Can you guess which actresses these real 'Jeopardy!' clues are about?

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December 11, 2020
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Can you guess which actresses these real 'Jeopardy!' clues are about?

Awards season is just around the corner. To prep yourself for the nominations, red carpet styles, and moving speeches, this is the perfect quiz for all you Rotten Tomatoes raters and aspiring auteurs.

This has been a year for movies unlike any other, with many films getting delayed, stuck in limbo, and theaters around the country closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Still, it’s always a good time to reassess some of Hollywood’s leading ladies, who have inspired, dazzled, and fought for equity through their roles.

Stacker compiled a quiz of 25 “Jeopardy!” clues about actresses using movie databases and primary news sources. Clues were taken from J-Archive, the “Jeopardy!” database, as of November 2020. Each “clue slide” includes the original clue, category, value, and date the episode aired, while each “answer slide” uses the classic “Jeopardy!” format of a “who is/what is” question.

Do you know the slew of animated movies a certain stand-up comic has lent her voice to? What about the sitcom and movie star who began with a memorable role in a 1980s made-for-TV movie about teenage drug use? Or the former beauty queen who perfectly portrayed a “drama queen” on primetime TV?

Here are the answers to those questions and more. Learn about the actresses who’ve won multiple Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys, as well as the Irish-born actress who has become a vocal proponent of ending the gender wage gap in Hollywood.

This story is sure to delight longtime fans of “Jeopardy!” and the late Alex Trebek, as well as avid moviegoers biding time before they can cozy up again with a tub of popcorn in their favorite cinema. Also, be sure to check out some of Stacker's other Jeopardy! quizzes.

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Clue #1

- Clue: She has a different take on motherhood in her comedy specials “Baby Cobra” and “Hard Knock Wife.”
- Category: We Have a Few Specials
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: March 9, 2020

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Answer #1: Who is Ali Wong?

Ali Wong has also been featured on a number of animated shows like “Big Mouth,” “Tuca & Bertie,” and “Bojack Horseman.” In 2019, she wrote and starred in the romantic comedy “Always Be My Maybe,” which was praised for the diversity of its Asian American cast.

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Clue #2

- Clue: 1974 best supporting comedy actress winner for playing Phyllis Lindstrom on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
- Category: The Emmys
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: June 24, 2004

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Answer #2: Who is Cloris Leachman?

The Emmy Awards could also be called the Cloris Leachman Awards—the Clories, due to her success in TV. Leachman has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards, and also has an Oscar and a Daytime Emmy in her trophy case. At 82, Leachman even competed on “Dancing With the Stars.”

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Clue #3

- Clue: She won a supporting actress Oscar for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
- Category: Actors
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: April 22, 2019

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Answer #3: Who is Regina King?

Regina King wept the first time she watched her emotional performance in “If Beale Street Could Talk,” saying the movie “sat with me for days.” King first burst onto the screen with memorable performances in “Boyz N the Hood” and “Poetic Justice,” both directed by the late John Singleton.

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Clue #4

- Clue: This actress’ last name made her most appropriate to play the female lead in “King Arthur.”
- Category: She’s So Cool
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: May 3, 2012

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Answer #4: Who is Keira Knightley?

Keira Knightley starred as Guinevere opposite Clive Owen in Antoine Fuqua’s adaptation of “King Arthur.” The British star has a history of choosing period films, having played author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette; cryptanalyst Joan Clarke; and Georgiana Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire. Knightley, who broke it big playing a soccer prodigy in “Bend It Like Beckham,” is a noted fan of English club West Ham United.

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Clue #5

- Clue: “As Good As It Gets” (Oscar) and “Mad About You” (Emmy)
- Category: I’ve Won an Oscar and an Emmy
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: Sept. 22, 2006

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Answer #5: Who is Helen Hunt?

Helen Hunt, like many thespians, first starred in roles on TV movies—in her case, Hunt notably played a drug-addicted teen who jumps out a window in “Desperate Lives.” However, Hunt was unique in being able to seamlessly transition from sitcoms into big budget films, starring in “Twister,” “Cast Away,” and “Pay It Forward.” In 2019, she rejoined Paul Reiser in a revival of “Mad About You.”

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Clue #6

- Clue: This actress received her first of seven Oscar nominations for playing Queen Victoria in 1997’s “Mrs. Brown.”
- Category: Movie Queens
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: Sept. 14, 2017

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Answer #6: Who is Judi Dench?

Among the other films Judi Dench earned Oscar noms for are “Shakespeare In Love” and “Notes on a Scandal.” Earlier this year, after being featured in the much-maligned “Cats,” Dench gracefully acknowledged being nominated for a “Razzie,” an award going to the worst films of the year.

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Clue #7

- Clue: She already had two exhibitions under her belt before stardom in “Charlie's Angels” on film and “Elementary” on TV.
- Category: Celebrity Artists
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: Nov. 27, 2019

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Answer #7: Who is Lucy Liu?

