Geena Davis told Us that she was “surprised” by the backlash to her 1992 Oscars dressThe satin ivory mini dress featured a ruffled, high-low skirtThat year at the Oscars, Davis was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Thelma & Louise
Geena Davis is reflecting on the backlash to her 1992 Oscars look.
In a new interview with Usthe actress, 69, shared that she was “surprised” to receive criticism for the satin ivory mini dress, which featured a ruffled, high-low skirt. The gown was “made specifically” for her by Ruth Meyers and Bill Hargate.
“I went to a lunch with several other female actors at some point before the next Oscars and we were all talking and somehow that dress came up and I said, ‘You know, f— them,” Davis told the outlet.
She continued, “I thought that was great. I should just wear it again this coming year.’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, let’s all wear copies of it!’ It was my favorite fantasy, that we would do that. But I thought it was awesome.”
While Davis stands by her Oscars look, she would tweak one detail if she could — the black pantyhose she wore underneath. “I think that would’ve helped if I didn’t,” she said.
Geena Davis.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The star revealed that she still has the iconic gown, noting, “I have all my Oscar gowns that weren’t borrowed, packed in, like, bridal boxes preserved.”
At the 1992 Academy Awards, Davis was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Thelma & Louise. Her costar Susan Sarandon was also nominated in the same category, though they both lost to Jodie Foster for her role in The Silence of the Lambs.
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Davis and Sarandon, 78, reunited last year during 90s Con 2024 in Hartford, Connecticut, to speak about the enduring legacy of the 1991 film.
Directed by Ridley Scott, the story follows the titular Thelma (Davis) and Louise (Sarandon) who go on the run after Louise shoots Harlan Puckett (Timothy Carhart) and escapes with Thelma, kicking off a crime spree.
“Thelma & Louise changed my life. Really, it sent me in a different direction,” said Davis during a panel discussion.
Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis.
Neil Rasmus/BFA.com/Shutterstock
The star also reflected on how her life changed after the film’s release.
“But then after that movie came out, it was completely different in that people wanted to talk to me about it and how many times they saw it or who they saw it with and how it impacted them,” Davis recalled.
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This year, Davis released her debut children’s book The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Pagewhich stems from real experiences she had as a child.
During an appearance on the Wednesday, April 30 episode of The Viewthe actress opened up about feeling self-conscious about her height as a child.
“I was tall from minute one … I was very self-conscious and shy, and the last thing I wanted to do was stand out, and yet, every minute, I stood out,” she shared.
Davis shared the book’s release with PEOPLE exclusively in December, saying, “I’ve always been tall – I was a tall baby. As a kid, my fondest wish was to take up less space in the world. It was only as an adult, I realized I could be all of who I was, unapologetically.”
She continued, “So I wrote this book for all of the ‘too big’ children — including children with big personalities and big dreams — who need reassurance that they can be their true selves and make their own space in the world.”
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