they say their music has been supported and they are trying to give that back. they all hope instead of playing with guns, more kids will play guitar. >> aljazeera.com your destination or all the news and headlines. aljazeera.com. >> i think it's incredibly >> i think it's incredibly important not to important not to sexualize the sexualize the female characters in female characters in entertainments that are made for very little kids. entertainments that are made for there is not good reason why you will. very little kids. there is not good reason why you will. >> the >> the actor found the institute actor found the institute that represents female that represents female representation on screen. >> unless a character is having representation on screen. >> unless a character is having sex with somebody else in the sex with somebody else in the

movie, most times it doesn't movie, most times it doesn't matter what gender they are. >> davis' non-profit matter what gender they are. >> davis' non-profit organization has the largest organization has the largest body of data on the subject, and body of data on the subject, and she's using research, education she's using research, education and advocacy to reduce and advocacy to reduce stereotyping in media that targets children. stereotyping in media that targets children. >> we have to get over this idea >> we have to get over this idea that women need to be sexy. that women need to be sexy. >> davis also talks about her >> davis also talks about her iconic role as one of two women iconic role as one of two women on the run after the murder of a on the run after the murder of a man who tried to rape her. man who tried to rape her. the film, of course, " the film, of course, " thelma and louise." thelma and louise." >> when we were shooting the >> when we were shooting the scene with brad and i, there is scene with brad and i, there is a shot of him standing up a shot of him standing up without his shirt on and he had without his shirt on and he had that incredible stomach. that incredible stomach. and he was personally spraying and he was personally spraying evian on his body. evian on his body. >> and the actor who broke >> and the actor who broke ground as commander in chief on ground as commander in chief on television talks about what is next. television talks about what is >> after the president, where do next. >> after the president, where do you go from there? you go from there? >> geena davis is an official

partner of u.n. women. >> geena davis is an official partner of u.n. women. i spoke to her when she was in i spoke to her when she was in new york working on empowering women around the world. new york working on empowering women around the world. >> you have an entire institute >> you have an entire institute in your name that studies gender roles in media. in your name that studies gender roles in media. what led you to this? what led you to this? >> well, >> well, the final impetus was the final impetus was my daughter. my daughter. when she was a toddler i started when she was a toddler i started watching preschool shows and watching preschool shows and kids movies with her. kids movies with her. think because of some of the think because of some of the roles that i played that spoke roles that i played that spoke to women a little bit i had a to women a little bit i had a heightened awareness of how heightened awareness of how women are women are portrayed in the portrayed in the media, so i immediately noticed media, so i immediately noticed that there seemed to be far that there seemed to be far fewer female characters than fewer female characters than male characters male characters that was made that was made for kids. for kids. i couldn't believe it in the i couldn't believe it in the 21st therapy i thought we should 21st therapy i thought we should

be showing kids boys and girls be showing kids boys and girls sharing the sandbox equally. sharing the sandbox equally. i didn't intend to create an i didn't intend to create an institute around t but i found institute around t but i found that nobody else seems to be that nobody else seems to be noticing, none of my friends noticing, none of my friends seemed to be noticing how few female characters until i pointed it out. seemed to be noticing how few female characters until i in the industry, if i had pointed it out. in the industry, if i had meetings with the studio meetings with the studio executives or something like executives or something like that, i would ask have you ever that, i would ask have you ever noticed how few female noticed how few female characters there are in media characters there are in media made for kids? made for kids? to a person they said, oh, no, to a person they said, oh, no, no, no that's been fixed. no, no that's been fixed. then they would name a movie then they would name a movie with usually with one female with usually with one female character in it as proof that character in it as proof that gender inequality had been fixed. gender inequality had been fixed. so it seemed to me that nobody so it seemed to me that nobody much was picking up on what i much was picking up on what i thought i was picking up. thought i was picking up. i didn't run into anybody who i didn't run into anybody who said i know, i know, i noticed. said i know, i know, i noticed. >> your institute set out to >> your institute set out to quantify and gather the data

