Geena Davis

Beginning in the early '80s, this statuesque (about 6') former fashion model carefully crafted a winning screen persona that made her one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors. While Davis' somewhat goofy charm was well deployed in quirky comedies (e.g., "Fletch" 1985; "Beetlejuice" 1988; "Quick Change" 1990), she also displayed a flair for drama, notably with an Oscar-winning turn in Lawrence Kasdan's "The Accidental Tourist" (1988) and her career-defining role opposite Susan Sarandon in "Thelma and Louise" (1991). Strikingly attractive with just a touch of gawkiness, Davis projected an all but irresistible friendliness and vulnerability in her early appearances. More often than not, her best characterizations had her starting out as an untried and fairly ditsy naif who is forced to make decisions that allow her to grow over the course of the narrative. Her imposing physique also gave her rare credibility to play athletes and other unusually physical roles. After a career downturn that coincided with her marriage to critically-lambasted action director Renny Harlin, David rebounded with an impressive series of mature roles that kept her in the Hollywood spotlight, including a starring role as the president of the United States in "Commander in Chief" (ABC 2005-06), a stint on medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC 2005- ) and the lead in the first season of a television reboot of "The Exorcist" (Fox 2016-18).