One of her first commercial successes was the 1982 film Tootsie, in which Geena Davis made her acting debut. However, Davis’s role in Thelma and Louise solidified her reputation as a leading lady.
In one of her later works, Marjorie Prime, Davis used her experiences with a common medical condition to shape the character.
The 85-year-old woman in the science fiction movie adaptation from 2017 is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and her daughter Tess (Davis) and son-in-law Jon try to comfort her.
They create holographic projections of deceased family members for Alzheimer’s patients using a Prime service. Due to her own mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, Davis was able to express her emotions while playing her character entirely.
Regarding her relationship with the illness, Davis said, “I found it to be moving.”.
“I had a lot of material to work with and exciting subjects to explore, plus my mother had Alzheimer’s, so the concept of losing a loved one gradually struck a chord with me. “.
The actor then spoke about the fascinating topic of memory and how the movie explores how memories are used. I just thought it was fascinating,” she continued.
“I thought the concept of memory, including how we recall details, memory loss, and other related issues, was fascinating. And very emotional. “.
Examining this matter is very practical. I don’t mind bringing it home with me, but more than any other movie I’ve worked on, this one got me thinking about my personal life. “.
The idea that whenever someone remembers something, they reflect the last time they thought about that memory, not the memory itself, was “life-changing,” according to Davis.
She did not mention her mother’s experiences with the degenerative condition.
I was genuinely shocked because I had never heard of the idea before reading it in the script, the speaker continued.
“It changed my way of life. I’m not attracted to it, and I’m trying to convince myself that it’s inaccurate because the idea has disappointed me. But it can be challenging when details vanish from your or other people’s memories. “.
On the other hand, Davis seems to be thriving in her old age instead of fearing the disease, which typically harms older people.
The actress claimed she had become more self-aware and wiser as she got older in 2020.
She said at the time, now 66, “I honestly feel that every year has grown better.”.
She continued, “If a person can do it, I can. That has always been my motto.
“It’s a little ambitious, but I genuinely think there are no age restrictions on what we can do and learn. “.
The NHS states that the most common cause of dementia in the UK is Alzheimer’s disease. While the cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, several unique factors are thought to increase a person’s risk of developing the disorder, which is characterised by a progressive decline in brain function.
Since the issue is developing, getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is essential to preventing symptoms from worsening. To do this, one must recognise the symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s disease.