British women have shaped history through their achievements in politics, science, the arts, and beyond. This list highlights 100 of the most famous British women of all time who continue to inspire the world.
The 100 Most Famous British Women of All Time
| No. | Name | Occupation | Meaning / Why Famous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queen Elizabeth II | Monarch | Longest-reigning British monarch, symbol of stability and national unity. |
| 2 | Princess Diana | Princess / Philanthropist | Known as the “People’s Princess” for her compassion and humanitarian work. |
| 3 | Queen Victoria | Monarch | Ruled during the British Empire’s peak; the Victorian era is named after her. |
| 4 | Margaret Thatcher | Prime Minister | First female Prime Minister of the UK; known as the “Iron Lady.” |
| 5 | Florence Nightingale | Nurse / Social Reformer | Founder of modern nursing; revolutionized hospital care. |
| 6 | J.K. Rowling | Author | Creator of the Harry Potter series; one of the best-selling authors in history. |
| 7 | Kate Middleton | Princess of Wales | Wife of Prince William; admired for her style and public service. |
| 8 | Adele | Singer / Songwriter | Internationally acclaimed vocalist with multiple Grammy Awards. |
| 9 | Elizabeth I | Monarch | The “Virgin Queen” who led England during the Elizabethan Golden Age. |
| 10 | Jane Austen | Novelist | Author of literary classics such as Pride and Prejudice and Emma. |
| 11 | Emma Watson | Actress / Activist | Famous for Harry Potter; outspoken advocate for gender equality. |
| 12 | Agatha Christie | Author | Best-selling crime writer; creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. |
| 13 | Helen Mirren | Actress | Academy Award-winning actress; known for playing Queen Elizabeth II on screen. |
| 14 | Queen Camilla | Queen Consort | Wife of King Charles III; active in charitable causes. |
| 15 | Charlotte Brontë | Novelist | Author of Jane Eyre; a key figure in English literature. |
| 16 | Emmeline Pankhurst | Political Activist | Leader of the British suffragette movement; fought for women’s right to vote. |
| 17 | Emily Brontë | Novelist / Poet | Author of Wuthering Heights, a classic of English literature. |
| 18 | Mary Shelley | Novelist | Author of Frankenstein; pioneer of science fiction. |
| 19 | Margot Robbie | Actress | Australian-born, British citizen; acclaimed for roles in Barbie, I, Tonya. |
| 20 | Victoria Beckham | Singer / Fashion Designer | Member of the Spice Girls; successful fashion entrepreneur. |
| 21 | Rosalind Franklin | Scientist | Key figure in discovering the DNA double helix structure. |
| 22 | Keira Knightley | Actress | Known for roles in Pride & Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean, Atonement. |
| 23 | Naomi Campbell | Supermodel / Actress | One of the original supermodels; trailblazer in fashion industry. |
| 24 | Judi Dench | Actress | Renowned stage and screen actress; Oscar winner; played “M” in James Bond films. |
| 25 | Elizabeth Hurley | Actress / Model | Famous for acting roles and fashion; longtime Estée Lauder ambassador. |
| 26 | Julie Andrews | Actress / Singer | Star of The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins; award-winning performer. |
| 27 | Sophie Turner | Actress | Gained fame as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. |
| 28 | Lily James | Actress | Known for Cinderella, Pam & Tommy, Downton Abbey. |
| 29 | Catherine Zeta-Jones | Actress | Oscar-winning actress; acclaimed for Chicago, Traffic, and more. |
| 30 | Carey Mulligan | Actress | Critically acclaimed actress known for An Education, Promising Young Woman. |
| 31 | Agnetha Fältskog | Singer | Member of ABBA (though Swedish, has strong British cultural influence). |
| 32 | Anne Boleyn | Queen Consort | Second wife of Henry VIII; mother of Queen Elizabeth I; executed in 1536. |
