She was once known as the “Most Popular Star”

Geena Davis gained fame with the 1982 comedy *Tootsie* and solidified her career over the next decade with roles in films like *Beetlejuice* and *The Fly*. Her performance in *The Accidental Tourist* won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. In 1991, Davis starred as Thelma in the iconic film *Thelma & Louise*, and in 1992, she played Dottie Hinson in the sports drama *A League of Their Own*.

Despite her early success, Davis’s later films received less acclaim, and she shifted her focus to television. However, Davis’s priorities have changed. Since 2004, she has led the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, aiming to improve the representation of women in Hollywood.

“I decided to talk about it because I was concerned people would find out how I live in Hollywood on a daily basis,” Davis explained, noting how male characters dominated children’s media. Her Institute’s research confirmed the lack of female representation.

Davis now works discreetly to bring about change. “We go meet with every studio, every guild, every network, and every production firm and share it with them discreetly,” she said, believing that behind-the-scenes influence is more effective than public criticism.