7. Marlene Dietrich
Although her name gives away her German origins, Marlene Dietrich was a defining actress for womanhood. Known for her tomboyish ways before Katherine Hepburn, her defining moment in classic Hollywood history came in the film Morocco in which she donned a white suit and proceeded to dance, ultimately culminating in a kiss with another woman. This film came out in 1933, and the Production Code came into effect one year later, in some part due to the risqué activities of this film. Her career was defined by her early adoption of the femme fatale mystique before the rise of the film noir and by the 40s she was considered box office poison. Although not American, she was one of the first stars to go to the front-line during WWII to entertain the troops, showing her patriotism. Years later, she was named the ninth greatest star in the American Film Institutes list of greatest actresses.