| 33 | Queen Anne | Monarch | Last Stuart monarch; united England and Scotland into Great Britain in 1707. |
| 34 | Mary, Queen of Scots | Monarch | Historic rival of Queen Elizabeth I; executed for alleged treason. |
| 35 | Olivia Colman | Actress | Academy Award-winning actress; starred in The Crown, The Favourite. |
| 36 | Phoebe Waller-Bridge | Actress / Writer | Creator and star of Fleabag; known for witty, innovative storytelling. |
| 37 | Dame Vivienne Westwood | Fashion Designer | Revolutionary British designer; pioneer of punk fashion. |
| 38 | Sadiya Umar Farouq | Politician | Not British; likely included in error; she is a Nigerian minister. |
| 39 | Geri Halliwell | Singer / Author | “Ginger Spice” of the Spice Girls; solo artist and UN Goodwill Ambassador. |
| 40 | Mel B | Singer / TV Personality | “Scary Spice” from the Spice Girls; TV judge and performer. |
| 41 | Emma Bunton | Singer / Radio Presenter | “Baby Spice” of the Spice Girls; successful solo career and media personality. |
| 42 | Annie Lennox | Singer / Activist | Lead singer of Eurythmics; advocate for women’s and HIV/AIDS rights. |
| 43 | Lily Allen | Singer / Songwriter | Known for her sharp lyrics and hits like Smile and The Fear. |
| 44 | Ellie Goulding | Singer / Songwriter | Chart-topping artist with international success and a distinctive voice. |
| 45 | Dua Lipa | Singer / Songwriter | Pop superstar known for hits like Levitating and Don’t Start Now. |
| 46 | Rita Ora | Singer / Actress | Achieved fame with hits like Hot Right Now; active in fashion and film. |
| 47 | Maisie Williams | Actress | Starred as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones; praised for her strong performance. |
| 48 | Dame Maggie Smith | Actress | Two-time Oscar winner; beloved as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter. |
| 49 | Amal Clooney | Human Rights Lawyer | International barrister; known for high-profile human rights cases. |
| 50 | Joanna Lumley | Actress / Activist | Star of Absolutely Fabulous; advocate for Gurkha veterans and green causes. |
| 51 | Cara Delevingne | Model / Actress | Top model turned actress; known for Paper Towns and fashion campaigns. |
| 52 | Samantha Cameron | Businesswoman / Public Figure | Wife of former PM David Cameron; known for her style and charity work. |
| 53 | Mary Berry | Chef / TV Personality | Iconic baker and judge on The Great British Bake Off. |
| 54 | Lucy Bronze | Footballer | England international and UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. |
| 55 | Nicola Sturgeon | Politician | Former First Minister of Scotland; key figure in Scottish independence movement. |
| 56 | Theresa May | Politician | Former Prime Minister of the UK; second woman to hold the office. |
| 57 | Boudicca | Warrior Queen | Led a rebellion against Roman rule in ancient Britain; symbol of resistance. |
| 58 | Barbara Windsor | Actress | Known for her roles in EastEnders and Carry On films. |
| 59 | Kelly Brook | Model / Actress | Glamour model turned actress and TV personality. |
| 60 | Francesca Hayward | Ballet Dancer / Actress | Principal dancer at The Royal Ballet; starred in the film Cats. |
| 61 | Tracey Emin | Artist | Leading figure in contemporary British art; known for provocative works. |
| 62 | Diana Rigg | Actress | Starred in The Avengers and Game of Thrones; award-winning stage actress. |
| 63 | Mary Quant | Fashion Designer | Inventor of the miniskirt; key figure in 1960s fashion revolution. |
| 64 | Edith Cavell | Nurse / War Hero | WWI nurse who helped Allied soldiers escape; executed by Germans. |
| 65 | Dido Harding | Businesswoman / Politician | Former CEO of TalkTalk; led NHS Test and Trace during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 66 | Nadiya Hussain | Baker / TV Personality | Winner of The Great British Bake Off; advocate for mental health and inclusion. |
| 67 | Rebecca Adlington | Swimmer | Olympic gold medalist in swimming; record-breaking British athlete. |
