As a trailblazer of feminist cinema, a powerhouse supporting actress, or a female lead in horror films that ran from serious to self-matters-of-factly chilling, Geena Davis (70) stood out across genres in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1995, the plan was for her star to rise as a radiant blockbuster heroine, but instead the century’s flop “Cutthroat Island” not only wiped out millions at the box office; it also sent the actress’s film career plummeting to the depths of the sea.
After a string of smaller parts in movies like the campy comedy “Tootsie” with Dustin Hoffman and on various TV series, Davis landed her first lead role in a cult classic of horror cinema that would go on to win an Oscar. In 1986, she experienced up close how her partner Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) mutates into a terrifying human-insect hybrid after a lab accident in David Cronenberg’s body-horror masterwork “The Fly.” Even today, “The Fly” remains Hollywood’s go-to reference for disgust—where the fingernails alone can make even the sturdiest viewers turn away.
In real life, though, Davis and Goldblum’s story had a longer, happier arc. They married in 1987; the marriage—her second out of four—ended in 1991.
Already in 1988, the next eerie cult role followed, this time with a touch more comedy: in “Beetlejuice” she faced Alec Baldwin and the titular mischievous ghost (as the recently deceased couple) alongside Michael Keaton. After “The Fly,” this film earned its own Best Makeup Oscar the following year.
Speaking of the Oscars: the year 1989 brought another nomination for Davis. The drama “The Accidental Tourist” (the German title here reflects its release that same year as Tim Burton’s horror comedy) featured her in a supporting role as Muriel Pritchett, alongside William Hurt and Kathleen Turner in the main cast. In a charmingly gracious thank-you speech, she dedicated the Oscar to “my wonderful acting teacher Roy London and my other wonderful acting teacher and beloved husband, Jeff Goldblum.”
Almost exactly three years later, a Best Actress nomination seemed within reach again. Yet neither she nor her co-nominee Susan Sarandon could ascend to the stage that year. The competition was simply too strong—Jodie Foster’s groundbreaking performance in “The Silence of the Lambs” loomed large.
The story, however, was still being written in real life as well as on screen. The film that would carry the headlines—and the feminist conversation—enriched its legacy by becoming a road movie in which two women carried the narrative as the sole leads. Men appeared only in supporting roles, including a very young Brad Pitt in a minor but memorable presence.
Several films and her activism solidified her status as a queer icon
With titles like “Thelma & Louise,” “The Accidental Tourist,” or “A Class for Itself” (1992), Davis established herself as a queer cultural fixture. The films depict women defying patriarchal expectations. “Thelma & Louise”, in particular, achieved cult status in queer circles for its feminist, rebellious, and anti-conservative stance. Her roles, her presence, and her blend of seriousness with a pinch of eccentricity earned her a lasting place in queer communities—especially among lesbian and feminist audiences.
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In addition to her screen work, Davis has championed queer and human rights: through the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, she has actively promoted better representation of women and marginalized groups in the industry. This work was recognized in 2020 when she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her humanitarian contributions to the film industry. Davis has repeatedly spoken out in favor of LGBT rights, including marriage equality, protection from discrimination, and visibility for queer people—even when it wasn’t the popular stance in Hollywood.
The Pirates Bride debacle
What goes up can come down with breathtaking speed. Davis learned this the hard way in 1995 with the colossal flop “Cutthroat Island.” The production company, Carolco Pictures, invested around $115 million in the swashbuckling epic, but it barely grossed more than $10 million worldwide. The failure was catastrophic enough to drive Carolco into bankruptcy and ruin a chapter in film history.
After that, Davis’s film career paused for several years. She re-emerged humbly in the family-friendly “Stuart Little” series starting in 1999. On the small screen, however, she found a successful new path: her role as U.S. President Mackenzie Allen in the TV series “Welcome, Mrs. President” (2005-2006) earned her a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination.
Most recently, Davis appeared in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut “Blink Twice” (2024). A few years earlier, she had separated from her fourth husband, Reza Jarrahy, after 17 years of marriage. Looking ahead to this year, she has a high-profile Netflix series in the works: “The Boroughs,” a new project from the Duffer Brothers, the minds behind “Stranger Things.” Davis appears in the sci-fi series alongside Bill Pullman, Jena Malone, and Alfred Molina—a strong ensemble that serves as a fitting birthday gift for her 70th year.
