Geena Davis got her big break in the comedy Tootsie in 1982, and throughout the course of the following ten years, she established herself in the industry. She took on supporting roles in movies like Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and the 1980s adaptation of The Fly, and eventually her acting prowess would lead her to an Oscar victory.
She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Muriel in The Accidental Tourist, and in 1991, she starred as the snarky housewife Thelma opposite Susan Sarandon’s Louise in the classic road movie Thelma and Louise. She followed it up in 1992 with a part as Dottie Hinson in the comedy sports drama A League of Their Own, which is about the women’s professional baseball league that was founded during World War II.
However, her later films frequently fell short of the same level of critical or financial success, and these days, it’s more likely that you’ll see Davis on television than in a film. Davis has most definitely not abandoned Hollywood, but her priorities have changed. Here are Geena Davis’ recent activities and the motivations behind her efforts to improve the film industry.
Geena Davis has not stopped performing, but since 2004, she has committed herself to a different cause. She is working to give women in Hollywood more prominent roles by leading the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
“People had no concept that children’s media was so prejudiced against girls, which is why I founded this entire study institute. And I was certain it was okay before I saw it with my daughter “Vogue heard Davis’ explanation. I made the decision to bring up the truth in my daily life in Hollywood because I was horrified to learn it. While watching children’s television with her daughter, Davis saw that there were significantly more male characters than female characters. However, when she brought this up in meetings, no one appeared to be aware of the severity of the issue.
Davis thought that data analysis was the solution, so she established the Institute and oversaw the largest study ever done on gender representations in television and film. The poor outcomes supported her worries that women weren’t represented adequately. Since then, she has been committed to resolving this problem.
Geen Davis has been working diligently with the Institute and is constantly attempting to collect additional information on gender discrepancies in the media. Why doesn’t Davis spend more time publicizing her study since there is so much interest in this topic? She asserts that she is better successful instigating change behind the scenes. According to Davis, who spoke to Interview, “We go meet with every studio, every guild, every network, and every production firm and share it with them, discreetly.” “I rarely expose somebody in public. If I can influence the creators, it will be far more effective.”
Additionally, Davis revealed in a Glamour interview that the Institute’s objectives don’t always revolve around bringing the issue to the public’s attention. I conduct interviews and talks, and we make public data available, Davis added. But educating the masses is not the main objective. She believes that going directly to the decision-makers who can effect change in the entertainment sector is more effective than using public pressure to do so.
What else has Geena Davis been up to that takes up so much of her time, besides meeting with directors and screenwriters to advocate for more female representation on screen? She is also working on programs to promote greater diversity in the entertainment industry. She is acting independently as well.
Davis co-founded the non-profit Bentonville Film Festival in 2015, which features films made by women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals. The festival’s organizer, the Bentonville Film Foundation, also offers year-round funding to filmmakers who are typically underrepresented in Hollywood. Davis aims to provide opportunities for great directors who may not receive the recognition they merit in the world of popular cinema.
Oh, we intend to alter the world! The Guardian was told by Davis. “The storytellers and characters on television should mirror the population, which is 50% female and tremendously diverse, as is our very straightforward purpose. It’s not like, “Wow, what an absurd notion!” It simply makes perfect sense.”
In her thirties, Geena Davis gave birth to a child. She wed Reza Jarrahy in 2001, and the two welcomed their daughter Alizeh as their first child in 2002. Davis gave birth to their identical sons Kaiis and Kian in 2004. In the end, Davis and Jarrahy parted ways, becoming legally divorced in 2018.
According to Davis, she has always wanted to have children, but when she was younger, she thought the time wasn’t quite right. She now understands the advantages of having children later in life and believes she made the right choice.
“I’ve always considered it a blessing that I had my children later because I feel like I’ve changed a lot. I’ve always known I wanted children, but I don’t know why I waited so long “The Guardian was told by Davis. She went on, “Yet it’s been fantastic. The delight of having twins!” Davis currently resides in Los Angeles with her kids.
Geena Davis is still actively looking for exciting new roles and projects. In reality, she’s set to star in a forthcoming film and TV show. The humorous drama Cowgirl’s Last Ride, which depicts the tale of a lady who escapes a care facility in order to return home, is being worked on by Davis. Her son is trying to find her along the way, and in the midst of everything, the two need to find a way to reconcile. There isn’t an official release date for the movie yet.
Davis will also be making her debut in reality TV with a brand-new series of her own. She is currently hard at work creating the reality series I Can By Friday, in which she will invest each week in learning challenging new skills and doing risky stunts.
She probably won’t have much issue, based on her skill in developing her athletic abilities on film sets and becoming a legitimate archery champion. Whatever Davis does, she will continue to be a force for change in Hollywood for years to come, whether it is in front of the camera or on the screen.
