Who Was the “It Girl” the Year You Graduated?

1975: Lynda Carter

The New Original Wonder Woman special aired in 1975 and more specials and episodes were immediately ordered, owing to the great popularity of Lynda Cater’s portrayal of our favorite superhero. The Wonder Woman we know and love would likely not have been such a hit without Carter.

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1976: Farrah Fawcet

The break-out role of Jill Munroe on Charlie’s Angels combined with her successful modeling career during the 70ss made Farrah Fawcett one of the most recognizable stars of the decade!

1977: Diane Keaton

With her menswear-inspired costumes and nervous and spacey mannerisms, Diane Keaton’s eponymous role in Annie Hall secured her as a fashion icon and talented actress.

1978: Olivia Newton-John

Though her recording career was somewhat stagnant, Olivia Newton-John’s role in Grease and the singles that came from that musical made her an instant legend. Enjoy her lovely rendition of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” below.

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1979: Meryl Streep

After the success of The Deer Hunter, Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her performance in Kramer vs. Kramer and she’s been wowing audiences ever since.

1980: Goldie Hawn

Though she had been well-known as a goofy-yet-sexy dancer on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Goldie Hawn’s acting career was given a real boost when Private Benjamin was nominated for best actress.

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1981: Dolly Parton

Though she had been a successful songwriter and singer for years, it was 9 to 5 that let the world know that Dolly Parton could act as well.

1982: Debra Winger

An Officer and a Gentleman earned Debra Winger an Academy Award nomination for best actress and got people talking about this newcomer.

1983: Jennifer Beals

From the fashion to the dance moves, Jennifer Beals in Flashdance influenced a whole generation of girls and women to believe in their dreams, preferably while wearing a leotard.

1984: Lisa Bonet

Her initial success on The Cosby Show led to some serious film roles and got people talking about this up and coming star.

1985: Molly Ringwold

Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club made Molly Ringwold an up and coming star, while her role in Pretty in Pink cemented her status as a 1980s film icon.

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These stars made headlines with their performances and it’s not hard to see why. These lovely ladies starred in some of the most classic films of each era. Which actress was the It Girl the year you graduated? Did your favorite make the list? Let us know in the comments!