2020-03-30_People

She went from concerned mom to

changemaker.

Becoming a mother opened Davis’s eyes to the gen-

der gap onscreen. “My kids [daughter Alizeh, now

Geena Davis has

starred in some

of Hollywood’s

most memorable

movies, won a

Best Supporting

Actress Oscar and

nearly qualified

for the 2000

Sydney Olympics

for archery.

March 30, 2020 45

But the accolade closest to her heart is the Jean

Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the honorary

Oscar she won last fall for her longtime fight to

increase representation of women in film and TV.

“It was a wonderful honor,” says Davis, 64, who

founded her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in

Media in 2004. It’s often been an uphill battle:

There are still three times as many male characters

as females onscreen. But thanks to her and others’

vocal activism, times are changing. “In kids’ TV and

movies, we’ve reached gender parity with the lead

characters, which is historic,” says Davis. “My sim-

plest advice to creators is, before you cast and shoot

your project, go through it and see if any characters

can become female or have any type of diversity.”

Davis, who lives in L.A. with her three children,

continues to act in projects like Netflix’s Glow and

the upcoming action movie Ava. “When I accept-

ed that award, I made a point of saying, ‘Change

the characters to female—and then cast me!’ ” she

says with a laugh. “I don’t see why all of this effort

shouldn’t benefit me directly.”

P13DAV4C.indd 45 FINAL 3/16/20 11:00 PM