9 April 2019
Joy Webb
Though it has been a struggle, and a long time coming, women are finally making it into lead roles in more than just a few movies or television shows; they now have an artistic voice, and there is more acceptance for a production to revolve around the idea of women empowerment.
Like most areas in entertainment, women are becoming just as prevalent as men, especially in movies, television shows and other multimedia platforms. Women having equal representation in entertainment, especially film, should have happened a long time ago.
The main example that comes to mind is the mini-series, “Big Little Lies,” on HBO. This show consists of seven episodes, and the leading roles are all women. Actresses like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoe Kravitz are at the forefront of the plot, and it focuses around women banding together to help each other when it comes to abusive relationships, hardships as mothers, etc.
The second season is set to air this June, and will also star Meryl Streep. Season two will continue with a dramatic ending to the first season, that consists of murder, suspense and most importantly, support for one another amongst the women characters.
This television series is more than just an intriguing show to watch; it conveys a universally important notion that women should support women instead of competing against or hating one another. By finally allowing women to have this opportunity for representation, it helps empower anyone who watches this to do the same.
In “The Favourite,” which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year, the main character and actress portrayed by Olivia Colman, who won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, also conveys a similar notion of women supporting women.
This would not be possible if women were not given the opportunity to portray these important messages in films that reach millions of viewers.
While there is still room for growth when it comes to representation of women actresses in film, there have been recent milestones that women have reached when it comes to having a voice in this form of media and art. This empowerment is something that is not only changing the industry but also changing how the rest of society views women in roles of power.