quantify and gather the data and was recently commissioned and was recently commissioned with the u.n. to do the first with the u.n. to do the first global study on gender roles in global study on gender roles in popular films in other countries. >> right. popular films in other countries. >> right. >> what were the major findings >> what were the major findings from this study? from this study? >> well, unfortunately the >> well, unfortunately the global perspective is not much global perspective is not much different than what it is in the united states. different than what it is in the united states. we're not doing a good job at we're not doing a good job at all here in the states. all here in the states. there is far more male there is far more male characters than female characters than female characters. characters. the female characters very often the female characters very often don't have jobs or don't have don't have jobs or don't have much to do in the plot very much to do in the plot very often either the girlfriend of often either the girlfriend of the star or serving the function the star or serving the function of eye candy. of eye candy. >> merely there for decoration. >> merely there for decoration. >> merely there for decoration yes, that's right. >> merely there for decoration yes, that's right. so the picture is not great in so the picture is not great in the united states and the whole the united states and the whole purpose of doing this study is purpose of doing this study is partly because everybody was partly because everybody was saying, well, is it the same way

saying, well, is it the same way around the world? around the world? partly because we just wanted to partly because we just wanted to know is anybody doing this know is anybody doing this better? better? we found that that's not really the case. we found that that's not really the case. >> is it because hollywood has >> is it because hollywood has the impact on movie industries the impact on movie industries in other countries? >> it could be. in other countries? >> it could be. we were looking--in the global we were looking--in the global study we were looking at study we were looking at productions that were productions that were exclusively made in that territory. exclusively made in that territory. in other words, not what they're watching because 80% of the in other words, not what they're watching because 80% of the media consumed globally is made in the united states. media consumed globally is made in the united states. but what that particular but what that particular territory was making themselves. territory was making themselves. and it could very well be. and it could very well be. when you consider the amount of when you consider the amount of media made in the states that's consumed around the world it media made in the states that's consumed around the world it could very well be that their could very well be that their own media is impacted by the own media is impacted by the kinds of media that they see. kinds of media that they see. but there is less hyper but there is less hyper sexuality in many of the countries. sexuality in many of the countries. >> you did look at what type of

>> you did look at what type of work, for example, women did. work, for example, women did. you seem very passionate about you seem very passionate about seeing women in roles where seeing women in roles where they're doing the science, the technology, the engineering and the math. they're doing the science, the technology, the engineering and the math. it was quite startling it was quite startling according to this research, what according to this research, what you found. you found. >> yes, it's pretty much like in >> yes, it's pretty much like in the united states, very few women the united states, very few women or female characters are or female characters are seen in answer of those positions. seen in answer of those positions. that's one of the main areas that's one of the main areas that we want to get more women that we want to get more women and girls interested in. and girls interested in. we need many more people to we need many more people to pursue those kinds of occupations, but people aren't pursue those kinds of occupations, but people aren't seeing that to model themselves after. seeing that to model themselves after. there aren't many there aren't many real-life role real-life role models in those fields, and models in those fields, and they're not seeing them on television. they're not seeing them on television. >> talk about the hyper >> talk about the hyper sexuality that you were sexuality that you were observing. observing. how far important was it to you how far important was it to you

to see how thin the women were to see how thin the women were or how much clothing they were wearing? or how much clothing they were wearing? >> i think it's incredibly >> i think it's incredibly important not to sexualize the important not to sexualize the female characters in female characters in entertainment for little kids entertainment for little kids there really is not a good there really is not a good reason that you would. reason that you would. one disturbing thing that we one disturbing thing that we found in the united states found in the united states research in g-rated animated movies female characters wear research in g-rated animated movies female characters wear the same amount of the same amount of sexually-related clothing as in r-rated movies. sexually-related clothing as in r-rated movies. >> in g-rated movies? >> yes. >> in g-rated movies? >> yes. when you're doing research, this when you're doing research, this has a specific meaning, it's has a specific meaning, it's revealing something, and it's revealing something, and it's pervasive. pervasive. so we wanted to look at that globally as well. so we wanted to look at that globally as well. and it turned out that female and it turned out that female characters were twice as likely characters were twice as likely to be shown in sexual situations to be shown in sexual situations and sexually revealing clothing as male characters. and sexually revealing clothing

