Happy Women's History Month: The 13 Best Biopics About Women

Over the years Hollywood has paid homage to some of the most influential, and sometimes controversial, women of our time and in honor of Women’s History month, we take a look at some of the best movies about these important figures.

The Josephine Baker Story

Dancer/singer Josephine Baker was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture film and become a world famous entertainer. Known for performing the banana dance, Baker would wear the fruit covering her bottom while remaining topless. She was also known for her contributions to the Civil Rights movement. Actress Lynn Whitfield stepped into the shoes of Baker for the 1991 HBO biopic The Josephine Baker Story. Unlike most biographical films, this one dug as deep into Baker’s personal life as her public one. Whitfield took home an Emmy and an NAACP award for her role in the film.

Selena

Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was on her way to becoming an international supserstar when the president of her fan club gunned her down at the age of 23. Two years after her death in 1995, a then-up-and-coming Jennifer Lopez would play the Queen of Tejano music in the biopic Selena. The film focused on the young starlet’s rise to stardom before her tragic and untimely demise. Playing the fallen singer would prove to be Lopez’ breakout role. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and took home the ALMA award for best actress.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Actress/singer Dorothy Dandridge was the first Black woman to be nominated for an Academy award for Best Actress. Another future Academy award winning actress would play her in the biopic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. Halle Berry portrayed the troubled singer more than 30 years after her life was tragically cut short. Her manager found the 42-year-old Dandridge dead of an apparent overdose. Berry earned critical acclaim and numerous awards including an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal.

Lovelace

Linda Lovelace starred in the now infamous Deep Throat film but the porn star wanted to be known for more than her roles in the x-rated hardcore film. Lovelace, whose real name is Linda Boreman, later denounced her career in the industry and became the spokeswoman in the anti-pornography movement. While a lot of actresses clamored to play Lovelace in her biopic, including Lindsay Lohan, the part ultimately went to Amanda Seyfried. Lovelace premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews.

The Queen

There’s no denying the versatile acting chops of Dame Helen Mirren. The English actress has played three different queens during her career but it was her role as Queen Elizabeth II that brought home numerous awards. Mirren took on the title role in 2006 film The Queen portraying the current and seemingly cold British monarch. The film depicts the aftermath of Princess Diana’s sudden death in 1997. For her efforts, Mirren walked away with an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award.

What’s Love Got To Do With It

From her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee as Anna Mae Bullock, Tina Turner ended up becoming an international superstar. The singer’s life was brought to the big screen in the biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It. Actress Angela Bassett played the iconic singer in the film in a breakout performance. Covering not just her rise to fame but her violent marriage to husband/manager Ike Turner as well, the film grossed $50 million worldwide. Bassett was nominated for her role and walked away with a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep has played everything from a Polish Holocaust survivor to a devil in Prada shoes. Regarded as the one the greatest actresses of all time Miss Streep received numerous awards and accolades for her portrayal of conservative politician Margaret Thatcher in the biopic The Iron Lady. Thatcher was the British Prime Minister for 11 years and although her time in office was marked by high unemployment and social unrest, she was voted the fourth-greatest British Prime Minister of the 20th century.

Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich is a shining example that true diligence pays off. Despite the lack of a formal education in law, she was instrumental in building a landmark case against giant energy corporation PSeG. Her story in forcing the company to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to local residents who were subjected to drinking contaminated water was turned into a movie with Julia Roberts taking on the lead role. For her efforts in Erin Brockovich, Roberts took home an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors’ Guild Award and BAFTA for Best Actress.

My Week With Marilyn

During her heyday, actress Marilyn Monroe was an iconic and sultry figure that to this day many women still try to emulate. My Week with Marilyn depicts the making of the 1957 film The Prince and the Showgirl and the real story told from the eyes of a young man, Colin Clark, who was hired to escort the blonde bombshell around London after her husband left the country. Actress Michelle Williams captured Monroe’s essence and pouty lips perfectly in the role and won a Golden Globe for the 2011 film.

Julia & Julia

Meryl Streep is no stranger to playing real people in her films. Taking on the role of copywriter-turned-chef, author and television personality Julia Child, Streep stepped into her big shoes to bring Child’s story to the silver screen in the 2009 film Julia & Julia. Responsible for starting the cooking show trend, Child has been credited with bringing French cuisine to an American audience. Streep earned more than 20 nominations for her portrayal of the high-pitched chef.

Frida

When she was just 18 years old, Frida Kahlo was in a tragic accident that left her impaled and scarred for life. To help her through the long recovery process, her father brings her a canvas and that became the start to the surrealist painter’s career. Her life was brought to the big screen in the 2002 film Frida, with Salma Hayek playing the Mexican self-taught artist. The film also chronicled her tumultuous marriage to fellow Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Hayek received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal.

Gia

Before she became a Hollywood heavyweight and trotted the globe with her partner Brad Pitt and their six children, actress Angelina Jolie took on the role of Gia Carangi. The troubled 80’s star was widely considered to be the first supermodel by many. The then-26-year-old Carangi was also one of the first famous women to die from complications of AIDS. Jolie earned a SAG Award and Golden Globe for her portrayal in the made-for-television film Gia.

Lady Sings The Blues

Jazz singer Billie Holiday was raped as a child and worked as a prostitute before the age of 14. Turning her life around, Holiday became one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Legendary singer Diana Ross channeled the troubled Holiday in the 1972 biopic Lady Sings the Blues. Trying to overcome a drug addiction and move past her criminal records, the film ends with Holiday’s triumphant return to the stage with a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall. Holiday passed away from cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 44.