More and more as of late, we’ve been seeing actresses talking about the lack of great female roles, the sexism within the industry and outrightly discussing feminism. In recent interviews, Ellen Page and Toni Collette both embraced the term feminist.

Ellen Page isn’t shy about talking about feminism. As we recently reported, she’s very outspoken about women’s rights and feminist porn. In an interview with The Guardian, Page discusses reproductive rights, activism, and the sexism of the film industry. She also questions the stigma against calling oneself a feminist.

I think if you’re not from America you read this stuff and you’re like, ‘What?’ But I don’t know why people are so reluctant to say they’re feminists.
Maybe some women just don’t care. But how could it be any more obvious that we still live in a patriarchal world when feminism is a bad word? Feminism
always gets associated with being a radical movement — good. It should be. A lot of what the radical feminists [in the 1970s] were saying, I don’t disagree
with it.

And the wonderful Toni Collette when talking with Refinery 29 about seeing more real women in comedy roles talks about her own relationship with feminism.

This is kind of a response, but bear with me. I’ve recently realized that I really am a feminist. For years people would say to me, ‘You are! You are! You
really are!’ And I’d say, ‘No, I’m not. I’m a humanist. I think it’s sexist to say I’m a feminist.’ Now, I see a great imbalance not only in my industry,
but also in the world at large. I want to change it. I agree with you. It needs to be varied and real.

It’s been great that we are seeing more and more actresses identifying as feminists and calling out the problems within the industry. They are helping to show that they are just as fed up with the lack of women in media as the rest of us. 

Ellen Page: ‘Why are people so reluctant to say they’re
feminists?’ (The Guardian)

Toni Collette Was Shocked To Learn Muriel’s Wedding Is A
Cult Classic! (Refinery 29)