Since the initial invention of cinema, the romantic comedy, or rom-com, has boasted a stellar lineup of various films. While the rom-com genre has failed to generate as much critical and blockbuster box-office success as thrillers and action movies now, these timeless, bittersweet tales remain in audiences' hearts and minds even decades after their initial release. Furthermore, the rom-com genre has successfully launched the careers of several actresses, many of which attribute the birth of their illustrious careers to the unforgettable genre.

Updated, June 6, 2023: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Yosra Ben lagha.

When it comes to the magic of rom-coms, many feel-good storylines undergo a tremendous amount of buzz once the two central characters cross paths in the direction of an intense romance. Despite the slew of criticism romantic comedies typically receive, their unrealistic yet buoyant approach gives hopeless romantics something to gleefully hold on to. From the incomparable Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman to Meg Ryan’s memorable performance in Sleepless in Seattle, here are the biggest actresses of the rom-com genre.

14 Ginnifer GoodwinGinnifer Goodwin in He's Just Not That Into you.

Although she's more known for her role in the ABC fantasy series Once Upon A Time, Ginnifer Goodwin has a few great performances in romantic comedies. Her performance in 2009's He's Just Not That Into You is undeniably outstanding as she portrays one of the smart, hardworking, and modern women who might be brilliant at their jobs but who, despite that, unfortunately still miss some important social cues when it comes to dating.

The movie takes the form of timeless advice for women who cling to the wrong person and pursue the wrong relationship. Her role as Gigi is hilarious, sensitive, relatable, and especially memorable. She struggles to be liked but, in doing so, tends to drive everyone away. The actress also had a supporting role in Win a Date with Ted Hamilton, In The Land of Women, and was the lead in the romantic comedy Something Borrowed.

13 Emma Stone

Emma Stone holds up a sign in Easy A
Sony Pictures Releasing

If the 2010s had a rom-com queen, it would be Emma Stone. From her first leading role in Easy A to both movies she partnered with Ryan Gosling, Crazy Stupid Love, and La La Land, Stone always showed her sly sense of humor, her comedic timing, and her big heart., even when a tough exterior says otherwise. Even in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, every time she and Andrew Garfield shared the screen felt like a romantic comedy. Here’s hoping she comes back to the genre in the future.

12 Rachel McAdams

rachel-mcadams-wedding-crashers (1)
Tapestry Films

Rachel McAdams is likely best known for traditional dramatic romances like The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, and The Vow, but she also has plenty of romantic comedies. About Time walks the line between romantic comedy and drama but has a very British humor sensibility and is one of many movies where she falls in love with a time traveler. She also was one of the leads in the 2010 film Morning Glory.

Related: 15 Best Rachel McAdams Movies, Ranked

Her most notable romantic comedy is, of course, 2005's Wedding Crashers. It might be a raunchy comedy, but at its heart, it is still a romance. McAdams has great chemistry with all of her on-screen romantic partners. McAdams might not have many romantic comedies to her name, but in the ones she is in, she leaves an impression.

11 Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel 500 Days of Summer
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Zooey Deschanel being labeled as playing "the manic pixie dream girl" is an often unfair label leveled against her, but part of that stems from just how many films she starred in as the romantic lead in a variety of films. The most notable is (500) Days of Summer, where she plays the titular role of Summer and is made out to be the idealized woman for the main character.

However, she is also the romantic lead in high-concept films like Elf and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which certainly borrows heavily from the romantic comedy genre in moments. Other romantic comedies of hers also include Failure to Launch and Yes Man. While Deschanel primarily moved to television for New Girl, her presence in movies is greatly missed.

10 Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz in There's Something About Mary (1998)
20th Century Fox

Enticingly blonde, Cameron Diaz quickly gained notable stardom for her portrayal in Peter and Bobby Farrelly’s There’s Something About Mary. The film grossed $369 million worldwide and effectively launched the career of the then-25-year-old Diaz. Prior to that, she also starred in My Best Friend’s Wedding alongside fellow rom-com sensation Julia Roberts.

Diaz was a go-to for many romantic comedies from The Holiday, What Happens In Vegas, Knight and Day, and Sex Tape, just to name a few. Her smile, her unique sense of humor, and her willingness to look like a fool made her a perfect rom-com lead.

9 Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson in Almost Famous
Dreamworks pictures

As the child of Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson certainly had massive shoes to fill. With the acting royalty coursing through her veins, Hudson stole the hearts of many fans in the 2000 film Almost Famous. Her role in Alex & Emma, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Raising Helen cemented her as a queen of the rom-com.

From there, she starred in romantic comedies like You, Me and Dupree, Fool's Gold, My Best Friends Girl, and Bride Wars. For the decade of the 2000s, Kate Hudson was an unmatched legend in the romantic comedy genre. She has her mother's magnetism, and her enthusiasm always makes us fall in love with her.

8 Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl in 27 dresses
20th Century Fox

According to Katherine Heigl herself, she acted in one too many rom-com staples during her esteemed career. Nevertheless, her contribution to the canon hardly goes unnoticed. After her success on Grey's Anatomy, Heigl transitioned her notable television career in exchange for several rom-com films, including Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up.

