AFI 25 Greatest Female Stars Post-Golden Age

She qualified for the Golden Age list because her death had already marked a completed body of work. She's number three there, after only K. Hepburn and Bette Davis. 

Spacek I could possibly see... She lacks an iconic "signature" role, though - like, say, Sally Field (Norma Rae) or Bette Midler (The Rose) who I also considered listing. I suppose you could argue Coal Miner's Daughter, but Loretta Lynn is an actual living person.

Viola Davis I don't see at all.

Carrie is as iconic and signature a role as you can get.

The lack of Julianne Moore stings

I can see Bancroft, Minnelli, Bardot and Denueve all missing (the latter two especially because their importance was more to international cinema, than it was to American cinema. If the criteria stayed the same, they'd be at a disadvantage).

As someone said, Viola Davis would probably make the cut today. Regina King is borderline now, as she's becoming a really important star in recent years, and within a few years could become a first ballot pick.

Reese Witherspoon would almost certainly make the cut. Cameron Diaz is borderline. Helen Mirren is borderline, but could make the cut. And I feel like Charlize Theron would probably get in, but she is also borderline. Halle Berry as well.

She is a hail mary pick, but for some reason I feel like Laura Dern could get a lot of unexpected votes to sneak onto a list like this. But she is more longshot than borderline.

Witherspoon definitely could make it in, especially as of late. Theron more then likely, absolutely. Viola Davis has gotten more prominence within the last decade, and she's considered one of the great actresses of her generation, so there's a good chance she could make it into a modern version of the list. Diaz maybe, she has retired, but for a while she was considered one of the big comedic actresses, even if it a lot of the movies she did were considered "inconsequential". As for Helen Mirren, she might be of a different much older generation then any of the names already mentioned, but there is an argument to be made for her. 

Not sure about Berry, though. Her filmography might be considered too mediocre overall, for her to really make an impact, even if she has given some very respectable performances in the past. 

Oh yeah Berry definitely deserves consideration, especially if they wanted to add diversity to a modern list. She's also important as an actual glamorous star, and her importance as the first and so far only African American woman to win best actress. The only thing that holds her back is that she's been in some really poorly regarded stinkers, but then again that's not the only reason an actor or actresses would or wouldn't make it onto such a list. 

In terms of the most recent actresses, I could see the following in the future:
Amy Adams
Viola Davis
Anne Hathaway
Jennifer Lawrence

Maybe Natalie Portman, Saoirse Ronan (or is she not American enough?), Margot Robbie if she maintains her momentum.

I feel like Bardot's essentialness has largely lapsed; she was very much a major factor in her time, but I wouldn't be surprised if most people could name a single film of hers. I also would say Deneuve is far more niche, and I know you won't agree, but I could also argue Julie Christie and Faye Dunaway had periods of glory but largely haven't sustained like most of these others have.