Jane Fonda won her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1972 for her work in Klute playing the role of a prostitute. Following the role, she didn’t get work as an actress. She then formed a production company IPC films and produced her 1977 comeback film Fun With Dick and Jane.
Since then, she has been involved in many notable endeavors such as authoring several books, environmentalism, and philanthropy. She was also nominated for (and won, of course) numerous awards, and was even inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Strangely, it only happened in 2019.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is often described as the "best actress of her generation." Streep started her acting career like many others, on Broadway. She had her film debut at the age of 28 in the T.V movie, Deadliest Season and held a small part in Julia later that year.
Streep has the most Academy award nominations than any other actor. She definitely uses her power and fame for the betterment of society and is involved with a lot of charity work for women’s rights.
Marilu Henner
Marilu started her career off in the 70s with a national touring company playing Marty in Broadway musical Grease. She made her film debut in Between the lines in 1977. Her role which brought her major fame was in the comedy sitcom Taxi as Elaine Nardo.
Fun fact - she is one of twelve known people in the world with Highly Superior autobiographical memory and was in 60 minutes and 60 minutes Australia in a two-part special. She is also the author of several books including Changing Normal: How I Helped My Husband Defeat Cancer.
Talia Shire
Most recognized for her roles as Connie Corleone in The Godfather films and Adrian Pennino in the Rocky series, Talia Shore was a big influence in the 70s. She received nominations for both films for Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress.
Afterward, she starred in different films and TV movies. Her son is Robert Schwartzman who is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock/pop band Rooney and also a screenwriter and director, She acted in his film Dreamland alongside one of her sons Jason Schwartzman.
Cybill Shepherd
Cybill’s first acting experience was in 1971 in The Last Picture Show. The movie received critical acclaim and won several Academy Awards as well as nominations. Shortly after in 1972, she played Kelly in the Heartbreak Kid and Betsy in Taxi Driver in 1976.
In 2012, she had her Broadway debut when she played in the Revival of the Best, starring alongside James Earl Jones and John Stamos. Her last film was in 2015's Do You Believe in which she played a mother who loses her daughter.