>> who is to blame? >> i don't think it's as male characters. >> who is to blame? >> i don't think it's necessarily that we need to assign blame. necessarily that we need to assign blame. i think there is a lot of i think there is a lot of unconscience bias. unconscience bias. i think a lot of this is not i think a lot of this is not consciously known, but because consciously known, but because like in the industry here in the like in the industry here in the states we haven't uncovered any states we haven't uncovered any plot against women in hollywood. plot against women in hollywood. >> there is no conspires. >> there is no conspires. hollywood directors, movie hollywood directors, movie studios putting women in hyper sexualized roles. studios putting women in hyper sexualized roles. >> or leaving them out. >> or leaving them out. they sincerely didn't know they were missing. they sincerely didn't know they were missing. this is a very tiny example but this is a very tiny example but from a movie that i was. from a movie that i was. in "stuart little" there is a in "stuart little" there is a scene with remote control boats. scene with remote control boats. i was watching one day, and the i was watching one day, and the assistant director was taking assistant director was taking little boys from the crowd of little boys from the crowd of extras and giving them the extras and giving them the remote and having them sit down. remote and having them sit down.

then he gave them to little boys then he gave them to little boys to sit down and then picked to sit down and then picked little girls to stand behind the boys cheering them on. little girls to stand behind the i noticed what he was doing. boys cheering them on. i noticed what he was doing. i said, hey, do you think we i said, hey, do you think we could give half of the row notes to girls instead? could give half of the row notes to girls instead? he was like, yes. yes. he was like, yes. yes. he was so upset that he hadn't he was so upset that he hadn't thought of it. thought of it. it seems so obvious. it seems so obvious. but that's what happening. but that's what happening. people don't think about it. people don't think about it. we bring it to their attention we bring it to their attention so the next time--the next time so the next time--the next time that person shoots a scene he's that person shoots a scene he's going to think, oh, right, i going to think, oh, right, i should make sure that i'm not putting all men. should make sure that i'm not putting all men. >> fair enough when it comes to >> fair enough when it comes to just just the shear number boys roles the shear number boys roles to girl roles but when it comes to girl roles but when it comes to topic of films in hollywood to topic of films in hollywood and television who bears and television who bears responsibility for those portrayals? responsibility for those portrayals? >> well, i think again it's >> well, i think again it's partly influenced by

partly influenced by tradition tradition that female characters have been that female characters have been seen for decades now as seen for decades now as decorative, that they need to be decorative, that they need to be attractive, they need to be sexy. attractive, they need to be sexy. i think people have come to i think people have come to believe that for a female believe that for a female character to be appealing she character to be appealing she needs to be thin and beautiful needs to be thin and beautiful and and sexy. sexy. so so it's something that is sort it's something that is sort of an enculturation that we have of an enculturation that we have to get over that women, female to get over that women, female characters need to be sexy. characters need to be sexy. i can't tell you how many scenes i can't tell you how many scenes i've seen where in movies where i've seen where in movies where there is a bunch of young, smart there is a bunch of young, smart computer geniuses, and let's get computer geniuses, and let's get them all together, and these them all together, and these incredibly nerdy guys, and a incredibly nerdy guys, and a super hot blond gorgeous woman super hot blond gorgeous woman but first of all, why respect

but first of all, why respect half of them female, and why half of them female, and why aren't half of the women looking aren't half of the women looking nerdy, strange, in all different nerdy, strange, in all different kinds of ways. kinds of ways. it's so narrow what writers it's so narrow what writers think that they can create as think that they can create as far as women that there ends up far as women that there ends up not being more of them. not being more of them. there is fear about making there is fear about making female characters have flaws or seem unattractive. female characters have flaws or seem unattractive. >> you have a two-step remedy, i >> you have a two-step remedy, i understand, to adding female characters. talk about them. understand, to adding female characters. talk about them. one just changing the names in one just changing the names in the scripts to female names. the scripts to female names. >> right, that's my big pitch >> right, that's my big pitch when i go to studios. when i go to studios. i'm not asking you to make more i'm not asking you to make more movies starring a female character. movies starring a female character. just put that aside for new. just put that aside for new. if you do, that's great. if you do, that's great. cast me. cast me. but in the movies you're already but in the movies you're already going to make, just before you going to make, just before you cast it, just stop and say, who cast it, just stop and say, who can become female? can become female? so that you can very easily so that you can very easily

