50 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment

After producing visual effects on classic films like “Jurassic Park” and “Terminator 2,” Janet Healy took on a producer position at Illumination — one of the biggest producers of animated films in Hollywood. Healy leads the company’s Paris studio, which has created some of the most popular kids movies of the 21st century, including “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets.”

Amy Entelis has worked at CNN since 2012, during which time she and her team produced more than 35 CNN Original Series. Entelis also initiated the launch of CNN Films, which has produced and acquired numerous documentary films, including the Academy Award-nominated “RBG.”

Kristine Belson spent nearly a decade working at DreamWorks Animation, where she produced movies such as “How to Train Your Dragon.” Belson moved in 2015 to Sony Pictures Animation, where she’s overseen the development and production of movies such as last year’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Mireille Soria worked as the co-president of Feature Animation at DreamWorks Animation before becoming president of Paramount Animation in 2017. Soria is credited as a producer on major animated films, including “Madagascar” and “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.”

Jenno Topping has made an effort to produce female-centric films since the release of “Charlie’s Angels” in 2000. As president of Film and Television at Chernin Entertainment — a position Topping has held since 2013 — she’s produced the historical drama “Hidden Figures” and the Jennifer Lawrence film “Red Sparrow.”

Nancy Dubuc was appointed CEO of Vice Media just last year, following a 20-year stint at A+E Networks. Dubuc has focused the operations of the media company on Vice’s digital, film, and television departments.

Film producer Stacey Sher has worked on numerous successful movies, including “Pulp Fiction,” “Erin Brockovich,” and “Django Unchained.” As co-president of video game company Activision Blizzard Studios — a role that she’s held since 2016 — Sher is tasked with creating television series and films based on the video game company’s properties, including “Call of Duty.”

Film producer Mary Parent has had a fruitful career that included working as worldwide production chair at MGM and founding production company Disruption Entertainment. Since becoming vice chairman of worldwide production at Legendary Entertainment in 2016, the company has released such films as “Kong: Skull Island,” “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.”

Dede Gardner has produced two Best Picture Oscar winners: “Moonlight” and “12 Years a Slave.” As co-president of Plan B Entertainment — a company originally founded by Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, and Jennifer Aniston in 2001 — Gardner has also worked on “The Tree of Life,” “Selma,” and “Vice,” among many other projects.

Nina Jacobson previously held the position of president of production at Disney Motion Pictures, where she oversaw the creation of films such as 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” After being let go due to restructuring at the company, Jacobson started her own production company, Color Force. The company has release multiple blockbusters, including the Hunger Games franchise and last year’s “Crazy Rich Asians.”

Marti Noxon was a writer and executive producer of the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Noxon has developed a reputation for employing women as well as exploring female issues onscreen with her work. She premiered two new shows just this past year — “Dietland” on AMC and “Sharp Objects,” starring Amy Adams, on HBO.

Jennifer Lee became chief creative officer at Disney Animation Studios last year after John Lasseter stepped down. Lee also is a successful filmmaker, having directed Disney’s “Frozen,” which grossed over $400 million in the U.S. and Canada. Lee is reportedly co-directing “Frozen 2” along with Chris Buck.

Amy Pascal stepped down as as co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2015, after Sony Pictures’ email system was hacked and the emails publicly released. Pascal went on to establish her own production company — Pascal Pictures — that produced 2016’s female-lead “Ghostbusters” remake, Steven Spielberg-directed “The Post,” and Academy Award-winning animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

Mara Brock Akil is the writer behind numerous hit shows, including “Girlfriends,” “Being Mary Jane,” and last year’s “Black Lightning.” The showrunner hit a rare speed bump just recently, however, when her romantic drama “Love Is” was dropped by Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network.

Megan Ellison — the 33-year-old daughter of co-founder and former CEO of Oracle Larry Ellison — has written her own success story in the film industry. After founding production and distribution company Annapurna Pictures in 2011, Ellison made a name for herself by taking big risks on films with art house appeal. Notable titles the company had a hand in producing include “Zero Dark Thirty,” “Her,” and “American Hustle.”

Jenji Kohan is the creative force behind the Showtime hit “Weeds” and Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” which has run for seven seasons. The showrunner has been nominated for 11 Emmys and won one.

Amy Sherman-Palladino had her first big hit with “Gilmore Girls,” which originally ran for seven seasons and was later revived by Netflix for four episodes in 2016. Sherman-Palladino recently proved she had another ace up her sleeve with the comedy series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which debuted in 2017. The series has already won three Golden Globe awards and eight Emmys.

Samantha Bee entered the public eye as a correspondent on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” in 2003 — a position she has held for 12 years. In 2016, Bee became the first female to host a late-night satirical news show with her politically charged TBS series “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee.”

