Female

Grants For Female Entrepreneurs And Where To Apply

The world of entrepreneurship, once evolved among the masculine and the brave has now become a common place among both men and women.

We have seen the tides change and its already far too long since we last heard that this thing is for men and another thing is for women. There no longer is a separation of opportunities, all of us are already playing on the same terrain.

The sad thought though is that there are too few funding resources and help groups for women entrepreneurs. Good funding resources are very crucial especially for women who are just starting out with business. These are rare indeed that is why women tend to resort to using their credit cards, family loans and assistance from friends which in most cases are hardly ever helpful.

But you see, funding for a business is only one of the many problems among women entrepreneurs. They may also be having troubles in building websites, juggling with researches and making press releases for promotions of enterprise. And hey there are also problems in selling one or two of their products and in contacting clients. Though all that may sound difficult, they surely are worth the time of woman entrepreneur.

After all, it is her business she is building in here.

Various organizations and the government has seen all the hardships a woman entrepreneur has to undergo to be able to make it to the supposedly men’s world. This is why they have provided programs for minority businesses to see what its like being among the greats in the businesses, or atleast experience some of their glories.

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If you are a woman entrepreneur and is interested in getting grants, the first thing you would want to do is to identify if you are qualified for being given a grant.

The most common qualifications are:
§ Obviously, you should be a female or depending on the program, must come from the minority sector
§ You must own the majority share in your business
§ And your business must show lucrative opportunities for growth

There are a number of government and private agencies that provide grants for women entrepreneurs at various levels.

Say for the federal level, women can undergo self-certification and apply for the Central Contracting Registry database from which many government and private contractors gather to search for small business.

Other programs may be seen on local level where advantages are presented and benefits are granted. Its just the matter of finding them and apply for one that you think you can create your real potentials from.

And because of their own commitment to provide diversified services and opportunities, large corporations are also creating grants for women entrepreneurs. Normally, these large companies were mandated by the federal government to create further services to improve their employment base and to create equal allocations for small business owners.

Well, if you cannot be reached by these options you may always turn to your previous employer and create a market for him, make him your first client. Only, you need to be very careful and see if this would actually pass to your previous boss. If you aren’t tactful enough, you might find yourself facing resignation or losing your job. This might be risky but don’t be too afraid. Most former employers do make outsourcing for their previous workers t help them start create their own businesses. After all, this will provide them with an extra chance to leverage their compliance to their set-aside goals.

Be warned though that the application process for grants may be time consuming and very demanding. Oftentimes, the providers set specific time for waiting periods with regards to the processing of the grants for women entrepreneurs. And sometimes, bureaucracies may even take the toll of having you wait for several months before your certification is released.

And being an applicant, please anticipate unusual questions to pop up. These might include those that you would not normally hear or expect.

Keep in mind also that grants for women entrepreneurs are meant to help you have that break and not to supply you with an unlimited meal vouchers. So be on guard. Many agencies and grant providers may even cut out their services to you out of convenience. Meaning, they need not provide an explanation in doing so. They just do most of the time.

Article from articlesbase.com

Tags: Apply, Entrepreneurs, Female, Grants

Monday, October 3rd, 2011 Grants For Female Entrepreneurs No Comments

Female Hollywood Movie Stars

Vivacious, talented, intelligent and incredibly beautiful, our favorite female Hollywood actresses are only getting better with time! This list of hottest female Hollywood movie stars is not just about beauty, it’s about talent as well. Hollywood has witnessed many movie stars who have created a special identity for them in show biz. These ladies sure know how to reign and have won the hearts of millions with their beauty and talent. However, not all of them have always carried themselves with grace, but then, that’s all a part of a movie star’s life. Love them or hate them, we simply can’t ignore them. Here are some of the topmost and hottest female Hollywood movie stars who have enthralled audiences since ages.

Female Hollywood Movie Stars:

Jennifer Aniston:
Jennifer Aniston (11th February, 1969) is one of the hottest and most popular Hollywood actresses popularly known as Rachel Green – the character in the US television sitcom ‘Friends’. This talented Hollywood actress began her career with television. She is known for her performances in movies such as ‘Bruce Almighty’, ‘Rumor Has It’, ‘Along Came Polly’, ‘Office Space’, ‘Derailed’ etc. She was also in the news for her divorce with Brad Pitt.

