50 Facts About Geena Davis

Early Life and Education

Geena Davis's journey to stardom began in a small town in Massachusetts. Her early years were filled with creativity and ambition.

1. Full Name: Geena Davis was born Virginia Elizabeth Davis.
2. Birthplace: Wareham, Massachusetts, U.S.
3. Age: As of 2024, Geena Davis is 68 years old.
4. Early Life: Davis grew up in a family that encouraged her creative pursuits. Her father was a civil engineer, and her mother was a homemaker.
5. Education: Davis studied drama at New England College and later at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, from which she graduated in 1979.
6. Summer Stock Theatre: During her college years, Davis worked in summer stock theatre to gain practical experience in acting.

Career Beginnings

Davis's career didn't start in Hollywood. She had to work her way up from humble beginnings.

7. Early Career: After college, Davis moved to New York City where she initially found work waiting tables in restaurants. She later became a lingerie model with the Zoli modeling agency.
8. Acting Debut: Davis made her feature film debut in the comedy Tootsie (1982), where she played a bit part.
9. Breakthrough Role: Her breakthrough role came in the thriller The Fly (1986), which proved to be one of her first box office hits.

Rise to Prominence

Geena Davis quickly rose to prominence with a series of successful films that showcased her versatility.

10. Prominence: The fantasy comedy Beetlejuice (1988) brought her to prominence, showcasing her versatility as an actress.
11. Academy Award: Davis earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the drama The Accidental Tourist (1988).
12. Thelma & Louise: She established herself as a leading lady with the road film Thelma & Louise (1991), for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
13. A League of Their Own: Davis’s performance in the sports film A League of Their Own (1992) garnered a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Career Challenges and Comebacks

Even successful careers have their ups and downs. Davis faced challenges but made notable comebacks.

14. Career Downturn: Her roles in the box office failures Cutthroat Island (1995) and The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), both directed by then-husband Renny Harlin, were followed by a lengthy break and downturn in her career.
15. Stuart Little: Davis starred as the adoptive mother of the title character in the Stuart Little franchise (1999–2005).
16. Commander in Chief: She played the first female president of the United States in the television series Commander in Chief (2005–2006), winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for her role.
17. Grey’s Anatomy: Davis portrayed the recurring role of Dr. Nicole Herman in Grey’s Anatomy (2014–2015, 2018).
18. The Exorcist: She appeared in the first season of the horror television series The Exorcist (2016) as Regan MacNeil–Angela Rance.
19. GLOW: Davis also appeared in the third season (2019) of GLOW, about female wrestlers.

Advocacy and Activism

Beyond acting, Davis has made significant contributions as an advocate for gender equality in media.

20. Activism: Davis is a well-known activist off-screen, particularly in the area of gender parity in media. In 2004, she founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
21. UN Special Envoy: In 2012, Davis was named the UN special envoy for women and girls in information and communications technology.
22. Film Festival: Davis runs a film festival every May in Bentonville, Arkansas, called BFF (Bentonville Film Festival), which champions women and diverse voices in film and other media.

Unique Talents and Interests

Geena Davis is not just an actress and activist; she has a range of unique talents and interests.

23. Archery: Davis took up archery at age 41 and was a semifinalist for the Olympic team at 43. She participated in the U.S. Olympic archery team tryouts in 1999 but did not qualify for the team.
24. Athletic Achievements: Despite not qualifying for the Olympic team, Davis participated as a wild-card entry in the Sydney International Golden Arrow competition in 2000.
25. Mensa Membership: Davis is a member of Mensa, an organization for people with high IQs.
26. Language Skills: She is fluent in Swedish, which she studied abroad in Sweden during her senior year of high school.
27. Unique Interests: Davis has a fascination with sorting things and can sort puzzle pieces all day. She also enjoys pumpkin carving and has been known to spend hours separating Play-Doh back into its colors.

Fun Facts and Personal Life

Davis's life is filled with interesting tidbits and personal achievements that add to her fascinating persona.

