In spite of the lack of female camaraderie that's been buzzing round this blog over the last couple of days, it is possible for women to get along. Hell, some even like each other. And no matter what your opinions on Britney, Lindsay, Paris and all, every self-respecting gossip lover has a soft spot for certain women in Hollywood.

They're the ones you think are a bit of alright. You may admire anything from their work ethic to their good looks to their wardrobe, but they're the girls that you want to do well in life, would love a glass of wine with, or could imagine being your mate. They're girl's girls. They're loved by men and women alike, although for different reasons. Most of the time.

Everyone's got some, and here are mine.

Yes, Scarlett Johansson is beautiful, but not in the generic, cookie cutter Hollywood blonde way. The girl takes her work seriously, earning her chops with directors Sofia Coppola and Woody Allen, who calls her "criminally sexy."

Despite her rocking body and innate sense of style Scarlett hates exercise, doesn't dress up when out and about on the streets of New York, and spent her 20th birthday at Disneyland. The girl also keeps her love life firmly under wraps, despite associations with some serious Hollywood hunkage like Josh Hartnett, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake.

With an Academy Award nomination, a psychology degree from Havard and a pivotal role in one of the biggest movie trilogies of all time, it's hard to believe that Natalie Portman is only 26.

The Israeli born actress is passionate about her Jewish heritage, a long time animal rights supporter and a driving force behind FINCA, an organization that arranges business loans to women in poor countries. Although she's stunningly beautiful Natalie puts smart ahead of sexy, saying "I'd rather be smart than a movie star." Probably in one of several languages, since she can speak fluent Hebrew, English and French.

Tackling the role of Padme Amidala as a teenager, she withdrew from movie making to take on her university degree, and relished in a sabbatical from hair care when she shaved her head for the movie V For Vendetta.

What's not to love about Gwen Stefani? The self-confessed girlie girl, musician and fashionista totally marches to the beat of her own rasta-inspired drum.

She's original, which is why the fashion world loves her, and just as at home with her multi-million record selling band No Doubt as she is on her own as a solo artist. In spite of the influx of celebrity clothing lines in recent years Gwen's interest in fashion is old school. She's been making her own clothes and costumes since she was a teenager, and now enjoys great success with her fashion label L.A.M.B.

But stuff doesn't always come easily to Gwen, and she's not afraid of sharing it. Her relationship with husband Gavin Rossdale has had its ups and downs, often documented in Gwen's lyrics. She's got one of the best bods in the business, but admits it's been a lifelong struggle to keep it that way, saying "It's an ongoing battle and a nightmare. But I like clothes too much, and I'm really vain."

I love her bright red lipstick, her awesome pink-dipped John Galliano wedding dress, and the fact that she likes The Sound Of Music as much as I do.

Drew Barrymore is a survivor in the truest sense of the word. Born into an acting dynasty and in front of the camera since she was 11 months old, Drew was a superstar at the aged of 7 after a little movie called ET.

She was drinking at 9, smoking weed at 10, and snorting coke at 14 - and by her mid-teens her name was a dirty word around Hollywood. But Drew bounced back with some steely resolve under her sunny disposition and is now a respected movie producer as well as an in-demand actress.

She's starred in movies from Charlie's Angels to Donnie Darko, she's stripped for Playboy, and her girlfriends - from best friend Cameron Diaz to Courtney Love and Sarah Jessica Parker - are of the utmost importance to her. She's eternally optimistic, non-judgmental, and not afraid to admit she's made a mistake.

It's ironic that this regal looking Aussie has played the most famous queen in history not once, but twice. Melbourne-born Cate Blanchett (38) is a Hollywood star in the truest sense of the word. She's ethereal, a chameleon, and a true actor's actor.

This is one woman who isn't afraid to challenge her immense talent, like playing Queen Elizabeth I, a baddie in the upcoming Indiana Jones flick, or even strapping her breasts down to play Bob Dylan in the movie I'm Not There, widely tipped to get her another Oscar nomination.

Never having lived in the US, despite demand, Blanchett has opted for a quiet life in England and now Australia with her husband and two young sons. She's passionate about the environment and works for a number of green causes in her homeland. When she's not making movies or campaigning for the environment Cate and her husband Andrew are directors of the Sydney Theatre Company.

Kate Winslet could make anyone feel like an underachiever. With five Oscar nominations, two kids and a starring role in the biggest-grossing movie of all time, Titanic, and the woman is only 32.

Down to earth, open and refreshingly honest, Kate mixes marriage to director Sam Mendes and motherhood alongside working with the best in the business. Curvy by Hollywood standards, the star isn't backwards in coming forwards about her dislike of the trend for skinny actresses, and has always won work despite not being a size zero.

Since Titanic Winslet opted for the work over the money and has chosen offbeat, quirky roles working with the best in the business. She's not afraid to tackle on-screen nudity, and, if that's not enough, she's Ricky Gervais' favourite ever guest star on Extras.

Completing our trio of Kates, it would be very easy to dislike Kate Hudson. The ultimate California blonde is beautiful, talented, rich, and grew up in a showbiz family with movie star parents Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. But the girl's sunny disposition and undeniable talent means she makes the list of my favourites.

Academy Award nominated for her first major movie role in Almost Famous, Kate lives life as impulsively as her character in that movie, Penny Lane. She met her ex-husband Chris Robinson on a Thursday, and moved in with him on the Sunday! The now single parent to 3-year-old Ryder balances her hippy sensibilities with Hollywood glamour effortlessly. She's beautiful, but doesn't ever look like she tries hard, and is proud of her small chest.

Beautiful, kooky, glamorous and contemporary are all appropriate to describe Cameron Diaz. The 35-year-old actress can go from rom com to a animated feature to a Scorcese period piece in the blink of an eye.

This blonde, blue eyed California girl has legs to die for, but her amazing looks are not the focus of her life. She loves steak, beer, hanging out with her girlfriends, surfing and snowboarding - and her fun-loving attitude to life has won her many male and female fans alike.

Halle Berry will go down in history as the first black woman to win a Best Actress Oscar, but there's so much more to the 41-year-old than a little gold statue. She's almost too beautiful for words, but that's not the reason I think she's awesome.

When her performance as Catwoman won Halle the Razzie (the Oscars for bad movies) for Worst Actress, she was the first celeb ever to turn up and accept her award in person. So she can take the successes with the failures and has a good sense of humility.

Both her marriages ended with her husbands cheating on her, and she's suffered an abusive relationship in the past. But Halle's bounced back from romantic disaster and is now expecting a baby with her hot model boyfriend - who happens to be ten years her junior.

Rachel McAdams may be the most normal movie star around, if a Hollywood boyfriend and a stellar career can be defined as normal. The Canadian actress is one girl you can really believe got into showbiz for the work.

"Acting is my job," she told The Sun in July 2005. "It's not my life. My life is in Toronto." In Toronto she rides a bike round town, is apparently a pleasure to work with, and lives quietly with her boyfriend, The Notebook co-star Ryan Gosling.

Even discussing my list in the office caused a whole lot of debate. Who are your favourite Hollywood celebs, and why? Have I picked a good bunch or am I barking up the wrong tree? Tell us.