Jessica Alba:
Jessica Alba (28th April 1981) is rated as one of the hottest and sexiest film and television actresses in the recent times. Known for her performances in films like ‘Honey’, ‘Fantastic Four’, ‘Sin City’, ‘Good Luck Chuck’ and also a television series, ‘Dark Angel’, this lovely lady has bagged many awards not only for her acting prowess, but also for her stunning looks! It’s not a wonder men have rated her as the number one on the list of Most Desirable Women.

Halle Berry:
This dusky American actress is not only an award winning performer but also a former fashion model and beauty queen. Halle Berry (14th August, 1966) is renowned as the first Afro-American lady to have bagged the award for the Best Actress. She starred in movies such as ‘Monster’s Ball’, ‘Jungle Fever’, ‘The Flintstones’, ‘Die Another Day’ etc. One of the highest paid actresses of Hollywood, this lovely lady continues to woo audiences with her talent and sex appeal.

Angelina Jolie:
Angelina Jolie (4th June, 1975) is one of the top female Hollywood Movie Stars who is also known world over as the most beautiful woman in the world. With many awards to her credit, such as the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Academy Awards, she was more in the news due to her relationship with Brad Pitt. With Brad Pitt by her side, Angelina has adopted three children apart from her three biological children. She is known for her performance in THmovies such as, ‘George Wallace’, ‘Gia’, ‘Girl Interrupted’, ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’.

Sandra Bullock:
Known for her acting talent, this Hollywood movie star is an award-winning performer known for her hits ‘Speed’, ‘Miss Congeniality’, ‘While You Were Sleeping’ etc. Sandra (26th July, 1964) has shown her acting talent by opting for a variety of roles that displayed her skill in various departments. Her first movie appearance was seen in the sci-fi movie, ‘Demolition Man’. Her roles have always fetched her critical acclaim.

Reese Witherspoon:
This pretty lady happened to attend a casting call and instead bagged the lead role in an audition in 1990. From there on, Reese Witherspoon (22nd March, 1976) soon received many offers. In the year 1996, she was offered a role in two major films. Reese tasted success with movies such as ‘Overnight Delivery’, ‘Pleasantville’, ‘Walk the Line’, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and of course, the box office hit, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Legally Blonde 2’. One of the highest paid female Hollywood movie stars, she has stolen the hearts of many with her pretty looks and acting talent.

Jennifer Garner:
This lovely lady began her career with small odd jobs in television. In 2002, Jennifer Garner (17th April, 1972) finally tasted success when she won an award for ‘Best Actress in a Television Series’ for the spy drama, ‘Alias’. The commercial success of the romantic comedy, ‘13 Going on 30’ further established her as an actress in Hollywood. She is also known for her roles in movies such as ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’, ‘Juno’, ‘Elektra’, ‘The Kingdom’ etc.

Julia Roberts:
This pretty woman has always floored everybody with her performances and stunning looks! Julia Roberts (28th October, 1967) achieved international fame when she starred opposite Richard Gere in ‘Pretty Woman’. One of the highest paid actresses in the world; Julia was also one of the first actresses to appear on the cover page of the very glamorous magazine, ‘Vogue’. Following ‘Pretty Woman’, Julia had many hits to her credit. She demonstrated her acting skills in ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’, ‘Hook’, ‘The Pelican Brief’, ‘My Best Friends Wedding’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Runaway Bride’, ‘Erin Brockovich’ etc. She has received several awards and nominations for her outstanding work in her journey through Hollywood as an actress of great acting prowess.

Gwyneth Paltrow:
This American actress had her debut in 1990 on stage. Gwyneth (27th September, 1972) was noticed in the film, ‘Se7en’ which fetched her commercial success. She also appeared in many other films such as, ‘Shakespeare in Love’, ‘A Perfect Murder’, ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’, ‘Iron Man’ etc.