increase the population of increase the population of family characters by crossing family characters by crossing out a few of the first names and out a few of the first names and putting in a female name instead. putting in a female name instead. unless a character is having sex unless a character is having sex with somebody else in the movie, most times it doesn't matter with somebody else in the movie, what gender they are, and people most times it doesn't matter aren't thinking, hey, why don't what gender they are, and people i make the general a woman? aren't thinking, hey, why don't i make the general a woman? why don't i make the why don't i make the ceo a wom woman. ceo a wom woman. >> doesn't that show how far we >> doesn't that show how far we have come as a society that a have come as a society that a woman with convincingly play a woman with convincingly play a general or president, as you did. general or president, as you >> right, exactly. did. >> right, exactly. it's thoroughly believable. it's thoroughly believable. all we have to do now is to all we have to do now is to actually do it instead of always actually do it instead of always going to default, which is male. going to default, which is male. that is one way to very easily that is one way to very easily increase the percentage of increase the percentage of female characters. female characters. the other is because crowd the other is because crowd scenes scenes the percentage of women the percentage of women

in crowd scenes in movies is 17%. in crowd scenes in movies is 17%. >> in any given crowd scene. >> in any given crowd scene. >> in any given crowd scene in >> in any given crowd scene in live action or animated, 17%. live action or animated, 17%. i can't explain how that i can't explain how that happens, but the other happens, but the other suggestion i give is have them suggestion i give is have them write in the script a crowd write in the script a crowd gathers, gathers, comma, which is half female. comma, which is half female. >> then whoever cast the extras >> then whoever cast the extras will get half of them female. >> right. will get half of them female. >> right. >> now as an actress you've >> now as an actress you've played untraditional female played untraditional female roles in thelma and louise. roles in thelma and louise. in a league of their own. when you portrayed the president in a league of their own. when you portrayed the president of the united states. of the united states. behind the scenes when you were behind the scenes when you were playing those characters did you playing those characters did you feel as empowered as the feel as empowered as the character you were playing? character you were playing? >> that's an interesting >> that's an interesting question. question. well well thelma and louise really thelma and louise really surprised us. surprised us. nobody involved in the movie

nobody involved in the movie whatsoever had any idea it would whatsoever had any idea it would strike a nerve the way it did. strike a nerve the way it did. it was 20-something years ago, it was 20-something years ago, you may not remember. >> i remember. you may not remember. >> i remember. it was formative for me. it was formative for me. >> yes, right, not only was >> yes, right, not only was there a big positive reaction there a big positive reaction among largely women, but there among largely women, but there was a very negative reaction in was a very negative reaction in some of the editorials and some of the editorials and reviews saying god, this is reviews saying god, this is ruining the world now because ruining the world now because women have guns. women have guns. >> we should remind viewers who >> we should remind viewers who haven't seen it, that susan haven't seen it, that susan sarandon's character in the sarandon's character in the movie shoots a man because he's movie shoots a man because he's threatening your character threatening your character sexually. sexually. >> yes, he was. >> yes, he was. he had actually stopped when she shoots him. he had actually stopped when she he had stopped and said shoots him. he had stopped and said something that incenses her so something that incenses her so much that she kills him. much that she kills him. yes, there is that bit of violence. yes, there is that bit of violence. then we kill ourselves at the then we kill ourselves at the end, so there is that. end, so there is that.

