The Worst Actress in Film History, According to Research

A recent study aimed to find out who could be called the worst actress in film history, and according to the results, that title goes to Madonna. The research, conducted by the analytics firm Stats Significant, looked at multiple factors to try to make an objective ranking. They considered average critic scores per film, box office failures, and the number of Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as Razzies, won and nominated.

Madonna’s acting career, while famous worldwide for her music, has often been criticized. According to Far Out Magazine, she had an average film rating of 4.98, a series of commercial flops, and nine Razzie wins out of 16 nominations across seven categories. This includes the Razzie for Worst Actress of the Century, which covered films released between 1900 and 1999.

She appeared in movies such as Swept Away, Body of Evidence, Four Rooms, and Shanghai Surprise. Despite her global fame as a singer, her performances in these films frequently drew harsh reviews.

The study’s authors anticipated criticism, noting that Madonna isn’t a professional actress. They even ran an alternative analysis excluding her, focusing only on career actors. In that ranking, Steven Seagal appeared among the five worst performers, showing a slightly different perspective for those who believe only professional actors should be rated.

The study highlights the mix of numbers and perception in judging film performances. As the authors note, negative reviews and Razzie wins don’t necessarily end a career. “Some performers even gain cult status precisely because of their failures,” they wrote.

The fascination with “bad” films remains a strong part of pop culture, and the discussion about the worst actor or actress shows how audiences love rankings while also acknowledging that success and failure in film can be relative.

Studies like this are fun to read but should be taken with a grain of salt. Acting is subjective, and some movies become memorable for reasons other than awards or reviews. What do you think—do you agree with Madonna being named the worst actress, or do you have someone else in mind? Share your thoughts in the comments.