Meg Ryan:
Margaret, popularly known as Meg Ryan, began her career with a television commercial. Meg (19th November, 1961) then appeared in several television roles. She first achieved success when she played the role of Sally in ‘When Harry Met Sally’ with Tom Hanks. From there on, Meg achieved superstardom with movies such as ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’, ‘Proof of Life’, ‘Kate & Leopold’ etc.

Susan Sarandon:
This Oscar winning actress is famous for her acting as well as her contribution towards social causes. Susan (4th October, 1946) began her career with several movies that went unnoticed until she was catapulted to fame when she starred in the movie, ‘Bill Durham’. She went on to establish herself as a fine actress with movies such as, ‘Atlantic City’, ‘Thelma & Louise’, ‘The Client’, ‘Dead Man Walking’, ‘Stepmom’, ‘Shall We Dance’ etc. She won an Oscar award for the movie ‘Dead Man Walking’.

Hillary Swank:
This American actress was involved in acting from an early age and was also good at sports. Hillary Swank (30th July, 1974) started with her career in Hollywood with a very teeny role in the movie, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. ‘Boy’s Don’t Cry’ fetched her much fame and adulation. She also achieved stupendous success with the award winning film, ‘Million Dollar Baby’. The Academy Award winning actress has surely made her mark in Hollywood!

Uma Thurman:
Uma Thurman (29th April, 1970) is known for a range of roles that ranges from romance, comedy, science fiction and even drama. Uma Thurman was associated with modeling since the time she was 15. Her debut in the movie industry happened in the year 1988. ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ brought Uma the much-needed attention. Apart from this movie, she also became popular with films such as ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Gattaca’ and the ‘Kill Bill’ series. This pretty lady also bagged the contract for endorsing the brand, ‘Louis Vuitton’.

Keira Knightley:
Talented and beautiful, this actress sure has a range of roles that have helped her to establish a strong foothold in this industry. Keira Knightley (26th March 1985) was associated with acting since her childhood days. Better known as Elizabeth Bennet in the movie, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, she also joined the list of the highest paid actresses and was also the only non-American female. Keira’s most noticeable performance happened with the release of ‘Bend it Like Beckham’. From there on, she gave the biggest hits starring in trilogies of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. She also starred in a role in ‘Love Actually’. Apart from this, she is also known for her role in ‘Atonement’, which also fetched her the Empire Award for Best Actress and several nominations. Her role as Elizabeth Bennet also fetched her several nominations.

Meryl Streep:
This award-winning actress is one such person who can essay any sort of role. Mary Streep, better known as Meryl Streep (22nd June, 1949) had her film debut in the year 1977 in ‘Julia’. Her second film bagged her the Academy Award nomination for the movie, ‘The Deer Hunter’. Since then, this talented Hollywood star has a wide range of roles to her credit. More recently, she is known for the perfect representation of the rather obnoxious fashion magazine editor in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. This vivacious personality has won the Academy Awards twice, along with BAFTA awards, Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards.

Cameron Diaz:
She began her career at the age of 16 in the fashion industry. She bagged assignments with fashion designers such as Calvin Klein and Levi’s. It was at the age of 21 when Cameron Diaz (30th August, 1972) landed with the lead role in ‘The Mask’. From there on, Cameron bagged more films like ‘The Last Supper’, ‘Feeling Minnesota’, ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’, ‘There’s Something About Mary’ etc. She also became popular due to ‘Charlie’s Angels’. This actress is also one of the highest paid female stars in Hollywood. She has won the Golden Globe Award, Best Actress for ‘There’s ‘Something About Mary’ apart from many other awards and nominations for all her hit movies.

Salma Hayek:
This Mexican actress with her beautiful, dusky looks has surely established herself as a prominent Hollywood movie star. Salma Hayek (2nd September, 1966) is also known as the first Mexican national who was nominated for the category of the Best Actress for the Oscars. Her role in the movie, ‘Teresa’ catapulted her to fame as an actress in Mexico. She got her much-needed break with ‘Desperado’ in 1995. She also achieved success due to films such as ‘Wild Wild West’, ‘Fools Rush In’, ‘Frida’ etc.

