Actress Archives - New York Women in Film & TelevisionNew York Women in Film & Television

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Arielle Duran

Let’s welcome new member Arielle Duran to NYWIFT! Having been raised in Ridgewood, Queens, Arielle Duran is a proud New Yorker and versatile storyteller of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. Since graduating from the University of South Florida's Zimmerman School, where she studied broadcasting and production, Arielle’s theatrical talents have been showcased in notable television shows such as The Calling and American Rust, among other projects. In addition to acting, Arielle is currently pursuing screenwriting as a graduate student at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. Arielle spoke to us about her New York roots, storytelling, and honing her craft.

Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Isi Laborde

We are thrilled to welcome new NYWIFT member Isi Laborde! Isi is a Brooklyn-based actor (AEA, SAG/AFTRA). Her film roles include Return to Montauk, directed by Academy Award-winner Volker Schlöndorff, and Jay-Z’s music video “Smile,” directed by Grammy-winner Miles Jay. She has had TV appearances in Facebook TV's Strangers and Paramount's Younger. Theater credits include The Bacchae at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club and Skip to My Lou at Theater for the New City. Isi spoke to us about her craft, how she kept up her creativity during COVID, and her dream role!

Rita Moreno: Just A Girl Who Decided to Go For It

NYWIFT member Kristin Reiber Harris reflects on life lessons gleaned from the indomitable Rita Moreno after watching the new documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.

NYWIFT Women’s History Month Spotlight: Leah Curney

We continue to celebrate our creative members who are making innovative impacts through entertainment, media, film, and television, with a special spotlight our NYWIFT Women Crush Wednesdays Podcast team members. Today writer, director, producer and performer Leah Curney discusses her latest short film, her introduction to NYWIFT through the New Works Lab, women's history inspirations and more.

NYWIFT Black History Month Spotlight: Taylor Re Lynn

Happy Black History Month! At NYWIFT we are celebrating the Black creators and artists in our membership, while honoring Black culture & cinema throughout history. Today’s spotlight is on our member Taylor Re Lynn, an actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist.

#Muse40for40: Meryl Streep (1983)

For our final #Muse40for40 installment we had to of course give a shout out to the indomitable Meryl Streep. Meryl was honored in 1983, and the photo of her cheeky over-the-shoulder smile as she modeled a NYWIFT jacket has become an indelible image for our organization.

#Muse40for40: Susan Sarandon (1990)

For an actress who said “my life has been filled with happy accidents,” it’s not surprising that Susan Sarandon got her start in the business in a serendipitous way, when she accompanied her then husband to an audition shortly after college.

#Muse40for40: Cicely Tyson (1999)

Born in Harlem in 1924, Academy Award winner, Golden Globe nominee, and three-time Emmy winner Cicely Tyson was first discovered by a fashion photographer working for Ebony Magazine, and began her career as a fashion model.

#Muse40for40: Alfre Woodard (2002)

Oscar nominee, Golden Globe and four-time Emmy Award winner, Oklahoma-born Alfre Woodard had her breakthrough role in 1977 in the legendary off-Broadway play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.

#Muse40for40: Penny Marshall (1994)

Bronx-born Penny Marshall, best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on ABC's Laverne & Shirley, smashed Hollywood's glass ceiling with her sophmoric directorial effort Big ('88) starring Tom Hanks.

#Muse40for40: Madhur Jaffrey (2000)

Actress, food and travel writer, cookbook author, and television personality Madhur Jaffrey began her illustrious career in Delhi, India, where she performed in school Shakespeare plays and dramas on All India Radio, eventually appearing in acclaimed theatrical productions on the Indian stage.

#Muse40for40: Glenn Close (1989)

Glenn Close had a distinguished career on Broadway, long before she made her feature film debut in 1982's The World According To Garp, alongside Robin Williams. Yet, it was her role as a psychopathic temptress in the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction that turned her into a box office darling and a household name

#Muse40for40: America Ferrera (2009)

America Ferrera is an actress and producer who made her film debut in 2002 in Real Women Have Curves. She has also starred in the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and television roles like ABC’s Ugly Betty (2006–2010)

#Muse40for40: Phylicia Rashad (2001)

Phylicia Rashad is a television, film & Broadway actress, stage director & singer. Her role on NBC’s The Cosby Show (1984–92), earned her Emmy Award nominations in the mid ‘80s.

#Muse40for40: Sally Field (1994)

Sally Field is an actor and director who has received two Academy Awards among many other accolades. She began her career in television in the series Gidget in the mid 60’s.

#Muse40for40: Ellen Burstyn (2018)

Actor Ellen Burstyn is known for her work in a number of movies and television shows including Requiem for a Dream, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, The Last Picture Show, Law & Order: SVU, Political Animals, Resurrection, The Age of Adaline, House of Cards and many others.

#Muse40for40: Ida Lupino (1998)

Ida Lupino was an English-born American film and television actress, director, and screenwriter who first gained fame through her portrayals of strong, worldly-wise characters and went on to become one of the first women to direct films in Hollywood

#Muse40for40: Judith Light (2017)

A two-time Tony Award winning actress and producer, Judith Light has starred in highly successful television shows including Amazon Prime's Golden Globe winning series Transparent, One Life to Live, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ugly Betty, Who’s The Boss? and on Broadway in Lombardi, Other Desert Cities, The Assembled Parties, Wit, and more.

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