Lucy Liu’s art portfolio includes sculpture, silkscreens, and a reimagined American flag inspired by a pro-choice rally the actress attended in 1992. On screen, Liu, who shined in “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” and “Chicago,” was most recently seen in the 2020 film “Stage Mother,” about a church choir director who inherits a drag club.

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Clue #8

- Clue: This object of Borat’s affection who, in 2008, had a romantic Valentine’s Day performing at a Paris strip club.
- Category: The Paparazzi Love ...
- Value: $600
- Date episode aired: May 23, 2008

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Answer #8: Who is Pamela Anderson?

Pamela Anderson later told actor Sacha Baron Cohen that their infamous scene in “Borat” ended her marriage to Kid Rock. Anderson rose to fame on TV in “Baywatch,” although her first feature film “Barb Wire” was a flop.

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Clue #9

- Clue: This “How to Get Away with Murder” actress graduated from Juilliard in 1993 and is an Emmy, Oscar and Tony award winner.
- Category: African American Performers
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: March 24, 2020

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Answer #9: Who is Viola Davis?

Viola Davis was recently named to the New York Times’ list of 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st century. In the article, Denzel Washington, who was #1 on the list, called Davis “a once-in-a-generation talent”—the two worked together on “Antwone Fisher” and “Fences.” Davis has won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony Award.

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Clue #10

- Clue: In a memoir called “Wildflower,” she thanks Steven Spielberg, calling the making of “E.T.” magical.
- Category: Celebrity Memoirs
- Value: $400
- Date episode aired: June 16, 2017

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Answer #10: Who is Drew Barrymore?

Drew Barrymore comes from a long line of Hollywood royalty, led by her grandfather John Barrymore, who was noted for his roles in Shakespeare reproductions. Drew Barrymore was a child star, had some personal setbacks, but re-emerged as a romantic lead and now she hosts her own talk show.

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Clue #11

- Clue: She did her own skating when she played roller derby star “K.C.” Carr in “Kansas City Bomber.”
- Category: Fast Women
- Value: $500
- Date episode aired: Jan. 23, 1998

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Answer #11: Who is Raquel Welch?

Raquel Welch’s breakout role came in 1966’s “Fantastic Voyage.” Next, she was featured in “One Million Years B.C.”—her famous cave girl outfit was memorialized on a poster in “The Shawshank Redemption.” Welch showed off her acting chops in “The Three Musketeers,” winning a Golden Globe.

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Clue #12

- Clue: Later one of the “Desperate Housewives,” she was 1998’s Miss Corpus Christi, Texas.
- Category: Beauty Queens
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: Oct. 26, 2012

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Answer #12: Who is Eva Longoria?

Eva Longoria, who was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, attended Texas A&M University Kingsville, where she also won a 1996 beauty pageant. After “Desperate Housewives,” Longoria starred in films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and “In a World ...”

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Clue #13

- Clue: Appropriately, she is the host at the past lives pavilion in Albert Brooks’ 1991 film “Defending Your Life.”
- Category: Cameo Camera
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: May 15, 2006

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Answer #13: Who is Shirley MacLaine?

Shirley MacLaine is one of Hollywood’s most decorated actresses, collecting an Oscar, Golden Globes, BAFTAS, and an Emmy. It was another director named Brooks—James L.—who cast MacLaine in perhaps her most famous role in, “Terms of Endearment.” In the twilight of her career, MacLaine appeared on the TV hit “Downton Abbey.”

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Clue #14

- Clue: In the 1991 remake of “Father of the Bride,” she played the mother of the bride.
- Category: A “Ton” of People
- Value: $400
- Date episode aired: Oct. 24, 2011

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Answer #14: Who is Diane Keaton?

Diane Keaton is another leading lady who’s won multiple prestigious awards. She was an icon in the 1970s, starring in “The Godfather” films and later in a series of Woody Allen flicks—Keaton’s performance in “Annie Hall” earned her an Oscar. Keaton has also written a few books, including a memoir “Brother & Sister,” released this year.

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Clue #15

- Clue: This Irish-raised lass was just 13 when she got her first Oscar nomination for “Atonement.”
- Category: Actresses
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: July 8, 2019

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Answer #15: Who is Saoirse Ronan?

Saoirse Ronan lost to Tilda Swinton at the 80th Oscars, but has continued to gain accolades as one of Hollywood’s best actresses. She earned rave reviews in “Lady Bird” and has become a favorite of director Wes Anderson. Recently, Ronan has become a vocal critic of the gender wage gap in film.

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Clue #16

- Clue: Matron Mama Morton in “Chicago.”
- Category: Supporting Roles
- Value: $1600
- Date episode aired: July 22, 2015

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Answer #16: Who is Queen Latifah?

Newark native Queen Latifah gained recognition as a rapper in the early 1990s, with hit songs like “U.N.I.T.Y.” She starred in the TV comedy/drama “Living Single” and other films like “Bringing Down the House” and “Hairspray.” This multi-talented star has won a Grammy for “U.N.I.T.Y.,” an Emmy, and an NAACP Image Award.