Penelope Cruz:
This beautiful Spanish actress has achieved much fame due to her Spanish films as well as many American films. Penelope Cruz (28th April, 1974) was first noticed in a Spanish video clip. Her film, ‘Vanilla Sky’ got her much attention in Hollywood. She was also seen in films such as ‘Blow’ and ‘Bandidas’. This lovely actress is also the first Spanish actress to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Apart from this, Penelope Cruz has several other prestigious nominations.

Nicole Kidman:
One of the highest paid actresses of all times, Nicole Kidman appeared in films when she was only 15 years old. The breakthrough happened in 1989 when Nicole Kidman (20th June, 1967) appeared in a movie titled, ‘Dead Calm’. ‘Days of Thunder’, ‘Batman Forever’, ‘To Die For’, ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, ‘The Hours’ and ‘Moulin Rouge!’ brought her international fame and awards as well as nominations. She was also much in the news for her relation with Hollywood hunk, Tom Cruise.

Michelle Pfeiffer:
Michelle Pfeiffer is an American actress with great talent and gorgeous looks. Michelle began her acting career with television roles. Michelle’s (29th April, 1958) first break happened in ‘Grease 2’ where she did receive much attention. She then had more hits with movies such as ‘Scarface’, ‘The Witches of Eastwick’, ‘Dangerous Liasons’, ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’, ‘The Russia House’, ‘Frankie and Johnny’ etc. This further helped her bag awards and nominations for her portrayal of these roles. She had many more hits to her credit following these films.

Drew Barrymore:
Drew Barrymore (22nd February, 1975) is definitely one of the popular and talented movie stars of Hollywood who had her first connection with the camera when she was only eleven months old! Drew Barrymore has a list of hits to her credit. Some of her hits include ‘The Wedding Singer’, ‘Charlie’s Angels’, ‘Lucky You’, ‘50 First Dates’, ‘Never Been Kissed’ etc.

Kate Hudson:
This attractive personality has established herself as a prominent actress in Hollywood. Kate Hudson (19th April, 1979) became famous when she starred in ‘Almost Famous’. From there on, Kate had many more hits with films such as ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’. ‘You, Me and Dupree’, ‘Fool’s Gold’ etc. ‘Almost Famous’ fetched her an Academy Award nomination.

Jennifer Lopez:
Popularly known as J.Lo, (24th July, 1969) this dusky beauty is not only an actress but is also a singer and a talented dancer as well. She began her career trying to get a break in music videos as a dancer and finally landed up as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson’s super hit song, ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’. From there, began her journey with television and films. She even bagged the ALMA Awards as an outstanding actress for her role in ‘Selena’, ‘Angel Eyes’ and ‘Out of Sight’.

Catherine Zeta-Jones:
An attractive personality and oodles of talent; Catherine is a movie star of amazing capabilities. A British actress, Catherine Zeta-Jones (25th September, 1969) made her mark in UK and US based television films and also many movies that shot her to fame in Hollywood. Her stage career began at an early age. She was always inclined towards dancing and acting. She is held in high regard for her performances in movies such as ‘The Phantom’, ‘Entrapment’, ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and ‘Chicago’. ‘Chicago’ fetched her many awards and nominations.

Scarlette Johansson:
Scarlette has won the hearts of many with her attractive persona. This lovely lady began her acting from her childhood days. Scarlette Johansson (22nd November, 1984) was first noticed for her performance in the ‘The Horse Whisperer’. Scarlette also gained fame for her performances in ‘Lost in Translation’, ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ and ‘Ghost World’. These movies fetched her nominations leading to award wins!

Renee Zellweger:
Renee began her career by appearing in many films. Renee Zellweger (25th April, 1969) procured a main role in the movie ‘Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. She further achieved fame due to her role in ‘Jerry Maguire’. She is also known for her portrayal of the character – Bridget Jones. She also starred in the lead role in the super hit film, ‘Chicago’. She has won several awards from the Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG Award and even the BAFTA Awards.