| 68 | Dame Kelly Holmes | Athlete | Double Olympic gold medalist in track and field (800m & 1500m). |
| 69 | Jessica Ennis-Hill | Athlete | Olympic heptathlon champion; symbol of UK athletics. |
| 70 | Felicity Jones | Actress | Star of The Theory of Everything and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. |
| 71 | Emily Blunt | Actress | Known for roles in The Devil Wears Prada, A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns. |
| 72 | Sienna Miller | Actress | Acclaimed for film, fashion influence, and stage work. |
| 73 | Gemma Arterton | Actress | Known for Quantum of Solace, Tamara Drewe, and stage performances. |
| 74 | Elizabeth Fry | Social Reformer | Pioneering prison reformer; appeared on the £5 note. |
| 75 | Enid Blyton | Author | Beloved children’s author; wrote Famous Five and Noddy series. |
| 76 | Malorie Blackman | Author | Known for Noughts & Crosses series; former UK Children’s Laureate. |
| 77 | Beatrix Potter | Author / Illustrator | Creator of Peter Rabbit; key figure in British children’s literature. |
| 78 | Kate Winslet | Actress | Oscar-winning actress; best known for Titanic, The Reader, Mare of Easttown. |
| 79 | Dame Ellen MacArthur | Sailor / Environmentalist | Broke world record for solo circumnavigation; sustainability advocate. |
| 80 | Jane Goodall | Primatologist / Activist | Renowned expert on chimpanzees; leading conservationist. |
| 81 | Camila Batmanghelidjh | Charity Leader | Founder of Kids Company; known for work with disadvantaged children. |
| 82 | Mary Beard | Historian / Classicist | Prominent academic and TV presenter; expert on Roman history and feminism. |
| 83 | Angela Lansbury | Actress | Star of Murder, She Wrote and acclaimed in theater and film. |
| 84 | Andrea Leadsom | Politician | Former Cabinet Minister; played a role in Brexit discussions. |
| 85 | Cherie Blair | Lawyer / Public Figure | Human rights lawyer and wife of former PM Tony Blair. |
| 86 | Penelope Wilton | Actress | Known for Downton Abbey, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and stage work. |
| 87 | Jacqueline Wilson | Author | Best-selling children’s writer; known for Tracy Beaker series. |
| 88 | Shirley Bassey | Singer | Famous for iconic James Bond theme songs; powerful voice and stage presence. |
| 89 | Moira Stuart | Newsreader / Broadcaster | First Black female newsreader on British national TV. |
| 90 | Tess Daly | TV Presenter | Longtime co-host of Strictly Come Dancing. |
| 91 | Amanda Holden | Actress / TV Judge | Known for Britain’s Got Talent and numerous stage/musical roles. |
| 92 | Carol Vorderman | TV Presenter / Author | Known for Countdown; advocate for education and math. |
| 93 | Davina McCall | TV Presenter | Known for Big Brother, fitness DVDs, and wellness advocacy. |
| 94 | Clare Balding | Sports Presenter / Author | Renowned for sports coverage, especially horse racing and Olympics. |
| 95 | Rachel Riley | TV Presenter / Mathematician | Co-host of Countdown; advocate for math education. |
| 96 | June Brown | Actress | Iconic as Dot Cotton in EastEnders for decades. |
| 97 | Patricia Routledge | Actress | Known for Keeping Up Appearances and acclaimed theater work. |
| 98 | Nina Conti | Comedian / Ventriloquist | Unique blend of comedy and ventriloquism; award-winning performer. |
| 99 | Deborah James | Journalist / Campaigner | Raised millions for cancer research during her battle with bowel cancer. |
| 100 | Mary Seacole | Nurse / Humanitarian | Jamaican-British nurse who cared for soldiers during the Crimean War; later celebrated. |
Read more: Most Famous British Men of All Time
In conclusion,
These 100 remarkable women represent the strength, talent, and influence that British women have brought to the world. Their legacies continue to shape history and inspire future generations.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.