8 Women Who Proved That We’re Stronger When We Lift Each Other Up

It is a common stereotype that celebrities have to constantly compete with each other in order to achieve success. This is especially true when it comes to female actresses and singers, as if they need to be the most beautiful, young, and brilliant to have a successful career. However, some women in Hollywood disagree with this claim, and they prove that we become stronger by supporting and praising each other.

1. Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer

Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer have been good friends since they worked together on The Help. Before they both agreed to work on the film, they had a conversation that revealed Spencer, as a black actress, would earn 5 times less for her role compared to Chastain. “Octavia, we’re going to get you paid on this film,” Chastain said as soon as she found out about it.

Later, Chastain fixed it so that they’d get equal pay. “In an industry that for the longest time had pitted women against each other, it’s really important for me and my company to create a space where everyone understands that, actually, we do better together,” Chastain commented.

2. Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep

In 1977, while working on the dramatic film, Julia, Meryl Streep didn’t just make an important first step in her spectacular career, but she also found a mentor that boosted her path, and, as Streep recalled, “open[ed] probably more doors than I probably even know about.” The mentor was the iconic actress, Jane Fonda.

“I was so nervous because all of my scenes were going to be with you,” Streep confessed, addressing Fonda in a speech. The respected actress led the then-inexperienced Streep through the filmmaking process. “Look down...over there, that green tape on the floor, that’s you. That’s your mark,” said Streep, remembering Fonda’s instructions. “And if you land on it, you will be in the light, and you will be in the movie.”

3. Adele and Beyoncé

At the 2017 Grammys, both Beyoncé and Adele left with some passionately desired gramophones. Beyoncé took home 2 of them; however, Adele stole the show, winning 5 awards. As inspiring as it possibly could’ve been, Adele addressed her winner’s speech to Beyoncé, crediting her for her path and her latest album at that time.

“My life is Beyoncé, and the album to me, the Lemonade album, Beyoncé was so monumental and so well-thought-out,” said Adele. “You are our light. And the way that you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel, is empowering, and you make them stand up for themselves. And I love you,” she added.

4. Anne Hathaway and the cast of Ocean’s 8

They say that it’s hard for women to get along. However, as Anne Hathaway said herself, the cast of Ocean’s 8 “just murdered that rumor.” The film garnered a cast of incredibly talented actresses who not only gifted us with a fantastic movie, but also showed true sisterhood.

It was the first film Hathaway had worked on since giving birth to her son. And even though she was treating her body generously after childbirth, “The weight was really slow to come off,” she recalled. The actress was a different size than usual, however, her co-stars boosted her confidence. As she walked onto the set, Sandra Bullock, for example, would go, “Looking good, mama!” And Cate Blanchett would say, “Nice jeans, Hathaway!”

5. Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander

Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander were working together on the film, Seventh Son, when some man in a position of power on set made a mean, rude joke about Vikander. The actress was so embarrassed that she “would have just laughed it off,” she said. However, Moore didn’t let it pass. She turned to the man and said, “If you ever do that again, I’m walking out of here, and I’m not coming back.”

The incident really empowered Vikander. “It showed me that she had the power,” the actress said. It meant a lot to her.

6. Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson

In 2015, Viola Davis was the first Black woman to win Best Actress at the Emmys. Giving her speech, Davis paid tribute to several Black actresses who made a valuable input in the movie industry but who didn’t get the award themselves. Among them, she named Taraji P. Henson, who was sitting in the audience, and while she didn’t win herself, she gave Davis a standing ovation.

7. Lizzo and Cardi B

Lizzo and Cardi B collaborated by releasing the single, Rumors. Shortly after, Lizzo appeared on her Instagram live, sitting on a bathroom floor in tears. She opened up about being criticized on social media. “If you don’t like my music, cool; if you don’t like Rumors, it’s all cool, but a lot of people don’t like me because of the way I look,” shared Lizzo.

Cardi B couldn’t stand idly by and publicly supported Lizzo on her social media. “When you stand up for yourself, they claim you’re problematic and sensitive. When you don’t, they tear you apart until you’re crying like this,” said Cardi B. She wrote that despite how you look, haters will always “put their insecurities” on you.

8. Lady Gaga and P!NK

In 2017, while performing at the Super Bowl, Lady Gaga started off her show on the stadium’s rooftop. At some point in her performance, Gaga just jumped off of the roof, earning the viewers’ admiration but also hate, as some fans thought this part of the performance resembled one of the shows of another female singer, P!NK.

P!NK herself, however, was not happy about the hate and disrespect Lady Gaga got. “Let’s squash this before it even has a chance to be a thing: Lady Gaga killed it yesterday,” P!NK wrote on her Instagram. “Let’s celebrate the woman who has the guts to jump off the roof and stand there in the first place.” P!NK went on, joking, “Who cares if I flew first? Cause I didn’t! Cirque and Peter Pan have been in the air for years!”

Whose story was the most inspiring to you?