Geena Davis

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 graduation, Geena entered New England College in New Hampshire and then transferred the next year to Boston University, where she majored in drama. In 1977, 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, she wound up as a model in the Victoria Secret's Catalogue. Ever vigilant, 'Sydney Pollack' (qv) was looking for new talent in the catalog when he spotted Geena and cast her in _Tootsie (1982)_ (qv). 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)_ (qv) with 'Dabney Coleman' (qv). A starter marriage to restaurant manager Richard Emmolo dissolved around this time. Her next appearance on television was in her own series _Sara (1985)_ (qv), which was also good, but soon canceled. Geena then returned to the big screen in the below-average _Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)_ (qv) followed by the successful 'Chevy Chase' (qv) movie _Fletch (1985)_ (qv). From there on, she was on a roll with second husband 'Jeff Goldblum' (qv) in the horror remake _The Fly (1986)_ (qv). More successful were 'Tim Burton' (qv)'s dark comedy _Beetlejuice (1988)_ (qv) and _The Accidental Tourist (1988)_ (qv). For the last film, she was 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 (1988)_ (qv) and everyone-loves-a-clown _Quick Change (1990)_ (qv) with 'Bill Murray' (qv). The very successful _Thelma & Louise (1991)_ (qv), directed by 'Ridley Scott' (qv), again garnered nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe. _A League of Their Own (1992)_ (qv), with 'Tom Hanks' (qv) and directed by 'Penny Marshall' (qv), was the turning point as her next film, _Hero (1992)_ (qv), was only average. Then she married director 'Renny Harlin' (qv) and they set up a production and development company called "The Forge". Their first film was _Speechless (1994)_ (qv), which flopped at the box office. Undeterred, Renny decided to film the big-budget _Cutthroat Island (1995)_ (qv), starring Geena as pirate leader Morgan, which also flopped. Geena has since starred in the thriller _The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)_ (qv) and played Eleanor Little in _Stuart Little (1999)_ (qv) and _Stuart Little 2 (2002)_ (qv). She's also returned to TV, headlining The 'Geena Davis' (qv) Show (2000) and _Commander in Chief (2005)_ (qv). Both shows were canceled after one season, but she won a Golden Globe for the latter. Since 2001 she has been married to her fourth husband, neurosurgeon Reza Jarrahy, and they have three children. In 2008, after being missed from the big screen for some years, Geena ventured to Sydney, Australia, playing the foul-mouthed mother of 'Harry Cook' (qv) and 'Harrison Gilbertson' (qv) to shoot the dark comedy _Accidents Happen (2009)_ (qv).::Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>