'Give women more clothes to wear in movies!': Thelma & Louise's Geena Davis, 59, delivers passionate speech on gender equality in Hollywood

Geena Davis asked for gender equality during an impassioned speech delivered at the London Film Festival on Thursday morning.

The 59-year-old Thelma & Louise vet was part of the third Global Symposium on Gender in Media, and the first outside the US, according to Variety.

'Give female characters more to do, more to say, greater aspirations … give them more clothes,' the brunette beauty said. 'And don’t listen when people say [gender equality in Hollywood] has been fixed. We need to look to the numbers and make the sweeping changes that need to happen and make them now.'

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Not just a beautiful face: Geena Davis asked for gender equality during an impassioned speech delivered at the London Film Festival on Thursday morning

Not just a beautiful face: Geena Davis asked for gender equality during an impassioned speech delivered at the London Film Festival on Thursday morning

A classic hit: Davis admitted she became more involved with gender parity in film after starring in Thelma & Louise in 1991

A classic hit: Davis admitted she became more involved with gender parity in film after starring in Thelma & Louise in 1991

The Oscar-winning actress also said, 'Surely in the 21st Century we should be showing kids that boys and girls share the sandbox equally. Let’s not embed a negative image.'

The former Olympian added, 'We are unwittingly training generation after generation to see men and women as unequal. We need to dramatically change the way women are depicted to children aged 11 and under.'

In addition to Thelma & Louise, Davis is also known for 1998's Beetlejuice, 1986's The Fly, 1992's A League Of Their Own and 1996's The Long Kiss Goodnight. She won the Oscar for 1988's The Accidental Tourist.

She knows the business: The star, who  won the Oscar for 1988's The Accidental Tourist, also said, 'We are unwittingly training generation after generation to see men and women as unequal. We need to dramatically change the way women are depicted to children aged 11 and under;

She knows the business: The star, who  won the Oscar for 1988's The Accidental Tourist, also said, 'We are unwittingly training generation after generation to see men and women as unequal. We need to dramatically change the way women are depicted to children aged 11 and under;

A trailblazer: Davis, seen here in Cutthroat Island, said, 'Women are seriously under-represented in almost every sector of society across the world,' she continued. 'The change must be immediate and dramatic. I want reaching parity in films to seem fun and easy and creative'

A trailblazer: Davis, seen here in Cutthroat Island, said, 'Women are seriously under-represented in almost every sector of society across the world,' she continued. 'The change must be immediate and dramatic. I want reaching parity in films to seem fun and easy and creative'

The symposium was presented by the Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media in association with the BFI and Women in Film and Television (WFTV).

Davis said the climate in Hollywood is one of denial.

'I’d ask executives about gender inequality and to a person they would say "that’s been fixed."'

She then said, there were only 17% women in crowd scenes.

'I can’t imagine why that is. Perhaps Hollywood writers think women don’t gather!' 

Batting a thousand: The symposium was presented by the Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media in association with the BFI and Women in Film and Television (WFTV); here the vet is seen in 1992 in A League Of Their Own

Batting a thousand: The symposium was presented by the Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media in association with the BFI and Women in Film and Television (WFTV); here the vet is seen in 1992 in A League Of Their Own

Davis admitted she became more involved with gender parity in film after starring in Thelma & Louise.

“In the media it was a furore, both positive and negative,' she said about having two women as the lead characters. 

'It brought home to me how few opportunities we women have to identify with characters on screen. That’s one of the best parts of watching a movie and we are robbing women of that opportunity,' added the ex-wife of director Renny Harlin.

'Women are seriously under-represented in almost every sector of society across the world,' she continued. 

'The change must be immediate and dramatic. I want reaching parity in films to seem fun and easy and creative.' 

Taking in London: Geena at the Suffragette opening gala of The BFI London Film Festival afterparty at The Old Billingsgate Market  with Ben Whishaw on Wednesday

Taking in London: Geena at the Suffragette opening gala of The BFI London Film Festival afterparty at The Old Billingsgate Market  with Ben Whishaw on Wednesday

Grab a gold maxi like Geena

Geena Davis is making the rounds in London, first at the Suffragette opening gala of The BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday and then today a Women in Film and Television UK. Today, She made an impassioned speech about gender equality and looked the picture of feminine chic doing so.

On Wednesday, it was the same story. Geena wore a gown by American designer Tracy Reese and we love the gold foil overlay in a tarnished hue that picks up the color of her hair. Metallic skirts, dresses and shoes have been on fire for the last several years and is showing no signs of slowing down. So, if you love gold and not just jewelry, start shopping now! There's not too much of it out there.

Unfortunately, you can't get Geena's exact gown, but click right to get a V-neck mini version of it at the designer's website.

If you'd like to do some window shopping first, see below. We've rounded up a gorgeous gown by Donna Morgan, a bargain from Asos and, if money is no object, the to-die-for Million Dollar maxi at Free People.

* PRICES MAY NOT BE AS ADVERTISED

 

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