Actresses With Iconic Red Hair
Red hair has left a vivid mark on film and television, from early Technicolor epics to today’s streaming hits. Some stars were born with it while others embraced the shade for career defining roles that audiences instantly recognize.
This list gathers actresses who have worn red hair in memorable ways across genres and eras. You will find career highlights, major roles, and the projects where their red looks are front and center.
Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore has earned major awards across film and television, including an Academy Award for her performance in ‘Still Alice’. Her filmography spans dramas like ‘Boogie Nights’, ‘Far from Heaven’, ‘Magnolia’, and ‘The Kids Are All Right’.
She has appeared with natural red hair throughout her career in films such as ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ and ‘Children of Men’. She also authored the children’s book ‘Freckleface Strawberry’, which draws on redheaded childhood experiences.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman has led acclaimed films including ‘The Hours’, ‘Moulin Rouge!’ and ‘Rabbit Hole’, and she expanded into limited series with ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Undoing’. Her career includes international work across Australia and the United States.
She began with naturally red curls and has returned to red in projects like ‘Moulin Rouge!’ and ‘Far and Away’. Her red looks also appear in period pieces and contemporary stories, adding continuity across very different roles.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams has multiple Academy Award nominations for roles in ‘The Fighter’, ‘American Hustle’, and ‘Vice’. Her range covers family films like ‘Enchanted’ as well as science fiction like ‘Arrival’.
She has worn red hair in a wide set of projects including ‘Enchanted’, ‘American Hustle’, and ‘Nocturnal Animals’. The shade has been part of her on screen identity in dramas, thrillers, and musicals.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain won an Academy Award for ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ and has starred in ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, ‘Interstellar’, and ‘Molly’s Game’. She also works on stage and produces film and television projects.
She frequently appears with red hair in films such as ‘Miss Sloane’, ‘The Help’, and ‘A Most Violent Year’. The color remains consistent across her historical roles and contemporary stories.
Emma Stone
Emma Stone has received top honors for performances in ‘La La Land’ and ‘Poor Things’. Her films include ‘Easy A’, ‘The Help’, ‘Birdman’, and ‘Cruella’.
She dyed her naturally blonde hair red early in her career and kept it for many standout roles. You can see the red shade in ‘Easy A’, ‘The Amazing Spider Man’, and ‘Zombieland’.
Christina Hendricks
Christina Hendricks earned multiple Emmy nominations for ‘Mad Men’ and later starred in ‘Good Girls’. Her film work includes titles like ‘Drive’ and ‘The Neon Demon’.
She maintained vivid red hair throughout ‘Mad Men’ as Joan Holloway and continued the look in ‘Good Girls’. The color appears across her film roles and voice work as well.
Isla Fisher
Isla Fisher broke out in ‘Wedding Crashers’ and led comedies like ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’. She has also appeared in thrillers and capers including ‘Nocturnal Animals’ and ‘Now You See Me’.
Her natural red hair features prominently in comedies and dramas alike. It stands out in ‘Wedding Crashers’, ‘Bachelorette’, and ‘Now You See Me’.
Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard stars in the ‘Jurassic World’ films and appears in projects like ‘The Help’ and ‘Rocketman’. She also directs television episodes for series including ‘The Mandalorian’.
Her natural red hair is visible in ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘The Help’. She keeps the shade for both leading roles and supporting parts across film and television.
Debra Messing
Debra Messing is best known for ‘Will & Grace’ and has appeared in films like ‘Along Came Polly’ and ‘The Wedding Date’. She also works in limited series and stage productions.
Her red hair defined the Grace Adler look on ‘Will & Grace’. She has continued wearing red across guest roles and television movies.
Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross became widely known for ‘Desperate Housewives’ and earlier work on ‘Melrose Place’. She has also acted in procedurals and television films.
Her bright red hair is central to the Bree Van de Kamp character in ‘Desperate Housewives’. She has kept red tones in later projects that include dramatic guest roles.
Karen Gillan
Karen Gillan played Amy Pond on ‘Doctor Who’ and co stars in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Jumanji’ franchises. She writes and directs independent features as well.
Her natural red hair is visible in ‘Doctor Who’ and the ‘Jumanji’ films. For Nebula she shaved and changed color for the role, then returned to red in other appearances.
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner rose to prominence as Sansa Stark in ‘Game of Thrones’ and later portrayed Jean Grey in the ‘X Men’ films. She continues to work across dramas and thrillers.
