In 1982, the comedy Tootsie gave Geena Davis her big break, and over the next ten years, she built a solid reputation in the business. She accepted supporting parts in films like Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice and the 1980s version of The Fly, and eventually, her acting abilities would bring her an Oscar victory.
Her performance as Muriel in The Accidental Tourist earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1991, she played the sassy housewife Thelma opposite Susan Sarandon’s Louise in the classic road movie Thelma and Louise. She then appeared as Dottie Hinson in the 1992 comic sports drama A League of Their Own, based on the World War II-era, women’s professional baseball league.
However, her following movies generally didn’t achieve the same degree of popularity with audiences or critics, and nowadays, you’re more likely to see Davis on television than in a movie. Davis certainly hasn’t given up on Hollywood, but her priorities have. Here are Geena Davis’ most recent initiatives and the driving forces behind her work to advance the motion picture business.
Geena Davis has continued to perform, although she has dedicated herself to a different cause since 2004. By overseeing the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, she aims to offer women in Hollywood more significant roles.
“When I started this study center, people had no idea how biased towards girls’ children’s media was. And before I viewed it with my daughter, I was sure it was okay. “Vogue heard Davis’ justification. I decided to discuss how I live in Hollywood daily because I was frightened to learn it.
Davis noticed a disproportionate number of male characters compared to female characters when watching children’s television with her daughter. But when she brought this up in meetings, no one seemed to understand how serious the problem was.
Davis founded the Institute and managed the largest study on gender representations in television and movies because she believed data analysis was the answer. Her concerns that women weren’t adequately represented were confirmed by the disappointing results. She has been dedicated to finding a solution ever since.
Geen Davis has been assiduously collaborating with the Institute and making ongoing efforts to compile more data on gender disparities in the media. With so much interest in this subject, why doesn’t Davis spend more time promoting her study? She claims that she has more success bringing about change covertly.
In an interview, Davis stated, “We go meet with every studio, every guild, every network, and every production firm and share it with them discreetly.” “I hardly ever publicly humiliate anybody. It will be much more effective if I can sway the creators.”
Additionally, Davis acknowledged in a Glamour interview that the Institute’s goals don’t always center on drawing attention to the problem. “I do presentations and discussions, and we release data to the public,” Davis continued.
However, teaching the general public is not the major goal. She thinks it is more effective to approach the decision-makers who can affect the entertainment industry directly rather than relying on public pressure.
What else has Geena Davis been up to besides meeting with filmmakers and screenwriters to promote more female representation on screen that occupies so much of her time? She is also developing initiatives to encourage more diversity in the entertainment sector. She is also acting on her own.
The non-profit Bentonville Film Festival, which showcases films by women, people of color, and LGBTQ people, was co-founded by Davis in 2015. The Bentonville Film Foundation, which organized the festival, also provides year-round support to filmmakers who are usually underrepresented in Hollywood. Davis wants to open doors for talented filmmakers who might not otherwise get the credit they deserve in mainstream cinema.
Oh yes, we want to change the world! Davis informed The Guardian. “As is our very simple goal, the storytellers and characters on television should reflect the population, which is 50% female and extremely diverse. Not like, “Wow, what a ridiculous idea!” Simply put, it makes total sense.
Geena Davis gave birth to a child in her thirties. She married Reza Jarrahy in 2001, and the two had their first child, a girl named Alizeh, in 2002. In 2004, Davis gave birth to their twin sons, Kaiis and Kian. Ultimately, Davis and Jarrahy split up and got a divorce in 2018.
Davis claims that she has always desired children but put it off since she felt the moment wasn’t quite right when she was younger. She now recognizes the benefits of having children later in life and is confident in her decision.
“I’ve always thought that having children later in life was a blessing since I feel like I’ve changed a lot. I don’t understand why I waited so long because I’ve always known I wanted kids. Davis informed The Guardian. “Yet it’s been fantastic,” she continued. “The joy of having twins!” Davis and her children are currently residing in Los Angeles.
Geena Davis is continually searching for intriguing new roles and projects. She has a role in an upcoming movie and TV show. Davis is now working on the comedic drama Cowgirl’s Last Ride, which tells the story of a woman who leaves a nursing home to return home.
The two need to find a way to get along as her son is trying to track her down along the road. The movie hasn’t had an official release date yet.
Davis will also make her reality TV debut with a brand-new series of her own. She is working diligently to produce the reality series I Can By Friday, in which she will commit to spending time each week acquiring complex new skills and taking calculated risks.
Based on her success in honing her athletic skills on movie sets and becoming a true archery champion, she shouldn’t have too many problems. Whether in front of the camera or on the screen, Davis will continue to be a force for change in Hollywood for years to come.
