Annette Kellerman

In a 1915 press interview Annette Kellerman described the principal motivation at the heart of her successful career as performer, movie star, athlete and role model for the emerging 20th century modern woman: ‘Swimming for women is more than physical, it can engender self-confidence, and in the art and science of swimming, a kind of equality, even superiority to that of men. My chief pride and pleasure has been the knowledge that my work has stimulated an interest in swimming as a woman’s sport’.

Continue reading

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno has influenced the entertainment industry for over 70 years as an actress, singer, and dancer. After earning the four major entertainment awards: an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, Moreno became the first Latina woman to have an “E.G.O.T.” In 2004, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her many contributions to the arts.

Continue reading

Sigrid Thornton

Sigrid Thornton is one of Australia’s most respected, popular and prolific screen and television actors. She has starred in many classic Australian films, including The Getting of Wisdom (1978), The Man from Snowy River (1982), The Lighthorsemen (1987) and The Man From Snowy River 2 (1988).

Continue reading

Gillian Wearing

The influence of Wearing’s 1992 Signs that Say can be seen across recent contemporary popular culture and media, particularly social media, wherein a photographic portrait of a stranger holding a handwritten sign in front of them is now a recognized format for truth-telling or confession.

Continue reading

Rachel Portman

Rachel Portman is the first female composer to win an Academy award for her original score for Emma. She also received Academy nominations for Chocolat and Ciderhouse Rules, which also earned her a Golden Globe Nomination. Having scored over 100 films, Portman also enjoys writing for the concert hall and the stage.

Continue reading

Laurie Simmons

Simmons’ use of dolls to explore prescribed gender roles and representations of femininity has opened up space in which other feminist artists can work, facilitating the legitimacy of styles of cultural critique that do not fit within masculine molds.

Continue reading

Karen Tanaka

Karen Tanaka is an exceptionally versatile composer and pianist. She has composed extensively for both instrumental and electronic media.

Continue reading