BFI's Katharine Hepburn: 10 Essential Films

Created by Fergenaprido.

Favorited 1 time, disliked 0 times, added to 1 watchlist.

She blazed a trail for intelligent actresses in Hollywood, holds the record for most acting Oscars and stars in several of the world’s best comedies. Here are 10 of Katharine Hepburn’s finest appearances.

Katharine Hepburn was a movie star ahead of her time, but there’s been no one quite like her since. Over seven magnificent decades, her distinctive talent pioneered a new independence in Hollywood women. She was blessed with a unique beauty and natural eccentricity, but was never the sweet darling her patriarchal industry wanted her to be. She commanded her gifts on her own terms, and took that indomitable spirit into a matchless collection of endearing and captivating performances. Twelve of these earned her Academy Award nominations, and she won a record four, but to watch only her Oscar-winning appearances (Morning Glory, 1933; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, 1967; The Lion in Winter, 1968; On Golden Pond, 1981) would arguably be to miss out on some of her finest films…

Chris Fennell
Updated: 9 May 2016