1 comments/ 86424 views/ 6 favorites Lesbian and Bisexual Actresses By: Cal Y. Pygia Although lesbian and bisexual celebrities have worked in the movie, music, sports, and other entertainment industries since these industries began, they have felt the need, because of social and political pressures, not to divulge their sexual orientations, but to remain closeted concerning their preferences for same-sex or both-sex partners. In more recent years, some such celebrities have become more open about acknowledging their true sexuality. In other cases, the sexuality of such actresses has been identified by others in the interest of a gay rights political agenda, a practice known as "outing." Among the stars of the early years of Hollywood (1920 - 1950), the following either identified themselves as lesbian or bisexual or were so identified by others: Film star Alla Nazimova Film star Greta Garbo Film star Marlene Dietrich Film star Tallulah Bankhead Film director Dorothy Arzner Film actress Eva Le Gallienne Film actress Barbara Stanwyck Film actress Louise Brooks Film actress Janet Gaynor Film actress Mary Martin Film actress Agnes Moorehead Film actress Dame Judith Anderson Film actress Elsa Lanchester Film actress Sandy Dennis Television actress Nancy Kulp Television actress Sheila Kuehl Writer Mercedes de Acosta (one of Nazimova's lovers) Stage actress Eva Le Gallienne Comedienne Patsy Kelly Screenwriter Salka Viertel Writer Diana McLellan Dolly Wilde (Oscar Wilde's niece) Among the stars of the contemporary Hollywood (1951 - present), the following either identified themselves as lesbian or bisexual or were so identified by others: Film actress Lily Tomlin Film actress Anne Heche Film actress Amanda Bearse Film actress Drew Barrymore Film actress Angelina Jolie Film actress Ione Skye Film actress Guinevere Turner Film actress Cheryl Dunye Film actress Rosie O'Donnell Film actress Catherine Deneuve Film actress Kristy McNichol Film actress Helen Hunt Film actress Queen Latifah Film actress Clea DuVall Film actress Jodie Foster Film actress Roberta Close (transgendered) Film actress Portia de Rossi Film actress Cherry Jones Film actress/singer Madonna Comedienne Paula Poundstone Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres Comedienne Sandra Bernhard Comedienne Margaret Cho Singer Leisha Hailey (The Murmurs) Writer Jane Wagner Other notable lesbian entertainers and professionals who identify themselves as lesbian or bisexual or who have been identified as such include: Singer Whitney Houston Singer Joan Baez Singer Melissa Etheridge Singer Janis Ian Singers Emily Saliers and Amy Ray (The Indigo Girls) Singer Sinead O'Connor Singer Linda Perry Singer Vicki Randle Singer Phranc Tennis champion Billie Jean King Tennis champion Martina Navratilova Nickelodeon executive Kelli Carpenter (Rosie O'Donnell'slover) Gossip columnist Liz Smith Political activist Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny Bono and Cher) Model Jenny Shimizu On-screen kisses have occurred on movie and television screens from at least 1991 to the present. Although some of the following actresses claim to be heterosexual, they have filmed scenes in which they kiss other women in a romantic fashion. A few of those who claim to be heterosexual have, nevertheless, made comments that could be construed as being of a lesbian character. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair Sarah Michelle Gellar and Lindsay Sloane Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson Alyson Hannigan and Jaime Pressly Alyson Hannigan and Iyari Limon Pamela Anderson and unnamed actress Calista Flockhart and Lucy Liu Calista Flockhart and Courtney Thorne-Smith Calista Flockhart and Jane Krakowski Uma Thurman and Maria de Medeiros Uma Thurman and Rain Phoenix Tiffani-Amber Thiessen and Jaime Pressly Eliza Dushku and Angela Featherstone Hilary Swank and Chloë Sevigny Laura Innes and Elizabeth Mitchell Laura Innes and Lisa Vidal Elizabeth Mitchell and Angelina Jolie Anna Paquin and Bijou Phillips Jennifer