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Clue #17

- Clue: In the 2016 drama “Allied,” this actress and Brad Pitt are married spies who may be on the same side.
- Category: Movie Stars
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: March 21, 2017

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Answer #17: Who is Marion Cotillard?

After earning a name on the screen in France, Cotillard made a splash in Hollywood with the 2003 film “Big Fish.” Soon, Cotillard landed the role of a lifetime, playing Édith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose,” for which she won an Oscar. Cotillard then worked with director Christopher Nolan on “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

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Clue #18

- Clue: This beloved actress, civil rights activist, and wife of Ossie Davis passed away at age 91.
- Category: In Memoriam 2014
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: Nov. 17, 2014

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Answer #18: Who is Ruby Dee?

Ruby Dee was a classic storyteller, helping make “A Raisin in the Sun,” “The Jackie Robinson Story,” and “Do The Right Thing” iconic films about the Black experience. Off stage, Dee advocated vocally for civil rights as a member of CORE, the SLCC, SNCC, and the NAACP. Frequent collaborator Spike Lee called Dee an artist and an activist, and a “spiritual mother.”

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Clue #19

- Clue: This actress was the spicy Maria Elena in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
- Category: Supporting Actress Oscar Winners
- Value: $600
- Date episode aired: March 26, 2018

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Answer #19: Who is Penelope Cruz?

Penelope Cruz has three Oscar nominations; aside from her win in Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” she earned noms for “Volver” and “Nine.” Cruz, who was born in Madrid, also earned praise in TV’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” Cruz has modeled for several notable brands, including Chanel.

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Clue #20

- Clue: This actress whose dad is from Senegal followed up “Precious” with a role as a student on “The Big C.”
- Category: $1000
- Value: MGM Would Have Changed Your Name
- Date episode aired: April 13, 2011

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Answer #20: Who is Gabourey Sidibe?

Gabourey Sidibe earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in “Precious,” and has been open about how Hollywood didn’t cling to her talent like other actresses who came up during her time. Still, the persistent Sidibe has continued to churn out impressive performances in the “American Horror Story” series and on “Empire.” In 2017, she released a memoir, “This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare.”

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Clue #21

- Clue: Seen here, she earned an Oscar nomination as the girl to whom Peter Sarsgaard gave “An Education.”
- Category: May-December Movies
- Value: $2000
- Date episode aired: March 8, 2012

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Answer #21: Who is Carey Mulligan?

Carey Mulligan first made waves in English theater, before landing on Hollywood’s radar in 2005’s “Pride & Prejudice.” Since then, she has stood out in “Never Let Me Go,” “Drive,” and “The Great Gatsby.” In 2015, Mulligan was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in “Skylight.”

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Clue #22

- Clue: In “Mommie Dearest,” she played a dead-on Joan Crawford as an abusive mom who’s lost control.
- Category: She’s Lost Control
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: March 31, 2005

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Answer #22: Who is Faye Dunaway?

In addition to her Oscar, Emmys, and Golden Globes, Faye Dunaway was awarded the French Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters medal. Dunaway’s career highlights include roles in “The Three Musketeers,” “Chinatown,” and stage plays like “A Streetcar Named Desire.” She has also written an autobiography, “Looking for Gatsby: My Life.”

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Clue #23

- Clue: Costume designer Edith Head created many sketches of this actress for Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.”
- Category: Sketchers
- Value: $1000
- Date episode aired: June 5, 2019

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Answer #23: Who is Grace Kelly?

After winning an Oscar for her role in “The Country Girl,” Grace Kelly performed in a few more films before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco to become the Princess of Monaco. At 52, Kelly died in a car accident in Monte Carlo. Today, Kelly is still recognized as an icon of style and the silver screen.

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Clue #24

- Clue: Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries.”
- Category: Her Major Movie Debut
- Value: $400
- Date episode aired: April 27, 2020

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Answer #24: Who is Anne Hathaway?

After her breakout role as Mia Thermopolis, Anne Hathaway starred in a sequel to “The Princess Diaries” but became recognized as one of Hollywood’s top dramatic actresses. “Brokeback Mountain,” “Rachel Getting Married,” and “Interstellar” provided some of Hathaway’s more notable dramatic roles, but she also retained her pop culture appeal in box office hits “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Les Misérables.” Throughout her career, Hathaway has developed a bit of a reputation as a “theater kid.”

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Clue #25

- Clue: As a student at Brown University, this actress appeared in a play written by her father, Romulus Linney.
- Category: Actresses & Playwrights
- Value: $800
- Date episode aired: June 2, 2004

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Answer #25: Who is Laura Linney?

Laura Linney earned her stripes on Broadway before breaking through in Hollywood. “The Truman Show,” “The Squid and the Whale,” and “The Savages” are some of Linney’s best-known works, and she still occasionally performs on stage. And yes, Linney has also appeared on TV, earning praise for roles on “The Big C” and “Ozark.”

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