Ava DuVernay’s versatility has made her one of the most sought after filmmakers in Hollywood. She has directed award-winning films like “Selma,” the Emmy-winning documentary “13th,” and the big-budget fantasy film “A Wrinkle in Time.” DuVernay is slated to direct the DC Comics movie “The New Gods,” as well as a series on the life of musician Prince.

Patty Jenkins is evening the financial playing field for women in cinema. She directed “Wonder Woman,” which became the highest grossing live action film directed by a woman, grossing $412 million in the U.S. and more than $821 million worldwide. Her deal to direct the movie’s sequel is set to be the highest ever for a female director, reportedly worth between $7 million to $9 million.

After earning acclaim as a writer, Lena Waithe used her fame to lift others. Waithe became the first black woman to take home an Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series for the Netflix show “Master of None.” She created the Showtime series “The Chi” and now serves as the co-chair of the Committee of Black Writers at the Writers Guild. Waithe aims to create more opportunities in film and television for people of color and LGBTQ artists and filmmakers.

Issa Rae started her career on YouTube with a series called “Awkward Black Girl.” She’s now the creator and star of the hit HBO show “Insecure.” At 34 years old, Rae’s career is just getting started. She has starred in several films, has more starring films on the way, and also has a development deal with HBO for future projects.

The work of Phoebe Waller-Bridge illustrates her many talents. The young Brit wrote, produced, and acted in two successful series: “Crashing” and “Fleabag.” Waller-Bridge also wrote and produced the series “Killing Eve” for BBC America — an endeavor that earned her an Emmy nomination.

Octavia Spencer has become a familiar face in recent years, appearing in popular films such as “Hidden Figures” and “The Shape of Water.” Spencer is also active behind the scenes. She co-executive produced the drama “Fruitvale Station” — which she also appeared in — and executive produced “Green Book,” which took home the coveted Best Picture award at this year’s Oscars.

Viola Davis overcame an impoverished childhood to become the first and only African American to win a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy Award. Davis has starred in the popular ABC series “How to Get Away with Murder” since 2014, and she has been a producer of the show since 2016.

Lena Dunham was the creator, writer, star, and frequent director of the hit HBO show “Girls,” which ran for six seasons. While Dunham has been at the center of multiple controversies, she’s effectively become a closely followed public figure.

Tina Fey has established herself as one of the funniest women in entertainment. She served as head writer for “Saturday Night Live” before moving on to create “30 Rock,” a TV series that follows a fictionalized version of Fey’s time at SNL. Both shows netted Fey numerous Emmy nominations and wins. Fey also has starred in several films and produced comedy series like Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has starred on some of the most beloved and successful comedy shows in television history. She got her big break when she made the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” and then she starred on the wildly successful sitcom “Seinfeld.” Most recently, she’s starred in the HBO series “Veep,” in which she plays the foul-mouth Vice President Selina Meyer. For her work on “Veep,” Louis-Dreyfus has earned nine Emmy Awards — three as a producer and six consecutive wins as outstanding lead actress in a comedy.

Kate McKinnon rose to prominence as a member of “Saturday Night Live” after joining the cast in 2012. McKinnon quickly came to be regarded as one of the show’s best cast members and was awarded two Emmys for her work on it.

After a breakout role in the 2011 film “Bridesmaids,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, Melissa McCarthy has become a comedy superstar. She has gone on to star in films like “The Heat,” “Spy,” and “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” — a film that is less silly than some of her other work and that earned McCarthy her second Oscar nomination.

Tiffany Haddish is one of the biggest breakout stars in recent memory. Since featuring in a role in “Girl’s Trip,” the actress and comedian has gone on to star in over a dozen other projects, including movies, TV shows, and a stand-up comedy special. She also wrote a best-selling memoir.

Elisabeth Moss has portrayed two of the most interesting and memorable characters in recent TV history. Moss garnered six Emmy nominations for playing up and coming advertising worker Peggy Olson in “Mad Men.” She finally won the award for her role as Offred in Hulu’s dystopian drama “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She’s set to star in the upcoming film “The Kitchen” with two of the other most powerful women in entertainment, Melissa McCarthy and Tiffany Haddish. The film centers around women who take over their incarcerated husbands’ work as mobsters.

Meryl Streep is among the most celebrated and famous living actors. She’s been nominated for 21 Academy Awards — more than any other actor — and won three. The prolific performer has 85 acting credits listed on IMDb, over half of which are films and shows released in the 21st century. Streep’s hard work has generated her an estimated net worth of $90 million.

