Geena Davis, the celebrated actress best known for her role in “Thelma & Louise,” was recently spotted enjoying a leisurely afternoon of shopping in Miami. The 69-year-old star was casually dressed in a comfortable blue loungewear set, paired with black fluffy slippers, as she browsed the local shops. Her brunette hair, worn loose and flowing past her shoulders, complemented her relaxed and happy demeanor. This public appearance offered a rare glimpse into the personal life of the acclaimed actress.
Davis’s journey to stardom began in Massachusetts and took off with her breakthrough role in the 1982 comedy “Tootsie,” where she starred alongside Jessica Lange and Dustin Hoffman.
The 1980s proved to be a pivotal decade for her career, marked by a series of memorable performances:
“The Fly” (1986): She starred alongside Jeff Goldblum, who later became her husband, in this sci-fi horror classic.
“Beetlejuice” (1988): She solidified her status as a versatile actress with her role in Tim Burton’s cult classic comedy.
“The Accidental Tourist” (1988): Her performance in this film earned her an Academy Award, cementing her place in Hollywood.
Following her early success, Davis continued to star in a string of iconic films throughout the 1990s.
“Thelma & Louise” (1991): This film, co-starring Susan Sarandon, became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of her most recognizable roles.
“A League of Their Own” (1992): She starred alongside Tom Hanks and Madonna in this beloved sports comedy.
“Stuart Little” film series: She appeared in these incredibly successful family films.
Despite maintaining a steady presence in Hollywood, Davis has spoken about how her career shifted significantly after she reached the age of 40. In a 2020 interview, she openly discussed the challenges she faced. “I fell off the cliff,” she said, describing the scarcity of substantial roles available to her. “[T]he great roles were incredibly scarce. It was a big difference.”
Driven by her observations about the underrepresentation of female characters in media, Davis founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in 2004.
The Institute has become a leading research organization dedicated to promoting gender equality in film and television. Davis has been a vocal advocate for change in the industry. During a speech at the London Film Festival, she emphasized the importance of creating more meaningful roles for women. “Give female characters more to do, more to say, greater aspirations…give them more clothes,” she urged. She also cautioned against complacency, stating, “And don’t listen when people say [gender equality in Hollywood] has been fixed. We need to look to the numbers and make the sweeping changes that need to happen and make them now.”
Davis has consistently advocated for a more equitable portrayal of women and girls in media aimed at children. “Surely in the 21st Century we should be showing kids that boys and girls share the sandbox equally. Let’s not embed a negative image. We are unwittingly training generation after generation to see men and women as unequal. We need to dramatically change the way women are depicted to children aged 11 and under.”
Beyond her work in film and advocacy, Davis has also been candid about her personal experiences with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, impulse control, and the ability to remain still.
In a 2022 appearance on “Loose Women,” Davis shared her journey to understanding and managing her ADHD. “I had started with a therapist, and I think by the second session she said, ‘Has anyone told you, you have ADD?'” she recounted. “I carried a huge burden of shame most of my life. I thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t finish or start a lot of things. I found it very shameful. But when I found out there’s a reason and I’m not a bad person, it was very interesting.”
Davis embraced motherhood later in life, welcoming her daughter Alizeh, now 23, and twin sons Kaiis and Kian, now 21, with her former partner, Reza Jarrahy. She has spoken about the unique perspective she gained from becoming a mother in her 40s. “I’m really grateful that I had children in my 40s because I knew I’d be more involved. I didn’t have a lot of self-esteem, but I was really determined that my children would have self-esteem,” she shared on “Loose Women.”
