SAG-AFTRA Prez Speaks at Women’s Panel

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris joined luminaries from several industries in an April 18 panel examining diversity and the role of women in entertainment, tackling the difficult issues of ageism and the inequality that still exists for women in the professional world. Meeting at Capitol Records’ headquarters in Hollywood, the all-female panel, representing labor, music, sports and education, discussed the challenges women face.

The Future She Built panel included L.A. Sparks President and COO Christine Simmons, USC Associate Professor and Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Founder and Director Stacy Smith, and Capitol Music Group COO Michelle Jubelirer. It was moderated by Essence Magazine West Coast Editor Regina R. Robertson.

Carteris, who continues to lead the fight to remove actors’ ages from subscription websites such as IMDb, discussed the impact of ageism. She said she doubted she would have had the opportunity to play Andrea Zuckerman, the Beverly Hills, 90210 role that made her a household name, had the site existed when she auditioned.

“When I was playing Andrea, I was playing the role of a 16-year-old when I was 29 years old,” she said. “If IMDb was around at the time, I never would’ve had the opportunity to play Andrea Zuckerman, which was a life-changer for me.”

Photo: Select Management Group VP and Head of Operations Alisa Ben, USC Associate Professor and Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Founder and Director Stacy Smith, Select Management Group Operations and Marketing Coordinator Mary De Cuir, L.A. Sparks President and COO Christine Simmons, Capitol Music Group COO Michelle Jubelirer, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, Essence Magazine West Coast Editor Regina R. Robertson and Select Management Group Partners and Co-Founders Scott Fisher and Adam Wescott attend The Future She Built panel discussion at Capitol Records Studio on Wednesday, April 18 in Hollywood. Photo by Samantha Snitzer.