Reese Witherspoon’s acting career spans nearly three decades and includes such films as “Legally Blonde,” “Walk the Line,” and last year’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” making her one of the most famous actresses in the world. She is also the executive producer on the HBO series “Big Little Lies,” in which she also stars. In addition to her work on film and television, Witherspoon founded media brand Hello Sunshine, which creates and promotes “content that celebrates women and puts them at the center of the story.”

At just 28 years old, Margot Robbie has already become a major force in Hollywood, starring in films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Suicide Squad,” and “I, Tonya,” for which she earned an Oscar nomination. Robbie also heads LuckyChap Entertainment, which produces film and television content.

Comedian and actor Ellen DeGeneres has hosted her wildly successful “The Ellen Degeneres Show” for 16 seasons. Over this period, she has accumulated 30 Emmys, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a reported net worth of $450 million. In December 2018, Netflix released DeGeneres’ first stand-up comedy special in 15 years, “Relatable,” for which she was paid $20 million.

Australian actress Nicole Kidman is highly prolific with 84 acting credits under her belt, according to IMDb. In 2017, she announced her intentions to use her popularity as a means to increase the number of women filmmakers in Hollywood by pledging to work with a female director at least once every 18 months. Kidman’s production company Blossom Films also recently signed a content development deal with Amazon Studios.

Actor, singer, and entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez has been entertaining audiences since the mid-1990s. Her recent work has included acting on NBC cop drama “Shades of Blue,” executive producing and judging the show “World of Dance,” and starring in the 2018 feature film “Second Act.”

Jennifer Lawrence has starred in several Hollywood blockbusters, including the popular Hunger Games and X-Men franchises. Lawrence recently took a year off from acting to work with a voters’ rights group called Represent.Us.

Beyoncé Knowles is the most-nominated female artist in the history of the Grammy Awards, with 66 nominations. She’s won 23. “Queen Bey’s” net worth is currently estimated at $500 million.

Taylor Swift has had a hugely successful music career all before reaching 30 years of age. Seventy-seven of Swift’s songs have reached the Billboard Hot 100, including five No. 1 hits. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, she is the third best-selling musician of all time, based on digital singles sales.

Singer and songwriter Lady Gaga has had 30 songs reach the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 hits “Born This Way,” “Just Dance,” and “Poker Face.” Gaga recently turned her talents to acting, starring in the 2018 remake of “A Star Is Born,” for which she received the Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

Born in Jamshedpur, India, Priyanka Chopra won the titles of Miss India and Miss World before transitioning to the world of film, where she became a popular Bollywood actress. Chopra also starred as Alex Parrish in the popular ABC series “Quantico,” the “Baywatch” movie, and the recent satirical romcom “Isn’t It Romantic.”

Donna Langley is the chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group. Langley oversees “global production, marketing and distribution for Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures International, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation,” according to Universal Pictures. Langley has played an integral part in the success of multiple franchises, including the Fast & Furious, Jurassic World, and the Bourne series. Langley also helped found the anti-sexual harassment movement Time’s Up.

Formerly the chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group, Dana Walden became the chairman of Disney TV Studios and ABC Entertainment following Disney’s acquisition of the majority of 21st Century Fox. Walden oversees ABC, Disney’s streaming services; Hulu and Freeform, and four studio labels — 20th Century Fox TV, Fox 21 TV Studios, ABC Studios and ABC Signature Studios.

Daughter of media magnate Sumner Redstone, Shari Redstone is the current vice-chair of CBS Corporation and Viacom. Redstone has proved herself a media mogul in her own right and has been described as shrewd and determined. Redstone is currently worth $5 billion in family assets and has control over companies with a combined worth of $36 billion.

Kathleen Kennedy co-founded Amblin Entertainment — the production company behind blockbuster movies such as “Jurassic Park” and “Men in Black” — with her husband Frank Marshall and Steven Spielberg in 1982. Kennedy is now president of Lucasfilm, where she has produced such movies as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” and this past year, “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

Shonda Rhimes is the showrunner behind the hit television series “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Private Practice,” and “Scandal.” The multi-talented storyteller signed in 2017 a multi-year production deal with Netflix.

Bonnie Hammer was chairman of Cable Entertainment at NBCUniversal prior to being named chairman of NBCUniversal Direct-to-Consumer and Digital Enterprises in 2019. In this roll, Hammer oversees such channels as USA, The Sci-Fi Channel, E!, and production companies Universal Cable Productions and Wilshire Studios. Her net worth is estimated at about $2.8 billion, according to entertainment news website SuperbHub.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has been one of the most popular — and perhaps the most powerful — women in entertainment since the national debut of her talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1986. While the show ended in 2011, the much-admired Winfrey has maintained her influence via the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Winfrey’s career has been a lucrative one, with the executive’s net worth estimated at $3.2 billion.