22 Actresses From '80s And '90s Romcoms Then And Now

Margot Nolan
Jun 29, 2022
Jun 29, 2022

The romantic comedy genre has had a superb lineup of pictures since the beginning of cinema. While conventional rom-coms do not have the same level of critical and box-office success as thrillers and action films nowadays, these ageless, bittersweet stories endure in our hearts and imaginations decades after their first release. Furthermore, the rom-com genre has effectively launched the careers of countless actresses, many of whom credit the unforgettable genre with launching their brilliant careers.
In the 1980s and 1990s, there were a lot of these flicks: Pretty Woman, Happy Easter, The Age of Innocence, and so on. And they introduced us to so many new faces: Julia Roberts, Sophie Marceau, Winona Ryder... And the list of attractive ladies who rose to prominence as a result of romantic comedies is endless.
We decided to find out what the iconic ladies look like today, who transformed every new picture into a huge event that became hugely popular towards the close of the previous century.

#1 Michelle Pfeiffer, 62 years old

Source: IFA Film / United Archives / East News, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/East News

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), The Age of Innocence (1993), Up Close & Personal (1996), One Fine Day (1996), The Story of Us (1999)

#2 Sandra Bullock, 56 years old

Source: 20th Century-Fox Film Corp / Everett Collection / East News, AP Photo/Chris Pizzello / East News

Love Potion No. 9 (1992), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Two If By Sea (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Forces of Nature (1999)

#3 Winona Ryder, 49 years old

Source: The Age of Innocence / Columbia Pictures, Jason Mendez/Invision/AP/East News

The Age of Innocence (1993), Reality Bites (1994), Little Women (1994), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Boys (1996), Autumn in New York (2000)

#4 Melanie Griffith, 63 years old

Source: Working Girl / 20th Century Fox, River / MEGA/Mega Agency/East News

Working Girl (1988), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Shining Through (1992), Milk Money (1994), Two Much (1995)

#5 Holly Hunter, 62 years old

Source: Broadcast News / 20th Century Studios, Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/East News

Broadcast News (1987), Always (1989), The Piano (1993), Home for the Holidays (1995)

#6 Jennifer Grey, 60 years old

Source: Dirty Dancing / Vestron Pictures, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/EastNews

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Dirty Dancing (1987)

#7 Robin Wright, 54 years old

Source: The Princess Bride / Act III Communications, Gilbert Flores /Broadimage/Broad Image/East News

The Princess Bride (1987), The Playboys (1992), Message in a Bottle (1999)

#8 Deborah Foreman, 58 years old

Source: Valley Girl / Valley 9000 Productions, deborahlforeman / Instagram

Valley Girl (1983)

#9 Mary Stuart Masterson, 54 years old

Source: Some Kind Of Wonderful / Paramount Pictures, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/East News

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Chances Are (1989), Immediate Family (1989), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

#10 Molly Ringwald, 53 years old

Source: Sixteen Candles / Universal Pictures, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/East News

Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), The Pick-up Artist (1987)

#11 Julia Roberts, 53 years old

Source: Mystic Pizza / The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Jean-Baptiste LACROIX / AFP/East News

Mystic Pizza (1988), Pretty Woman (1990), Dying Young (1991), I Love Trouble (1994), Something to Talk About (1995), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), Notting Hill (1999), Runaway Bride (1999)