Cate Blanchett:
This Academy Award winning actress is of Australian origin. Cate Blanchett (14th May, 1969) achieved fame when she starred in the Shekhar Kapur film, ‘Elizabeth’. From there on, she was noticed in the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. She has had several nominations and awards especially due to the film. ‘The Aviator’.

Kirsten Dunst:
She is not only an amazing actress; Kirsten is also a singer who gained fame as ‘Mary Jane Watson’ in the Spider-Man series. Kirsten Dunst (30th April, 1982) was also known for her performances in ‘Little Women’, ‘Marie Antoinette’ etc. She was nominated twice for her acting prowess.

Sally Field:
This American actress has many awards to her name. Sally Field (6th November, 1946) began her career with television where she generally played roles that had a comic touch. She gained fame when she played the character of Sybil on television where she was awarded the Emmy Award. From there on, began her journey with films. She has bagged two Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Jane Fonda:
With her stunning looks and perfect body, Jane Fonda (21st December, 1937) is more than just a Hollywood movie star. This beautiful American actress has also been a former fashion model and is known for exercise videos. Her first claim to fame was due to movies such as ‘Barbarella’ and ‘Cat Ballou’. She was also recently seen in ‘Monster in Law’ and ‘Georgia Rule’.

Demi Moore:
An American actress of great talent, Demi Moore (11th November, 1962) began her career with modeling. She appeared in plenty of youthful films in the 1980s, which shot her into the limelight. Films such as ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, ‘Indecent Proposal’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘Ghost’ etc further helped her gain more success.

Sharon Stone:
Sharon Stone (10th March, 1958) shot to stardom with ‘Basic Instinct’. She began her career with modeling and then started off with a small role in ‘Stardust Memories’. From there on, she was seen in movies such as, ‘Action Jackson’, ‘Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold’, ‘King Soloman’s Mines’ etc. It was her appearance in ‘Total Recall’ that helped her achieve fame. ‘Basic Instinct’ and ‘Casino’ further established her as one of the hottest movie stars of Hollywood. Sharon Stone has several awards to her name, which includes Golden Globe, Emmy and Academy Awards.

Charlize Theron:
This actress was initially a fashion model. Charlize Theron (7th August, 1975) then landed up with a few minor roles in films but her career took off only when she achieved success in movies such as ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ and ‘Mighty Joe Young’. Her performance in ‘Monster’ helped her to establish herself in this industry. This bagged her an Academy Award.

Emma Thompson:
Emma Thompson (15th April, 1959) was noticed in the film, ‘The Tall Guy’. From there on, Emma moved on to gain fame for her acting abilities. Her fine performances brought her amongst the arc lights, which fetched her awards as well. Emma has won The Academy Award, Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award.

Helen Hunt:
Helen Hunt (15th June, 1963) started off as a child actress, which gave her the experience of facing the camera. Helen appeared in a lot of TV shows and was known for her television show, ‘Mad About You’. She then had a successful journey in films with movies such as, ‘Cast Away’, ‘Twister’, ‘As Good As It Gets’ and ‘What Women Want’. She won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘As Good As It Gets’.

Kate Winslet:
Kate Winslet (5th October, 1972) is one of the most beautiful movie stars of Hollywood with oodles of talent. She was the youngest to receive two Oscar nominations at the age of 22. With a start from television, Kate shot to fame with the movie, ‘Heavenly Creatures’. Her successful career graph continued with hits such as, ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ‘Titanic’, ‘Finding Neverland’ etc. She is known for her choice of artistic films. This lovely lady has been nominated several times for the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, BAFTA Awards and has won the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Whoopi Goldberg:
This American actress was noticed in ‘Citizen: I’m Not Losing My Mind, I’m Giving It Away’. Whoopi Goldberg (13th November, 1955) also received fame and critical acclaim for her performance in ‘The Color Purple’. She is amongst the second African American ladies to win an Academy Award for acting. Whoopi has also won an Emmy Award, Tony Award and Saturn Awards.

Sarah Jessica Parker:
Known all over for her role in the HBO television series titled, ‘Sex and the City’, Sarah is one of the successful Hollywood movie stars of the current crop. Sarah Jessica Parker (25th March, 1965) started out with roles in television and went on to establish her name firmly as a fine actress. Sarah has won four Golden Globe Awards as well as Screen Actors Guild Awards and Emmy Awards.

