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Still in a League of Her Own
Still, it is impossible to sit in a room with Davis and not feel the full force of her onetime superstardom—she is, after all, a Mensa member, an Oscar and Golden Globe winner, an Amazonian beauty, the miracle mother of twins at 48, an Olympic-level archer (really), and a feminist media activist. She worked with Brad Pitt in his first big role (“Brad was wonderful chapter in my life, he was so young and sweet and aw shucks”), and Madonna at the height of her pop stardom. That Davis can describe herself as “put out to pasture” makes little sense, and yet she speaks of her career with a wistfulness that shows she really believes it.
"People ask me all the time if we could do another Thelma & Louise, and I look at them like they are crazy. It wasn’t ambiguous—we were pancakes at the bottom of the Grand Canyon….very, very dead."
“I wish I could do every role I ever did over,” she says with a slight frown. “I have thought of a sequel to everything I’ve ever done. Except Thelma & Louise, that is. We are very, very dead. People ask me all the time if we could do another one, and I look at them like they are crazy. That wasn’t ambiguous—we were pancakes at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.”
“I hoped that Commander in Chief would last,” she says of her latest show, which ran for only one season (though it resulted in a Golden Globe). “I really thought that show would go for six years. Maybe it was because people claimed that it was a ploy by ABC to get Hillary elected, which is like…really? I thought ABC liked to make money, and that was sort of their goal in creative programming rather than some subversive message.”
“But at least it was fun,” she goes on. “I got to bring my kids to set every day and they got Goldfish crumbs in the Oval Office carpet.”
Davis suddenly looks tired, and admits that doing interviews isn’t as exciting as it used to be—“I used to just confuse reporters,” she says. “To amuse the crew guys that would have to be in those hot press trailers. Because everyone would ask the same things. Like with A League of Their Own, they would ask if I had ever played baseball before. So I would say, 'Sure, I was the ringer of my hometown Sparkettes,' to one guy. And to the next, 'Nope, never touched a ball in my life.' I’m sure all these little papers have printed contradictory things about me.”
But now, the media frenzy has died down, and Davis seems content to plug her small film in this small room, with no plan for her future. “I’m always interested in great parts, but I don’t know what I’ll be doing next,” she says. “But it is always fun to have a reason to get dressed up. I’m usually in sweatpants these days.”
As she gets up, towering over her three handlers, it is tough to imagine Davis ever wearing a pair of sweats. Even in her 50s, and even with her self-effacing monologue, no small back room can seem to contain her. You can take the parts away from an actress, but there are some things that can never be lost. Davis is as beautiful now as she ever was, and in her honesty about the trials of aging in the business, she's as much of a presence as any of the young people she claims are taking her roles. In other words, she seems to have a few more sequels in her still, long before she ends up as a pancake.
Rachel Syme is culture editor of The Daily Beast.
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Rachel Syme is the former culture editor of The Daily Beast and now writes regularly about the arts.
The Week in Culture
Rachel Syme is the former culture editor of The Daily Beast and now writes regularly about the arts.
Mixpixlix
It isn't only women in the movies who find their careers and opportunities nose diving after 40! In the last 20 years the mergers and acqusitions mania tossed many well qualified, but over 40 women ( & some men) out into the street.
I was a fan of Commander in Chief and was dissapointed when it was cancelled. I have no doubt some version will reappear when this nation is comfortable with the idea of a woman President. We're getting close but not there, yet.
mdesade
mixpixlix..., i think i agree with you. the last good movie with hoffman or nicholson or de niro or pesci or keitel or hopkins or brannagh or irons are just as rare as sarandon, field, lange, bassett, or davis. only streep seems to find constant work.
no dearth of parts for kutcher or diaz though i am sure....
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finderj
Well, not exactly.
Clooney, Cruise, Ford, Cage, Hanks, all over forty and turning out blockbusters regularly.
Not so much for the ladies.
The movie business is missing out on the largest generation ever by not catering to the Baby Boomers.
Think, in these tough economic times, someone will listen?
Naw, too much to hope for.
YARROW
We are sooo obessed with youth.I think it is silly to think wrinkles make a person less valuable. We would all like to stay forever young, but nature won't allow us to do that. I say get some very old people do movies , modeling and commercials, for something other than polident
YARROW
Geena Davis is as lovely as ever
YARROW
I just mis-spelled another word, obsessed
Susannah111
Thanks for a well-written piece about one of my favorite actresses. It was a pleasure to read.
Veronicaxy
Awww, I love Geena!
When I was in college I had a great pic of her and then-husband Jeff Goldblum on my bulletin board and told everyone they were my future, next-life parents. They were off-beat, funny, intelligent, soulful and handsome -- qualities that survive aging.
Glad her love/family life have stabilized and that she is still in great form for the game with ambition still intact. She's set for another great phase. There are almost always career lulls, but that doesn't mean even the best has been had yet.
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iaintpeople
Uhm.. hello... write, produce, direct, star in your own movies -- what am I missing from the female Boomer generation that you all can't create your own work? The miinds & voices of Shirley Maclaine, Maggie Smith, CCH Pounder, and Geena davis among so many others are sorely missed by us Gen-X females. Art 101: Make your own art.
missmay
Rachel, I really enjoyed this article! Geena Davis is a classic ...
mdreader
She's never been in an independent film? Well it's about time. Most indies are way better than the schlock put out by the major movie corporations.
There's always 'legitimate' theater, as well. Playwrights seem to be far more interested in the lives of older women than your average Hollywood screenwriter.
misbrown
I love Gena Davis, she is a great actor. She was superb in the role of President. It is a shame that this country has such a problem with aging, especially women aging. So called discrimination laws not working, This needs to be fixed, 50, 60, 70 is not old and experience is a great personal asset.
luelue
I am also part of the over 40 crowd and hardly ever go to the movies, because there are very few good ones. Mostly fluff, crap, vacuous nonsense, stupid sequels. Hollywood is missing a very big audience. And they're hurtin' too.
daysfan1
If people are serious about the art, go to New York or another city that isn't all about "being rich and famous" and pursue the theatre because it will always be there even for the older actors. Wrinkles don't matter on the stage as it does on TV/Film. Actors should only go to Hollywood if there is a good opportunity. Otherwise, stay away. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made a comeback when they were older with Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and several other horror/thrillers but let's face it, those were campy. But at least their great acting made up for it. Hollywood isn't about talent, it's about money and selling people as a product. You can't even be yourself. That's a terrible thing to impose on a human being.
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