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Geena Davis was an A-list, Academy Award-winning actress in the 1990s.
The Massachusetts native got her start with a small role as a soap opera actress in 1982's Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman.
Next she starred in the 1986 science-fiction horror The Fly (1986) with beau Jeff Goldblum then was in Beetlejuice (1988) and The Accidental Tourist (1988), which earned her an Oscar.
In May 1991 one of her biggest hit films was released, Thelma & Louise. She played the naive beauty who had a one-night stand with Brad Pitt's cowboy thief while on the lam with her friend, played by Susan Sarandon.
The movie will celebrate its 35th anniversary on May 24, and will be marked by high-profile tributes at the Cannes Film Festival, a world-premiere musical adaptation, and a variety of special screenings.
That film followed with a role opposite Tom Hanks and Madonna in 1992's A League of Their Own (1992), Cutthroat Island (1995), the Stuart Little franchise (1999–2005) and a role on Grey's Anatomy.
On Wednesday Davis, who is now 70, was on CBS Mornings in New York City to talk about her new Netflix series The Boroughs which debuts on May 21. See her now.
Geena Davis was an A-list, Academy Award-winning actress in the 1990s. Seen in 1992
The Massachusetts native got her start with a small role as a soap opera actress in 1982's Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman
The Accidental Tourist in 1988 with William Hurt landed her an Oscar
Thelma & Louise turns 35 years old on May 24.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 12 to 23, has been featuring the cult classic film as the centerpiece of its official poster and visual identity.
The 1991 buddy comedy-drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri was a cultural phenomenon.
The film is about two friends, Thelma Dickinson (Davis) and Louise Sawyer (Sarandon), who set out for a weekend vacation at a fishing cabin while in a 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible.
Thelma is a housewife, is married to controlling salesman named Darryl, while Louise is single and works as a waitress.
When Louise arrives to pick her up, Thelma shares she is running away from her husband and she took his gun before she left.
In May 1991 one of her biggest hit films was released, Thelma & Louise
She played the naive beauty who gets tough during her road trip with her best friend Louise, played by Susan Sarandon
After a murder and an explosion, they decide to escape to Mexico
Before all the mayhem, they looked happy about their road trip
But then things went bad and they became outlaws
Thelma went from mild to wild as she had no problems using her controlling husband's gun
She then falls for charming troublemaker JD, played by Brad Pitt
The pair stops at a roadhouse bar where a man named Harlan flirts with Thelma then takes her outside to the parking lot and tries to rape her. Louise intervenes with Darryl's gun and threatens to shoot him.
As Thelma and Louise walk away, Harlan yells that he should have continued the rape, causing Louise to lose it and shoot him dead.
Thelma wants to go to the police, but Louise fears that no one will believe a claim of attempted rape and suggests they run away to Mexico.
At a gas station, Thelma calls Darryl, who demands that she come home immediately. She tells him off and lets Louise know she is coming to Mexico.
In walks J.D., a handsome and charming young drifter played by Pitt who asks for a ride. Thelma takes to him.
Louise contacts her musician boyfriend Jimmy, asking him to wire her life savings to her but doesn't mention their escape to Mexico.
On Wednesday Davis, who is now 70, was on CBS Mornings in New York City
She talked about her new Netflix series The Boroughs which debuts on May 21
Jimmy then shocks the ladies when he shows up in person with the money and proposing to Louise. She turns him down.
Things take a bad turn when JD beds Thelma then takes off with Louise's life savings. Thelma tries to make up for it by robbing a nearby convenience store.
The FBI starts to track them.
When a police officer pulls the ladies over for speeding, Thelma takes out her gun and locks him in the trunk of his police car.
Next a truck driver makes obscene gestures at them so they fire at his fuel tanker, causing it to explode.
The FBI closes in on them and a chase ensues as they approach the Grand Canyon. The ladies hold hands as Louise drives over the cliff.
The film also starred Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen and Christopher McDonald. Filming took place in California and Utah from June to August 1990.
Thelma & Louise has influenced other artistic works, and became a landmark of feminist film.
In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked it 78th on its list of most inspiring films. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'
English (US) ·