Connelly and Kristy Swanson Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Berkley Britney Spears and Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna Christina Aguilera and Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna James King and Laura Prepon Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson Jessica Paré and Piper Perabo Monica Bellucci and Jada Pinkett Smith Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson Mia Kirshner and Kim Murphy Naomi Watts and Laura Harring Neve Campbell and Denise Richards Neve Campbell and Olivia D'Abo Heather Locklear and Denise Richards Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynsky Larisa Oleynik and Katherine Heigl Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly Alyssa Milano and Charlotte Lewis Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd Salma Hayek and Jeanne Tripplehorn Chloë Sevigny and Michelle Williams Meredith Viera and Lisa Ling Debra Messing and Megan Mullaly Anne Heche and Joan Chen Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Rie Rasmussen Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed Valerie Ray Miller and Tangelia Rouse Michelle Clunie and Thea Gill Kim Cattrall and Sonia Braga Jennifer Aniston and Winona Ryder Tiffany Amber Thiessen and Jaime Pressly Sarah Jessica Parker and Alanis Morissette Asia Argento and Selen Neve Campbell and Rachel True Dominique Swain and Mia Kirshner Carla Gugino and Molly Parker Joey Lauren Adams and Carmen Lee Geri Halliwell and Kylie Minogue Kate Beckinsale and Frances McDormand Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci Gwyneth Paltrow and Tatiana Abbey Jane Jensen and Debbie Rochon Ally Sheedy and Patricia Clarkson Leila Arcieri and Susan Ward Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon Jisela Delgado and Lori Trespicio Kim Director and Erica Leerhsen Susan Lynch and Estelle Skornik Carmen Electra and Amy Smart Mia Kirshner and Beverly Polcyn Alexis Bledel and Liza Weil Michelle Green and Amanda Donohoe Holly Marie Combs and Alexondra Lee Roseanne and Mariel Hemingway Alyssa Milano and Sarah Strange Terry Farrell and Susanna Thompson Lisa Edelstein and Kristin Datillo Tracey Ullman and Julie Kavner Ellen DeGeneres and Lisa Darr Angela Dorhmann and Tamara Mark Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor Gina Torres and Peta Wilson Nicole de Boer and Nana Visitor Colleen Azar and Carol Baker Mia Kirshner and Kim Murphy Sonia Sohn and Melanie Nicholls-King Evan Rachel Wood and Mischa Barton Britany Daniels and Tinsley Grimes Tiffany Knight and Jaime Pressly Raechelle Lefevre and Victoria Sanchez Jessica Psaila and Caitlin Dahl Morena Baccarin and a ''Firefly (television series)Firefly'' councillor Olga Sosnovska and Eden Riegel Melissa George and Carly Thomas Malinda Williams and Terri J. Vaughn Kate Mara and Sophia Bush Roma Maffia and transwoman Jonathan del Arco Rebecca DeMornay and Vanessa Williams Lola Gluadini and Emilie de Ravenhad Clea Duvall and Carla Gallo Melissa Lee and Rachael Bella Elizabeth Hendrickson and Eden Riegel Olga Sosnovska and Eden Riegel Portia and Heather Alicia Sims Kim Dickens and an unnamed actress Brittany Daniels and an unnamed actress Krista Kalmus and Makika Dominczky Mena Suvari and Lauren Ambrose Patricia Valesquez and an unnamed actress Joely Richardson and Famke Janssen April Matson and Danica Stewart Kristen Kreuk and Brianna Lynn Brown Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Kelly Ripa and Faith Ford Olivia Wilde and an unnamed actress Sharon Leal and Pamela Anderson Daniella Alonso and Hilarie Burton Elizabeth Hendrickson and Eden Riegel Mischa Barton and Olivia Wilde Kat Mara and Jessica Pare Pamela Anderson kissed a stripper on ''The Howard Stern Show'' and said that she might have a lesbian affair in the future. Anderson also confessed that she dreams about Madonna. Jane Wiedlin told Out.com that she and Adrienne Curry mocked a camera crew by making out while they were filming an episode of ''Surreal Life''. Eva Longoria has admitted