Goddess

Trailblazers. Nonconformists. Rebels. Agitators and Instigators. On and off screen.

Through iconic stories, characters and moments from over 120 years of moving image history, Goddess celebrates the women who shaped their own roles, took creative control and fought a system that tried to exploit them.

From the swagger of Mae West and glamour of Anna May Wong to the powerful punch of Pam Grier, this ACMI-curated exhibition salutes the groundbreaking achievements and impact of the screen’s revolutionary leading women. Too often reduced to the status of bombshell, starlet and screen siren, these goddesses remain far more than sexist stereotypes.

Featuring never-before-seen costumes, original sketches, interactive experiences and cinematic treasures, including iconic outfits worn by Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe and Geena Davis, Goddess honours the women who challenged narratives, defied expectations and transcended existing tropes.

Whether it’s Tilda Swinton, Michelle Yeoh or Zendaya, today’s goddesses unapologetically occupy spaces and roles that shatter glass ceilings, project solidarity and reframe society through essential stories, brave voices and complex characters. They’ve overcome convention and an industry built to confine them with collective power and fearless creativity to imagine their own heroes and forge their own paths.