Such boisterous success led to her next movie, 27 Dresses, which perfectly painted the authentic rom-com image. Followed up by The Ugly Truth and Killers, Heigl rightfully etched her name on this monumental list, as she always showed a different kind of romantic heroine for every movie, giving her performances a unique touch.

7 Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon in Home Again 2017
Black Bicycle Entertainment 

Effortlessly, Reese Witherspoon beautifully altered the limitations of a genre that, at the time, was rapidly losing its appeal. Legally Blonde made Witherspoon a romantic comedy star overnight, which was only amplified the following year with the release of Sweet Home Alabama. Witherspoon followed it up with roles in romantic comedies like Just Like Heaven, Penelope, and This Means War. She also won an Academy Award for her role as June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line.

Related: These Are Some of the Best Feminist Comedy Movies

Witherspoon has since moved on to more dramatic roles like the hit television series Big Little Lies and The Morning Show and also is a major producer. Yet she still manages to do the occasional rom-com like 2017's Home Again and most recently in the Netflix film Your Place or Mine alongside Ashton Kutcher.

6 Jennifer Lopez

 Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan
Sony Pictures

During the earlier days of her film career, Jennifer Lopez struck cinematic gold with her stand-out performances in rom-com beloved flicks Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner. Interestingly, Jennifer Lopez’s beaming success in blockbuster romantic comedies coincided with her notorious music career, with the actress blossoming vocation featuring an album and movie released in the same week.

Since then, she has become a double threat, keeping both careers in motion. As a Latina in her fifties, she has become one of the most important figures in rom-com history while she keeps creating musical hits. It still is a shock she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Hustlers.

5 Sandra Bullock

 Sandra Bullock in The Proposal
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Effortlessly, Sandra Bullock paired her brilliant acting prowess with her authentic knack for physical comedy, which kept audiences thoroughly engaged. While her notable roles in rom-com films are surprisingly limited to a small number, her dominant performances remain a memorable force in the minds of dedicated fans of the genre.

Her masterful performance in Miss Congeniality 1 & 2 still gets the attention and adoration of fans everywhere. Her likable nature led to her involvement in While You Were Sleeping and Hope Floats and a precious rom-com staple, The Proposal. Recently, The Lost City proved that audiences still craved Sandra Bullock, the rom-com queen, as we can never get enough of her genuine smile and the romantic hijinks she falls into.

4 Drew Barrymore

 Drew Barrymore in Wedding Singer
New Line Cinema

Drew Barrymore’s dedication to some of the best films in the rom-com genre may appear endless, but the talented actress actually only starred in four flicks related to the category. The staggering actress broke notable ground with her appearance in The Wedding Singer alongside Adam Sandler.

Several years later, the beloved duo once again electrified rom-com fanatics with 50 First Dates. Her recognizable star power further helped to present credibility and popularity in Never Been Kissed and Fever Pitch. The genuine appeal to her characters and her quirky nature is exactly why fans remain captivated.

3 Meg Ryan

 Meg Ryan in You've got Mail
Warner Bros.

Deemed a pioneer of romantic comedies, Meg Ryan simply epitomizes the fascination surrounding the genre. You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle are amongst the most favored flicks of their peculiar kind. Furthermore, its self-aware nature as a rom-com makes it that much more likable in terms of the fuzzy flow and pairing of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

Include the standard of all rom-com flicks in the form of When Harry Met Sally, and it’s not hard to understand why audiences fell in love with Ryan’s charm. She imbued all of her characters with every woman's qualities, making us understand and agree with all those people who find her irresistible.

2 Jennifer Aniston

 Aniston in Just go with it
Sony Pictures Releasing

Jennifer Aniston undoubtedly shines in her heartwarming, constantly relatable roles. As usual for Aniston, much like her famous run on Friends, which can arguably be considered a long-standing romantic comedy, the film was an instant genre hit.

Aniston's romantic comedy credits include She's the One, Along Came Polly, Rumor Has It, The Break-Up, He's Just Not That Into You, The Bounty Hunter, Just Go With It, and both Murder Mystery and Murder Mystery 2. After all these years, Aniston still has audiences in her pocket, watching every project she does, especially when love is around the corner.

1 Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts in Notting Hill
PolyGram Films

The critically-acclaimed actress is, on all counts, the undisputed queen of romantic comedies. Julia Roberts first graced the silver screen in the rom-com category with her memorable performance as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. Alongside Richard Gere, the gifted actress helped to shape the very fiber of the romantic comedy genre, both with Pretty Woman and My Best Friend’s Wedding. From there, the list is the definitive romantic comedy ranking: Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, Eat Pray Love.

The queen of romantic comedies returned to the genre in 2022's Ticket to Paradise with longtime collaborator George Clooney. The movie proved to be a surprise hit at the box office, showcasing that the genre could still survive at the box office. What better way to prove it still was viable than with the best romantic comedy actress leading the way.