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Monday, August 10th, 2026

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Poll Suggestion: Which Actress Has the Most Potential for a Bigger Career?

Some actresses have delivered memorable performances and shown remarkable talent, yet never reached the level of stardom many believed they deserved.

Vote here: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4115321256/?ref_=uspf_t_1

 Which of these actresses do you think deserved a much bigger career?

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2 months ago

In the title, please use the preferred capitalization:

Which Actress Deserved a Much Bigger Career?

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Thanks, Peter! I've updated the title capitalization as requested.

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@Kareemamgad​ 

Edits need to be made in the list.

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2 months ago

Some of these are still really young and still might have great careers ahead of them.  If you want actresses that quickly faded away after a few good/solid performances, how about:

Donna Wilkes  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929160/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_Donna%20Wilkes

Felice Schachter  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0769516/?ref_=tt_cst_t_4

Phoebe Cates  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000121/?ref_=tt_cst_t_6

Mary Wickes  (Great and long career as a supporting actress, but she stole the show in just about every role she played)  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926897/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_Mary%20Wilkes

Hayley Mills  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001539/?ref_=tt_cst_t_1

There are several actresses whose careers ended because they were murdered or had terminal illnesses.  Who knows what great things they might have gone on to do.  Rebecca Schaeffer, Dominique Dunne, and Heather O'Rourke come immediately to mind.

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Thanks for the suggestions! I understand your point about some of the actresses still being young and potentially having more opportunities ahead of them. I was mainly focusing on actresses whose careers, in my opinion, didn't reach the level they seemed capable of, rather than actresses whose careers completely ended. I'll definitely consider some of these suggestions for a future poll.

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1 month ago

Please also list their names in the options, preferably before the titles. This helps in case images disappear from the poll.

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@Jessica​ Thanks, Jessica! I've added the actresses' names before the titles as suggested.

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1 month ago

Emily Osment is starring in a hit tv show right now.  I don't think that she belongs on your list.

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Thanks for pointing that out! I see your point. I'll replace Emily Osment with Meagan Good.

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1 month ago

Michelle Pfeiffer

(she really should be everywhere in the most intelligent mainstream projects. Hope Nolan, Spielberg, Howard, Scott will cast her)


https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000201/

Elizabeth Banks

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006969/

Drew Barrymore

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000106/

Lindsey Lohan

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0517820/

Samara Weaving

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000201/

Jessica Rothe

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1557329/

(edited)

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Thanks for the suggestions! I appreciate you taking the time to contribute, but I'll keep my current choices for this poll.

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@Kareemamgad​ 

There are still places on the list?

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@Breumaster​ No, there are already 25 actresses on the list. I'm only replacing Emily Osment with Meagan Good.

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@Kareemamgad​ 

35 is the max limit for options in polls.

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Thanks for clarifying, Jessica! I know there are 10 spots left, but I think 25 actresses are enough for this poll. I don't want to make it unnecessarily long just to fill the available spots.

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@Kareemamgad​ 

But why these actresses? I know some of them which I would agree, e.g. Cobie Smulders, Anna Gun, Emily Browning, Sophie Rundle. But who are the others? Never heard of.

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@Breumaster​ The main criterion was how much bigger I think their careers could have been compared to their potential and the opportunities they received. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, based on the movies and TV shows I've watched and followed, so I understand that some of the choices may be subjective or that others may have different views. They don't necessarily have to be completely forgotten or have inactive careers.

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23 days ago

Hi! Just checking if there is any update regarding this poll suggestion. I submitted it on August 10, so it has been pending for about a month. Please let me know if there is anything else I need to change or address. Thank you!

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@Kareemamgad​ 

The list was found to be too subjective as also suggested in some of the comments above, so it probably won't be used in this form.

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@Peter_pbn​ 

Thanks for explaining, Peter. I understand the concern. The list was intentionally based on my personal viewing experience and my opinion of how much bigger these actresses' careers could have been compared to their talent, potential, and the opportunities they received.

I really like the idea of this poll, so I'd be happy to revise the wording or the criteria if that would make the list less subjective. Is there a particular change you would recommend?

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@Kareemamgad​ 

While English is not my first language, the current title suggest to me that thei career is as good as over and that it never took off. I don't think that's fair specially since most of them are young and they could have many more projects in the future.

Instead of saying they don't have a great career, you could say something like they impressed in their debuts and asking which one of them would you like to see again in an important project or which one do you think has the biggest potential to become an A lister or something like that.

That way you are not writing off their careers and instead are spotlighting their potential.

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11 days ago

@Breumaster

Yes, what happened to Jessica Rothe?

She was really, really good in The Happy Death Day films, seemed to have a lot of potential for bigger and better things,

Mayne the awful Valley Girl remake derailed her career.

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@NYVKE​ 

I miss her on screen. ;)

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@Breumaster​ 

Same. 

She had genuine presence and potential to move beyond the young adult kitsch genre. 

She reminded me of a young Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

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Oh yeah, and she's nice to look at.

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@NYVKE​ 

I especially did like her presence. She acted fine and gave me the feeling to tremble with her. I think she had the exact ammount of being strong, but also vulnerable. And she wasn't the dumb girlie that often messes up in the movies. Her character felt intelligent, but also fighting bravely a losing battle. The end was the best. Yay! :D

(edited)

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@NYVKE​ 

Above all she has more than the mandatory 6 face expressions. Just look in her gallery of only the movie 'Happy Death Day' (2017). With a fast slide-through, I see about 20 different face-expressions. That's essential for a good actress. Her face is vivid and can form and show so many feelings. She needs better roles. ;)

(edited)