ABSTRACT

Previous studies of Hollywood actresses have been limited to providing examinations of individual actresses and have rarely attempted to extrapolate from their findings what they tell us about the star–actress in general. This final chapter attempts to do just that. Although I realize that the study of five actresses is a limited endeavor and I certainly do not present my conclusions as exhaustive, I do think information on the careers, images, approaches to acting, and ideological significance of these five major Hollywood stars does reveal some very interesting things about the current state of female stardom.