Geena Davis

Academy Award-winner Geena Davis is one of Hollywood's most respected actors, appearing in several roles that became cultural landmarks. Earning the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama, Geena broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in “Commander in Chief”.

In 1989, she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “The Accidental Tourist”. She was again nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance as Thelma in Ridley Scott's “Thelma and Louise”, in which she co-starred with Susan Sarandon.

Geena Davis went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of baseball phenomenon Dottie Hinson in “A League of Their Own”. She made her feature film debut starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie” and went on to star in such films as “The Fly”, “Beetlejuice”, “Earth Girls are Easy”, “Angie”, “The Long Kiss Goodnight” and “Stuart Little”.

Few have achieved such remarkable success in as many different fields as Geena Davis: not only is she an Oscar-winning actor, but also a world-class athlete (at one time the USA's 13th-ranked archer and women's Olympics archery team semi-finalist), a member of the genius society Mensa, and is becoming increasingly recognised for her tireless advocacy of women and girls rights nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments.

She is the founder of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The Institute is at the forefront of changing female portrayals and gender stereotypes in children's media and entertainment. The Institute is uniquely positioned to spotlight gender inequalities at every media and entertainment company through cutting-edge research, education, training, strategic guidance and advocacy programs. Its mission is to work within the entertainment industry to dramatically alter how girls and women are reflected in the media.

She was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2019 for her efforts to promote a more balanced representation of women on screen.

In 2011, Geena Davis became one of a handful of celebrities attached to USAID and Ad Council's FWD campaign, an awareness initiative tied to that year's East Africa drought. She joined Uma Thurman, Chanel Iman and Josh Hartnett in TV and internet ads to "forward the facts" about the crisis.

Geena is also an appointee to the California Commission on the Status of Women, and is a partner with UN Women in the effort to change the way media represents women and girls worldwide.

She is currently the Special Envoy for Women and Girls in the field of technology for the United Nations. She holds honorary degrees from Boston University, Bates College and New England College.

Thelma & Louise, 20 Years Later
Thelma & Louise is a cultural landmark that remains a touchstone for women around the globe. The movie struck a nerve and women of all ages feel a passionate attachment to it. From the lectern, hear Geena Davis celebrate sisterhood, discuss what the movie meant to us then and what it means to us now — as well as speak to why and how being cast in the movie changed Geena’s life — and spurred her into creating a women’s empowerment non-profit and becoming a lifelong advocate for women.

Geena Takes Aim: Empowering our Daughters and Ourselves
Quickly becoming recognized for her tireless advocacy of women and girls nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments, Geena Davis has made it a life long mission to bring gender equality into the popular culture lexicon. At the forefront of changing female portrayals and gender stereotypes, through cutting-edge research, education, training, strategic guidance and advocacy programs, Geena Davis’ mission is to work within the entertainment industry to dramatically alter how girls and women are reflected in media.

Madam President: Making Dreams Reality

A Conversation with Geena Davis

Gender Equality in the Modern Media
From the lectern, hear Geena celebrate sisterhood, discuss what her movies meant to us then and what they mean to us now — as well as speak to why and how being cast in Thelma & Louis changed Geena's life — and spurred her into creating a women's empowerment non-profit and becoming a lifelong advocate for women.

Award Winning Life: Geena’s Steps to Achieving Success