Geena Davis

Biography

As a child, Geena dreamed of being an actress. While in high school, she felt left out and had low self esteem because at 6 feet, she was the tallest girl in school. After high school, Geena entered New England College in New Hampshire and then transferred the next year to Boston University where she majored in drama. In 1979, she graduated and moved to New York to start her career. Her career consisted of sales clerk and waitress. She worked at Ann Taylor, where she eventually rose to Saturday window mannequin while trying to get a job with a modeling agency. Eventually signed by the Zoli Agency at the advanced age of 23, she wound up as a model in the Victoria Secret's Catalogue. Ever vigilant, Sydney Pollack was looking for new talent in the catalogue when he spotted Geena and cast her in Tootsie (1982). With good reviews, Geena moved to Los Angeles where she was cast as Wendy in the short lived, but critically acclaimed Television Series "Buffalo Bill" (1983). Her next appearance on Television was in her own show "Sara" (1985) which was also good, but soon canceled. She then returned to the big screen in the below average Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) followed by the successful Chevy Chase movie Fletch (1985). From there on, she was on a roll with future husband Jeff Goldblum in the horror remake of Fly, The (1986). More successful were Tim Burton's dark comedy Beetlejuice (1988) and Accidental Tourist, The (1988). For the last film, she would be the surprise winner of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. More fun movies followed with the flying saucer in the pool Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) and everyone loves a clown Quick Change (1990) with Bill Murray. The very successful Thelma & Louise (1991), directed by Ridley Scott, would again garner nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe. League of Their Own, A (1992) with Tom Hanks and directed by Penny Marshall, would be the turning point as her next film Hero (1992) would only be average. Then Geena would marry director Renny Harlin and they would set up a production and development company called "The Forge". Their first film would be Speechless (1994) which flopped at the box office. Undeterred, Renny decided to film the big budget Cutthroat Island (1995) starring pirate Geena, which became a HUGE FLOP. Carrying on, Geena is now starring in the thriller, Long Kiss Goodnight, The (1996).