Blythe Danner

Although to some she's best known as the mother of Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow, this handsome, husky-voiced actress has enjoyed her own illustrious, award-winning career both on stage and screen. Initially a theater player, she earned a Tony for her Broadway debut as a free spirit in the drama Butterflies Are Free, yet she wasn't considered enough of a name to reprise the role in the 1972 film adaptation. In a way, that summed up Hollywood's attitude toward her for the next three decades. Although she worked steadily on both the big and small screens — except for a self-imposed hiatus to raise her children with TV-producer husband Bruce Paltrow in the '80s — she was never regarded as a star. All that changed in the '00s when a series of high-profile maternal roles brought the still sexy sexagenarian more awards — and more fame — than ever. She was charming as Robert De Niro's sweet, Waspy wife in the 2000 hit comedy Meet the Parents and reprised the part in its 2004 sequel Meet the Fockers, and a recurring role as Will's blueblood mom on Will & Grace earned her a pair of Emmy nods. Her part on Huff as the title character's eccentric mother finally won her industry recognition in the form of two consecutive Emmys. Unfortunately her career resurrection was bittersweet as it coincided with the death of her longtime husband, Paltrow, in 2003.