but it's so profoundly not a violent movie. but it's so profoundly not a violent movie. the reactions are so over the top. the reactions are so over the top. when you think about there were when you think about there were three people killed, and two of three people killed, and two of them were us. them were us. >> you look back on that role as >> you look back on that role as a dream role because of the a dream role because of the complexity of the female characters? >> i do. complexity of the female characters? >> i do. i wanted that movie--i wanted to i wanted that movie--i wanted to be in that movie so bad. be in that movie so bad. i actually didn't care which i actually didn't care which part i played, but it took a part i played, but it took a year from when i read it until i year from when i read it until i finally got cast in the part finally got cast in the part because there were all these because there were all these different different directors, and directors, and different actresses attached different actresses attached and it kept falling and it kept falling apart, and apart, and falling falling apart. apart. then ridley decided to correct then ridley decided to correct it himself, and then to convince him. it himself, and then to convince him. >> does it strike you as ironic >> does it strike you as ironic that there was a character in that there was a character in that film named brad pitt, who that film named brad pitt, who was object was object ified as a male in ified as a male in

perhaps your research observes perhaps your research observes women being objectified in film? women being objectified in film? >> right, you know, that's >> right, you know, that's interesting because when we were shooting the scene of the interesting because when we were shooting the scene of the bedroom with brad and i, there bedroom with brad and i, there is a shot of him standing up is a shot of him standing up without his shirt on, and he's without his shirt on, and he's got that incredible got that incredible stomach. stomach. ridcally scott was personally ridcally scott was personally spraying evian on his body to spraying evian on his body to catch the light in the right way. catch the light in the right way. >> glistening abs. >> glistening abs. >> i'm going over there, hi, i'm the girl. >> i'm going over there, hi, i'm the girl. you just assume that if somebody you just assume that if somebody is going to be shot that way is going to be shot that way it's going to be the woman, but it's going to be the woman, but it was great. it was great. turn the tables, why not. turn the tables, why not. >> and it was recently named one >> and it was recently named one of the hollywood reporters top 100 favorite films. of the hollywood reporters top 100 favorite films. and on the cover you and susan and on the cover you and susan sarandon recreate that original selfie you took. sarandon recreate that original selfie you took. where do you rank that film as where do you rank that film as far as culture and as far as your career? far as culture and as far as your career? >> as far as my life it really

changed my life. >> as far as my life it really changed my life. it was very, very impactful on it was very, very impactful on me because it changed how i me because it changed how i looked at future parts that i looked at future parts that i would play, that i wanted would play, that i wanted to--because it resonated so much to--because it resonated so much with women, i realized you know, with women, i realized you know, i want to think about what are i want to think about what are the women in the audience going the women in the audience going to think about the character i play. to think about the character i play. not that i wanted to play role not that i wanted to play role models, which i don't like that models, which i don't like that term at 2058, because i think term at 2058, because i think characters should be flawed, and characters should be flawed, and certainly we certainly we --holding up drugs --holding up drugs sex with strangers, kill ourselves. sex with strangers, kill ourselves. >> geena davis talks about >> geena davis talks about gender equality on screen, and gender equality on screen, and the responsibilities of writers the responsibilities of writers and producers. and producers. >> start with one issue. add guests from all sides of the debate and a host willing to ask the tough questions and you'll get the inside story.

>> ray suarez hosts "inside story". weeknights at 11:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

>> monday. >> this is the place where 43 students were handed over to criminal organizations. >> a crime that shocked the world. >> the military is about a mile away. they say that they didn't hear anything. >> where are mexico's missing students? >> kidnappings keep going up human security is collapsing. >> "faultlines". al jazeera america's hard-hitting... >> today they will be arrested. >> ground-breaking... >> they're firing canisters of gas at us. >> award-winning investigative documentary series. "mexico's disappeared". monday, 10:00 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> i'm stephanie sy. >> i'm stephanie sy. you're watching "talk to al jazeera." you're watching "talk to al jazeera." i my guest is geena davis, who i my guest is geena davis, who also runs an institute on gender in media. also runs an institute on gender in media. >> as an actress in hollywood >> as an actress in hollywood who does speak out on gender who does speak out on gender

