Geena Davis first gained prominence with her role in the 1982 comedy Tootsie and cemented her career over the following decade with notable performances in Beetlejuice and The Fly.
Her portrayal in The Accidental Tourist earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Davis continued to make a mark with memorable roles such as Thelma in Thelma & Louise (1991) and Dottie Hinson in A League of Their Own (1992).
Although her later films didn’t achieve the same acclaim, Davis transitioned to television and focused on new priorities. Since 2004, she has led the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, dedicated to enhancing the representation of women in Hollywood.
Davis addressed the issue by expressing her concern about the pervasive dominance of male characters in children’s media. Her Institute’s research highlighted the ongoing lack of female representation.
Now, Davis works behind the scenes to effect change. “We meet with every studio, guild, network, and production company to share our findings discreetly,” she said, believing that subtle, behind-the-scenes influence is more impactful than public criticism.