The American Film Institute named Hepburn the greatest female star of classical Hollywood cinema on its AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list.
On June 15, 1999, the American Film Institute unveiled its list of the 100 greatest American screen legends, AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, naming Katharine Hepburn the number one greatest female star in the history of American cinema, ahead of icons such as Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, and Ingrid Bergman.
This landmark recognition, broadcast as a television special, capped a career that had spanned nearly seven decades, from her 1932 film debut through her final screen appearance in 1994. The AFI's ranking was based on a film's or performer's cultural and historical significance, and Hepburn's placement at the top reflected both her unmatched record of four Best Actress Academy Awards and her broader cultural impact as a symbol of female independence, intelligence, and unconventional style in an industry long dominated by narrow ideals of femininity.
Unlike many of her contemporaries who cultivated glamorous, sexualized screen personas, Hepburn built her stardom on wit, athleticism, and an assertive intellect, often playing strong-willed, professionally ambitious women who challenged traditional gender roles both onscreen and through her own highly publicized personal choices, including her long-term relationship with Spencer Tracy without marriage and her preference for trousers over dresses.
By naming her the greatest female star of classic Hollywood, the AFI cemented Hepburn's legacy not just as a great actress, but as a transformative cultural figure who expanded the boundaries of what a leading lady in American film could be.