Melanie Griffith - Actor Profile

Melanie Griffith

Acting
Updated: May 09, 2026
50Total Films
9.0 Highest Rated
Born: Aug 9, 1957
Birth Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

About Melanie Griffith

Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career in the 1970s, appearing in several independent thriller films before achieving mainstream success in the mid-1980s. Born in New York City to actress Tippi Hedren and advertising executive Peter Griffith, she was raised mainly in Los Angeles, where she graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at age 16. In 1975, a then 17-year-old Griffith appeared opposite Gene Hackman in Arthur Penn's film noir Night Moves. She later rose to prominence for her role portraying a pornographic actress in Brian De Palma's thriller Body Double (1984), which earned her a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Griffith's subsequent performance in the comedy Something Wild (1986) garnered critical acclaim before she was cast in 1988's Working Girl, which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won her a Golden Globe. The 1990s had Griffith in a series of roles that received varying critical reception; she received Golden Globe nominations for her performances in Buffalo Girls (1995), and as Marion Davies in RKO 281 (1999), while also earning a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress for her performances in Shining Through (1992), as well as receiving nominations for Crazy in Alabama (1999) and John Waters' cult film Cecil B. Demented (2000). Other credits include John Schlesinger's Pacific Heights (1990), Milk Money (1994), the neo-noir film Mulholland Falls (1996), as Charlotte Haze in Adrian Lyne's Lolita (1997), and Another Day in Paradise (1998). She later starred as Barbara Marx in The Night We Called It a Day (2003), and spent the majority of the 2000s appearing on such television series as Nip/Tuck, Raising Hope, and Hawaii Five-0. After acting on stage in London, in 2003, she made her Broadway debut in a revival of the musical Chicago, receiving celebratory reviews. In the 2010s, Griffith returned to film, starring opposite then-husband Antonio Banderas in the science-fiction film Autómata (2014) and as an acting coach in James Franco's The Disaster Artist (2017).

Melanie Griffith Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Melanie Griffith reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Melanie Griffith's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 52% of Melanie Griffith's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Steel Cowboy, which stands out as a key performance.

Advertisement

Best Melanie Griffith Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Melanie Griffith's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Melanie Griffith has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2026 Melanie Griffith - Die Frau, die Hollywood überlebte Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2020 The High Note Tess Hit Similar →
2018 Howard Karen (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2017 The Pirates of Somalia Maria Bahadur Hit Similar →
2017 Roar: The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2017 The Disaster Artist Jean Shelton Hit Similar →
2016 J.L. Family Ranch Laura Lee Average Similar →
2015 Back to the Jurassic Tyra Average Similar →
2014 Automata Dr. Susan Dupré / Cleo (voice) Average Similar →
2013 Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Kristin Hit Similar →
2012 Dino Time Tyra (voice) Average Similar →
2010 A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures Snow (voice) Average Similar →
2004 Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me Self (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2003 Shade Eve Average Similar →
2002 Stuart Little 2 Margalo (voice) Average Similar →
2002 Searching for Debra Winger Self Average Similar →
2000 Light Keeps Me Company Self Super Hit Similar →
2000 The Book That Wrote Itself Melanie Griffith Hit Similar →
2000 Cecil B. Demented Honey Whitlock Average Similar →
1999 RKO 281 Marion Davies Hit Similar →
1999 Crazy in Alabama Lucille Vinson Average Similar →
1998 Another Day in Paradise Sid Average Similar →
1998 Celebrity Nicole Oliver Average Similar →
1997 Lolita Charlotte Haze Hit Similar →
1996 Mulholland Falls Katherine Hoover Average Similar →
1995 Now and Then Teeny Hit Similar →
1995 A Night to Die For Self Hit Similar →
1995 Buffalo Girls Dora DuFran Hit Similar →
1994 Nobody's Fool Toby Roebuck Hit Similar →
1994 Milk Money V Average Similar →
1992 The Grand Opening of Euro Disneyland Self - Host (US) Hit Similar →
1992 Shining Through Linda Voss Hit Similar →
1991 Paradise Lily Reed Average Similar →
1990 The Bonfire of the Vanities Maria Ruskin Average Similar →
1990 Pacific Heights Patty Palmer Average Similar →
1988 Working Girl Tess McGill Hit Similar →
1988 Stormy Monday Kate Average Similar →
1988 The Milagro Beanfield War Flossie Devine Hit Similar →
1987 Cherry 2000 Edith 'E.' Johnson Average Similar →
1986 Something Wild Audrey Hankel Hit Similar →
1984 Body Double Holly Body Hit Similar →
1981 Roar Melanie Average Similar →
1981 Golden Gate Karen Super Hit Similar →
1979 The Cheryl Ladd Special Ellie - Waitress Hit Similar →
1978 Steel Cowboy Johnnie Super Hit Similar →
1977 One on One The Hitchhiker Average Similar →
1975 The Drowning Pool Schuyler Average Similar →
1975 Night Moves Delilah "Delly" Grastner Hit Similar →
1975 Smile Karen Average Similar →
1969 Smith! Extra (uncredited) Average Similar →

Melanie Griffith - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Melanie Griffith?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Melanie Griffith is "Steel Cowboy" with a rating of 9.0/10.

How many movies has Melanie Griffith acted in?

Melanie Griffith has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Melanie Griffith?

Other notable films include "Golden Gate", "Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me", and "Melanie Griffith - Die Frau, die Hollywood überlebte".

Advertisement