28. Early Jobs: At 10 years old, Davis started a newspaper route, which helped her earn money to buy wallpaper that she hung in her living room without her parents’ knowledge.
29. Clothing Design: Davis has expressed a desire to become a clothing designer for tall women, given her own 6-foot figure.
30. Victoria’s Secret Model: Before becoming an actress, Davis was a Victoria’s Secret catalog model, which helped her land her first film role in Tootsie.
31. Jingles Memory: Davis has an unusual memory for jingles from 50 years ago but struggles to remember what she ate for lunch yesterday.
32. Cast Sing-Along: During the filming of A League of Their Own, Davis got the cast and crew to sing along to Jesus Christ Superstar every morning.
33. Research Institute: Davis founded seejane.org, a research institute that advocates for more and better female characters in kids’ TV and movies.
34. UN Partnership: The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has partnered with the UN women’s agency and the Rockefeller Foundation to produce studies on gender images in movies.
35. Study on STEM Careers: A study by the Geena Davis Institute found that 58% of women in STEM careers named the character Dana Scully from The X-Files as their inspiration, highlighting the impact of media on career choices.
36. Archery Impact: The release of Brave and The Hunger Games in 2012 led to a 100% increase in girls participating in archery, demonstrating the influence of media on sports participation.
37. Women Over 50 Study: The Geena Davis Institute conducted a study on women over 50 in film and television, finding that they are underrepresented and often relegated to minor or supporting roles. The study aims to encourage more significant roles for women over 50 in media.
38. Feedback on Study: The feedback from the study has been positive, with many acknowledging unconscious bias in casting decisions. The institute is working to bring about important changes in the entertainment industry.
39. Bentonville Film Festival: The annual Bentonville Film Festival, founded by Davis, focuses on promoting gender parity and reducing gender stereotyping in media aimed at children.
40. Honorary Doctorate: For her work in promoting gender equality in media, Davis received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Bates College in 2009.
41. Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: In 2019, Davis was honored with the Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long advocacy for gender parity in film and television.
42. Dads and Daughters Partnership: Davis teamed up with the non-profit group Dads and Daughters to launch a venture dedicated to balancing the number of male and female characters in children’s television and movie programming.
43. FWD Campaign: In 2011, Davis joined Uma Thurman, Chanel Iman, and Josh Hartnett in the USAID and Ad Council’s FWD campaign to raise awareness about the East Africa drought.
44. Net Worth: Geena Davis’s net worth is estimated at $30 million, a testament to her successful career in both acting and advocacy.
45. Philanthropy: Davis is a supporter of the Women’s Sports Foundation and an advocate for Title IX, an Act of Congress focusing on equality in sports opportunities.
46. Unique Skills: Davis can move her eyes independently and wiggle her ears one at a time, showcasing her unique physical abilities.
47. Writing Skills: She can write backward with her left hand while writing forward with her right hand and can also write upside down just as fast as she can normally write.
48. Pumpkin Carving Expertise: Davis is an expert pumpkin carver, a hobby she enjoys in her free time.
49. Family Life: Davis has twin sons, Kian and Kaiis, with her ex-husband Dr. Reza Jarrahy. She did not have a C-section during their birth.
50. Legacy: Geena Davis’s legacy extends beyond her acting career. She has inspired generations of women with her powerful on-screen portrayals and continues to advocate for gender equality in the entertainment industry.

Geena Davis: A Legacy of Talent and Advocacy

Geena Davis has left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and the world of gender equality. From her early days in Tootsie to her iconic roles in Thelma & Louise and A League of Their Own, Davis has shown incredible versatility. Beyond acting, she’s a fierce advocate for women in media, founding the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to push for better representation. Her efforts have led to significant studies and partnerships aimed at changing the landscape of film and television. Davis’s unique talents, like her archery skills and Mensa membership, add layers to her already impressive persona. Whether on screen or off, she continues to inspire and challenge norms. Geena Davis isn’t just a star; she’s a trailblazer making a lasting impact.