She nearly died at 8 — then became one of Hollywood
Early Lessons in Silence
Geena Davis rose to fame in the 1980s, but her confidence
masked a childhood shaped by restraint and fear.
Raised by reserved New England parents,
she learned early to be “polite, quiet, and agreeable.”
A near-fatal car incident at age eight taught her a lasting lesson:
“never complain, never make a fuss, never be rude, even if your life depends on it.”
Hidden Trauma
That silence deepened after she was sexually abused as a child.
The experience became “a secret she carried alone,”
reinforcing that pain should not be voiced.
Finding Her Voice
After modeling led to Tootsie, Davis built an
acclaimed acting career, culminating in Thelma & Louise.
The film helped her realize that “saying what you think doesn’t make you difficult — it makes you free.”
Redefining Impact
As roles faded, she found purpose beyond Hollywood,
founding the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Her life became about “the slow, brave process of
reclaiming a voice that was quieted far too early.”
