Geena Davis

Actress 

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, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC's hit show "Commander in Chief."

In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the offbeat dog trainer Muriel Pritchett in Lawrence Kasdan's "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.

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."

Davis made her feature film debut starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie." She 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 Davis has: she is not only an Oscar and Golden Globe winning actor, but a world-class athlete (at one time the nation's 13th-ranked archer), a member of the genius society Mensa, and is becoming recognized for her tireless advocacy of women and girls nearly as much as for her acting accomplishments. She is the founder of the non-profit the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and its programming arm See Jane, which engages film and television creators to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters -- and reduce gender stereotyping -- in media made for children 11 and under.

Davis 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.

Davis 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 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.