to exchanging erotic kisses with other women before the camera and off screen and says she could forsake men altoghether for the "right womam." Debra Messing and Megan Mullally spent much of their time between takes in filming ''Will and Grace'' kissing and fodling one another's breasts, and, during an acceptabce speech, Messing Debra began a serious acceptance speech Messing told Mullally, "I'm sorry. I can't stop thinking about your mouth" and the two actresses agreed that there is nothing "better than making out in front of a room full of queers and half the cast of Desperate Housewives." Eva Mendez confessed to Ask Men that she enjoyed her first on-screen kiss with another woman and that she loves women. "Guys can be yucky," she added, but "girls are sweet, soft and smell good." Elisha Cuthbert refused to answer a ''Stardust'' interviewer's question as to whether she is interested sexually in other women, but she did admit that she likes to look at them, adding, "The female body is beautiful." Carmen Electra told the German magazine ''Bunte'' that she'd enjoy having a three-way affair with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie and admitted that she enjoyed shooting a lesbian scene with Amy Smart in ''Starsky & Hutch''. Dolly Parton habitually sleeps in the same bed as her best friend, a female, and confided to Jay Leno on ''The Tonight Show'' that she'd be tempted to make love to Lily Tomlin. Tara Palmer Tomkinson shared the fact with an ''FHM'' reporter that she'd had a schoolgirl crush on another female student. To an ''Outsmart'' reporter, Valerie Rae Miller characterized herself as "equal opportunity" with regard to men and women as sexual partners. Sarah Michelle Gellar said she'd leave her husband Freddie Prinze, Jr., for Nicole Kidman, whom Gellar described as "hot." In ''Cruel Intentions'', Gellar French kissed Selma Blair, whom she kissed again at the MTV awards show, where she and Blair won a trophy for "Best Kiss." Gellar also kissed an actress in the television series Grosse Pointe. Natalie Portman has confessed to bisexual tendencies, asking, "Why would you close yourself off to 50-per-cent of people?" Winona Ryder has often been seen--and photographed--holding hands with and kissing her gal pal and fellow actresss Brittany Murphy. In an IMdb article, Julianna Marguiles said that she and fellow actress Kyra Sedgwick (Kevin Bacon's wife) visited lesbian bars to reserach their roles as lesbian lovers on ''What's Cooking?'' and enchanged lesbian kisses while fondling one another's bodies. There was no word as to what Bacon thought about his wife's infidelity. Kristy Swanson said she enjoyed kissing Jennifer Connelly in ''Higher Learning'' and, in a Maxim magazine article, she admitted that Connelly is a good kisser. All girls are curious, Swanson added, as to what it is like to kiss another female. According to ELMS, these actresses and other celebrities have been or are lesbian couples: Samantha Fox and Cris Bonacci Samantha Fox and Myra Stratton Emma Thompson and Michaela de la Cour Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot Greta Garbo and Louise Brooks Ione Skye and Jenny Shimizu Karrie Webb and Kelly Robbins Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels Madonna and Jennifer Grey Louise Glover and Leanne Carr Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich Helena Stenbäck and Heidi Ershult Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche Anna Nicole Smith and Sandi Powledge Inka Grings and Martina Voss Melissa Ann and Jenna Jameson Portia de Rossi and Francesca Gregorini Debbie Reynolds and Agnes Moorehead Saffron Burrows and Fiona Shaw Ellen DeGeneres and Alexandra Hedison Sandra Bernhard and Patricia Velasquez Anna Nicole Smith and Maria Antonia Cerrato Hella von Sinnen and Cornelia Scheel Carrie Westcott and Shae Marks Kirsten Imrie and Helen Labdon Alex Parks and Jill Jackson Amelie Mauresmo and Sylvie Bourdon Billie Jean King and Marilyn Barnett Kelly McGillis and Madonna Rachel Williams and Alice Temple