roles in film and in roles, does roles in film and in roles, does it damage one's career to do that? it damage one's career to do that? >> you know, not at all. >> you know, not at all. not at all. not at all. we're actually very much we're actually very much embraced by the entire industry. embraced by the entire industry. thank god, i want to keep working. >> yes, of course. thank god, i want to keep working. >> whenever we have a meeting at >> yes, of course. >> whenever we have a meeting at a studio somewhere, i say, you a studio somewhere, i say, you know, this is all just a ruse to know, this is all just a ruse to get in here so i can ask you get in here so i can ask you when is my next movie going to when is my next movie going to be made at your studio? be made at your studio? tell me, what is next for you you? tell me, what is next for you you? i've heard some rumors. i've heard some rumors. >> right now i'm playing a role >> right now i'm playing a role in the series of episodes on in the series of episodes on gray anatomy. gray anatomy. i'm a doctor. i'm a doctor. i'm a surgeon. i'm a surgeon. >> you're in one of the stem fields. >> you're in one of the stem fields. >> yes, highly specialized doctor. >> what do you want to be next >> yes, highly specialized doctor. for >> what do you want to be next for you? you? >> well, you know, as far as my >> well, you know, as far as my career goes, i've been playing career goes, i've been playing it the same way all along, which it the same way all along, which

is when something good comes along, something that really is when something good comes speaks to me, i really want to along, something that really speaks to me, i really want to do it, and i'll do anything to do it, and i'll do anything to go after it, but otherwise i'd go after it, but otherwise i'd rather not work. rather not work. >> you have a daughter. >> you have a daughter. >> and fortunately, i've not run >> and fortunately, i've not run out of money yet, and i'm able out of money yet, and i'm able to make these decisions. to make these decisions. >> you've won your academy award. >> you've won your academy award. you've played some stellar roles. you've played some stellar roles. how many women get to be in the how many women get to be in the place where you are, where you place where you are, where you actually get to pick and choose actually get to pick and choose what roles you take? what roles you take? >> right, yes, which is great, >> right, yes, which is great, but the flip side is that there but the flip side is that there are so few great parts for women are so few great parts for women actors that it gets harder and actors that it gets harder and harder to find those roles. harder to find those roles. to be this fussy. to be this fussy. >> it seems like there has been >> it seems like there has been a lot of buzz this fall about a lot of buzz this fall about the primary timeline up and the the primary timeline up and the number of great female number of great female protagonist roles. >> right. protagonist roles. >> right. >> is it a case where film is lagging behind television when >> is it a case where film is it comes to this?

lagging behind television when it comes to this? >> yes, definitely, definitely. >> yes, definitely, definitely. tv is doing much better than tv is doing much better than film. film. except in kids' shows, in tv except in kids' shows, in tv shows made for kids, the ratio shows made for kids, the ratio is equally bad as to films. is equally bad as to films. kids films and kids tv shows are kids films and kids tv shows are the worst ratio of male-female characters. the worst ratio of male-female characters. primetime, there are a lot of primetime, there are a lot of shows like "grey's anatomy," shows like "grey's anatomy," that are gender balanced, and a lot more female characters more that are gender balanced, and a lot more female characters more and more, so it begs the and more, so it begs the question why don't we trust that question why don't we trust that in the movies where we're in the movies where we're proving so clearly in television proving so clearly in television that people are very happy to that people are very happy to see female lead characters. see female lead characters. >> do big studios have to do >> do big studios have to do with that at all? with that at all? >> well, the interesting thing >> well, the interesting thing is that so many studios have a is that so many studios have a film division and a television film division and a television division and a cable division, division and a cable division, why are there different ratios why are there different ratios

on all of those, and why didn't on all of those, and why didn't there a cohesive vision in the company? there a cohesive vision in the company? >> is it to do with the writers, producers? >> is it to do with the writers, producers? >> yes, you know, yes. >> yes, you know, yes. some of our research found that some of our research found that if there is a woman writer if there is a woman writer director, or producer on a director, or producer on a project, the percentage of project, the percentage of female characters on screen goes up. female characters on screen goes that's important, too. up. that's important, too. not that tv is doing great in not that tv is doing great in that area, but they do have more female writers. that area, but they do have more >> your institute, i believe female writers. >> your institute, i believe did a big study nationally did a big study nationally in 2004, so about 10 years have passed. in 2004, so about 10 years have passed. have you seen a lot of gains in have you seen a lot of gains in these areas? these areas? >> you know, no, we haven't seen >> you know, no, we haven't seen the needle move significantly the needle move significantly enough to remark on it in over enough to remark on it in over 20 years that we've studied. 20 years that we've studied. however, we did do a survey however, we did do a survey recently of everyone who has recently of everyone who has heard our presentation in heard our presentation in