She dyed her naturally blonde hair red to play Sansa and kept variations of that shade during long production schedules. The red tone also appears in press tours and related projects tied to those roles.
Rose Leslie
Rose Leslie is known for ‘Game of Thrones’ and for playing Maia Rindell in ‘The Good Fight’. She has also appeared in British television dramas and audio projects.
Her natural red hair is part of her look as Ygritte in ‘Game of Thrones’. She keeps the color for contemporary legal drama in ‘The Good Fight’.
Madelaine Petsch
Madelaine Petsch starred as Cheryl Blossom in ‘Riverdale’ and expanded into film and digital projects. She also produces and develops new content.
Her natural red hair is central to Cheryl’s appearance throughout ‘Riverdale’. She continues the shade in thrillers and romantic dramas made during and after the series.
Bonnie Wright
Bonnie Wright portrayed Ginny Weasley across the entire ‘Harry Potter’ film series and later moved into directing. She has published work related to environmental advocacy.
Her natural red hair appears in every ‘Harry Potter’ installment as part of the Weasley family look. She keeps similar tones in independent projects and short films.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan led ‘The Parent Trap’, ‘Freaky Friday’, and ‘Mean Girls’ before returning to new film and television work. She has also recorded music and appeared on reality programs.
Her natural red hair is visible in early roles and reappears in later projects. You can see it in ‘The Parent Trap’, ‘Mean Girls’, and recent holiday releases.
Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald became a defining star of teen cinema with ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘The Breakfast Club’, and ‘Pretty in Pink’. She later joined series like ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ and ‘Riverdale’.
Her red hair features in those classic films and in her later television roles. She maintains variations of red across guest appearances and stage work.
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne stars in ‘Russian Doll’ and ‘Poker Face’ and previously appeared in ‘Orange Is the New Black’. She produces and creates projects in addition to acting.
Her curly red hair is present in ‘Russian Doll’ and ‘Poker Face’. It also appears in independent films and festival projects she develops.
Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan played Willow Rosenberg on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and Lily Aldrin on ‘How I Met Your Mother’. She also appeared in the ‘American Pie’ films and hosted ‘Penn and Teller Fool Us’.
She wore red hair as Willow and continued similar tones as Lily. The color is part of her look across comedy and fantasy roles.
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth headlined classics such as ‘Gilda’, ‘Cover Girl’, and ‘The Lady from Shanghai’. She became one of the most recognizable stars of the studio era.
Her studio transformed her image by dyeing her hair red for early Technicolor musicals and noirs. The shade is prominent in ‘Gilda’ and ‘Cover Girl’ and remained part of her screen persona.
Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball created and starred in ‘I Love Lucy’ and led later series including ‘The Lucy Show’. She co founded Desilu Productions and oversaw landmark television projects.
She adopted vivid red hair in her film years and carried the look into television. The color stands out in colorized releases of ‘I Love Lucy’ and promotional materials from the era.
Maureen O’Hara
Maureen O’Hara starred in ‘The Quiet Man’, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’, and ‘How Green Was My Valley’. She often collaborated with director John Ford and actor John Wayne.
Her natural red hair appears throughout her Technicolor adventure films and family dramas. The look is especially visible in ‘The Quiet Man’ and swashbuckling roles.
Ann-Margret
Ann Margret achieved success in both music and film with ‘Viva Las Vegas’, ‘Bye Bye Birdie’, and ‘Tommy’. She has continued to act in television films and guest roles.
Her red hair is part of her screen presence in musicals and rock driven projects. You can see it clearly in performance sequences from ‘Viva Las Vegas’ and ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon has a long career that includes ‘Thelma & Louise’, ‘Bull Durham’, and an Academy Award for ‘Dead Man Walking’. She works in film, television, and theater.
Her auburn red hair appears across many leading roles and in limited series like ‘Feud’. She keeps similar tones in festival films and independent projects.
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is a Tony winning Broadway star known for ‘Into the Woods’, ‘Sunday in the Park with George’, and screen work like ‘The Jerk’ and ‘Mozart in the Jungle’. She maintains an active concert career and supports arts education.
Her curly red hair is present in stage productions and television roles. It is easily seen in ‘Into the Woods’ promotional materials and in ‘Mozart in the Jungle’.
Share your favorite red haired performances in the comments and tell us who you would add to the list.