Geena Davis’ 8 Essential Film Performances, From ‘Thelma & Louise’ to ‘The Fly’

Click here to read the full article.

Geena Davis won her first Academy Award in 1989 for her supporting turn in Lawrence Kasdan’s “The Accidental Tourist,” but Sunday night will receive one of the Academy’s highest honors, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for her work as an activist in Hollywood.

Since founding the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in 2004, Davis has used her global pulpit as a celebrated actress of four decades (going back to 1982’s “Tootsie”) to champion parity for women and challenge female stereotypes throughout entertainment.

More from IndieWire

• At Governors Awards, Lina Wertmuller Renames the Oscar and David Lynch Is a Man of Few Words

• Academy Names 2019's Five Nicholl Screenwriters From More Than 7,300 Submissions

• Rami Malek Sends Message to Academy Interns in Twitter Video: 'Go Get 'Em!'

Looking back on her storied filmography, it’s easy to see how that passion for authenticity in storytelling translated through work in front of the camera as well, with powerful roles in films such as “Thelma & Louise,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” “A League of Their Own,” and more films that queried the status quo for female representation onscreen.

Below, here are the most essential Geena Davis films, in honor of her well-earned Academy tribute — handed out Sunday, October 27 in Los Angeles.

Best of IndieWire

• Wes Anderson's Favorite Movies: 30 Films the Auteur Wants You to See

• 15 Famously Homoerotic Horror Movies, From 'The Craft' to 'Hellraiser'

• The 10 Best Slasher Movies Ever Made, From 'Candyman' to 'Psycho'

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.