richardson
    Honourable mentions: Joan Plowright, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Samantha Morton, Eileen Atkins and Maggie Smith
    'She's the one I've waited for' - Judi Dench.

Judi Dench
Emma Thompson
Maggie Smith
Hellen Mirren
Julie Walters
Vanessa Redgrave
Kate Winslet
Brenda Blethyn
Deborah Kerr
Olivia DeHavilland
Everyone has mentioned so many terrific actresses. The Brits really get it right. I love watching them all.
And I also love Rosemary Harris and Julie Andrews!!
Someone mentioned Jennifer Ehletechnically, she's American. She was born in Asheville, NC and lived much of her childhood in Winston-Salem, NC. Her mom, Rosemary Harris, is British, so JE spent a good bit of time there as well. But she's in the US for the most part now. I love herwe'll claim her here in the states:)

JUDI DENCH
MAGGIE SMITH
VANESSA REDGRAVE
KATE WINSLET
JOAN PLOWRIGHT
HELEN MIRREN
EMMA THOMPSON
JULIE CHRISTIE
MIRANDA RICHARDSON
BRENDA BLETHYN
Also:
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
SAMANTHA MORTON
JENNIFER EHLE