Going from modeling into acting seems like a common career path for our 1980's women, but not many of them can say they went from modeling to acting to writing and production. Geena Davis can, and she's done it with style. The decade was very good to Geena Davis, who waltzed out of it with a much-coveted trophy.
Many readers will remember her best for her performance in 'Beetlejuice,' although those who prefer their movies to be more horror-driven (and slightly kooky) will instantly recognize her from 'The Fly.' Neither of those roles got her an Oscar though - that came when she picked up 'Best Supporting Actress' for 1988's 'The Accidental Tourist.' That's a long way from where she was at the start of the decade, appearing in 1981's 'Tootsie' as a character she describes as 'someone who just took their clothes off a lot.'