12. Geena Davis
Geena Davis brought wit and strength to comedies like ‘Beetlejuice’ (1988) and later ‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991). Her on-screen presence broke barriers for unconventional leading women and sparked ongoing conversations about female representation in Hollywood. In ‘Thelma & Louise,’ Davis portrayed Thelma, a character who embarks on a transformative journey, challenging traditional gender roles. Reflecting on the film’s impact, Davis noted that despite initial excitement, the industry did not see significant change following its release. She stated, “Every time there’s a movie starring women, the media is very excited to say, ‘Well, this changes everything,’ and that certainly happened with ‘Thelma & Louise.’ Now there’s going to be so many female buddy pictures. And nothing changed” (npr.org).
