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The funny women of stage and screen

In tribute to the late Sue Townsend, we asked our favourite witty women to choose the ladies who make them laugh

Caitlin Moran on Judy Garland
Everyone remembers her as a tragic Hollywood cautionary tale singing longing songs about rainbows, but Judy Garland was actually the most adroit comedienne of the 20th century: her comic timing and sensibilities were utterly modern — you could cast her as Esther Smith from Meet Me in St Louis or Hannah Brown from Easter Parade in Friends or 30 Rock now and they would seem absolutely contemporary. She played weird, overly talkative, lovestruck yet resilient girls so well. In Meet Me in St Louis, she confers with her sister, Rose, before a party:

“Rose, I’ve decided — I’m going to let John Truett kiss me tonight.”

“Esther! Nice girls don’t kiss until after they’re engaged. Men don’t want the