hollywood, and found 68% said hollywood, and found 68% said that it had impact--what they that it had impact--what they learned from us is that it learned from us is that it impacted two or more of their impacted two or more of their projects, and 41% said that it projects, and 41% said that it had impacted four or more of had impacted four or more of their projects. their projects. >> you're having impact. >> we are. >> you're having impact. >> we are. movies are coming out regularly movies are coming out regularly now that we know we've impacted. now that we know we've impacted. yes, i think soon, by the time yes, i think soon, by the time we update our research again in we update our research again in the few years i think the needle the few years i think the needle may have moved significantly for may have moved significantly for the first time in decades. the first time in decades. >> you're watching "talk to al jazeera." >> you're watching "talk to al jazeera." ahead on the program i'll ask ahead on the program i'll ask geena davis about her dream geena davis about her dream role. role.

>> writer taiye selasi shares her impactful point of view >> certain people have to explain there presence... >> when you're part of many worlds, where is home? >> in ghana, i was not going to be able to become the person i wanted to be. >> every monday, join us for exclusive... revealing... and surprising talks with the most interesting people of our time... talk to al jazeera part of our special black history month coverage on al jazeera america

>> this is talk to al jazeera. >> this is talk to al jazeera. i'm stephanie sy speaking with i'm stephanie sy speaking with actor geena davis, who also actor geena davis, who also works with u.n. women on gender equality. works with u.n. women on gender equality. >> what would be your dream role today. >> role? >> what would be your dream role today. >> role? >> in your age, given your vast >> in your age, given your vast repertoire of work, what would repertoire of work, what would be be the dream role? the dream role? >> hum. >> hum. >> aside from the president of the united states. >> aside from the president of >> after president where do you go from there? the united states. >> after president where do you go from there? you don't get much more iconic you don't get much more iconic than that. than that. you know you know i don't know. i don't know. i don't know specifically, but i i don't know specifically, but i see something like breaking bad see something like breaking bad or something, well, i want a or something, well, i want a part like that. part like that. >> an inmate, maybe? >> an inmate, maybe? >> yeah, or the wire, i want >> yeah, or the wire, i want something really interesting and gritty. something really interesting and gritty. that would be fun.

that would be fun. in many spheres of society we in many spheres of society we know in sectors of society we know in sectors of society we know that progress for women in know that progress for women in leadership positions has stalled leadership positions has stalled out for female ceos, females out for female ceos, females on boards, in lots of different on boards, in lots of different areas, but the one area where areas, but the one area where females are lacking in droves females are lacking in droves that can change overnight is on screen. that can change overnight is on screen. it's going to take a long time it's going to take a long time until congress is half women. until congress is half women. let's face it, no matter how let's face it, no matter how hard we work. hard we work. but the very next movie someone but the very next movie someone makes can be jenter balanced. makes can be jenter balanced. the next tv show could have a the next tv show could have a board with half women on it. board with half women on it. so i think it's really exciting so i think it's really exciting and encourages that the message and encourages that the message is getting across in hollywood is getting across in hollywood and that we will be able to see and that we will be able to see change in a matter of years. change in a matter of years. it's very exciting. it's very exciting. >> and perhaps life imitates art. >> and perhaps life imitates art. >> then life will imitate art,

exactly. >> geena davis, thank you so much for talking with al jazeera. i appreciate your time. >> then life will imitate art, exactly. >> my pleasure. >> geena davis, thank you so much for talking with al jazeera. i appreciate your time. >> my pleasure. thank you. thank you. >> announcer: this is al jazeera. ♪ from our headquarters in doha this is the al jazeera news hour. coming up in the next 60 minutes, al-shabab claims responsibility for a deadly attack in the capitol. and three.comes explode in the east of libya, killing at least 45 people. one year on the ukrainian capitol remembers the victims