Katie Holmes:
Katie Holmes (18th December, 1978) began with modeling classes at the age of 14. She is known for her character of Joey Potter for the teen drama titled ‘Dawson’s Creek’. Her first major role in film happened when she bagged a role in ‘Disturbing Behavior’. Katie is more known for her roles in films such as ‘Abandon’ and ‘Batman Begins’.

Lindsay Lohan:
This American teen icon is not only an actress but has also tried her hand at modeling and singing. Lindsay Lohan (2nd July, 1986) began her career at the age of 10. She was noticed for her excellent portrayal as twins in the film, ‘The Parent Trap’. Following this, Lindsay Lohan got a breakthrough with ‘Freaky Friday’. She was further seen in movies such as ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen’, ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Herbie: Fully Loaded’, ‘Just My Luck’.

Kim Basinger:
This American actress was associated with modeling from the age of 16. Kim Basinger (8th December, 1958) then moved to L.A. to pursue a career in acting. She was known as the Bond girl in the movie, ‘Never Say Never Again’. From there on she went on to bag many more roles in movies such as, ‘The Man Who Loved Women’, ‘L.A. Confidential’, ‘Batman’ etc. She has won an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for her acting talent in the movie, ‘L.A. Confidential’.

Juliaane Moore:
This beautiful American actress worked as a waitress in her early days. Juliaane Moore (3rd December, 1960) got her breakthrough when she won a Daytime Emmy Award for ‘As the World Turns’. She then stared in many other films. She achieved media attention for her acting skills with movies such as, ‘Boogie Nights’, ‘The End of the Affair’, ‘The Forgotten’, ‘The Hours’ etc. Since then, this lady has bagged many prestigious Awards and nominations.

Courteney Cox:
This American actress is best known as Monica Geller of the television sitcom, ‘Friends’. Courteney Cox (15th June, 1964) was first spotted in a music video, ‘Dancing in the Dark’. She was known for her performance in the horror movie, ‘Scream’ and subsequently starred in all the sequels that followed. This talented lady has won several awards and also been nominated many times for her various performances.

Jodie Foster:
Alicia Foster, better known as Jodie Foster (19 November, 1962) was first noticed when she played a role of an underage prostitute in the movie, ‘Taxi Driver’. The performance even fetched her an Oscar nomination for the Best Supporting Actress. She began her career at a very early age. Although she had a successful career as a child artist, it did not hamper her career later on. She successfully carried out all her roles in her adult years with ease. She is particularly known for her performances in ‘The Accused’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.

Marilyn Monroe:
This beautiful American actress was always known for her mesmerizing beauty and acting prowess. Marilyn Monroe (1st June 1926-5th August 1962) had very modest beginnings but went on to become a successful personality. She achieved success with the movie, ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’, ‘Some Like It Hot’ as well as songs such as ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’, ‘Kiss’ etc. Memories of this gorgeous lady still continue to reign even today.

Audrey Hepburn:
Beautiful looks and an amazing acting talent, this lady had all the style within her! Rated as one of the most beautiful women ever, Audrey Hepburn had difficult beginnings. Her role was rather tiny in the movie, ‘One Wild Oat’. From there on she starred in many films. She bagged the lead role opposite Gregory Peck in the ‘Roman Holiday’, which showed her talent and beauty to the world. She then starred in ‘Sabrina’, ‘War and Peace’, ‘The Unforgiven’, ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, ‘My Fair Lady’ etc. She won the English Academy Award, Emmy Awards, Tony Award as well as the Grammy Award.

Sophia Loren:
This beautiful Italian actress has oodles of acting talent. Her beauty got her international fame as a sex symbol. Sophia Loren (20th September 1934) achieved international fame with ‘Desire Under the Elms’, ‘Heller in Pink Tights’, ‘Two Women’, ‘The Millionaires’ etc. She bagged an Academy Award for the Best Actress for the film, ‘Two Women’.

Anne Hathaway:
This pretty lady is known for her role in the Disney comedy titled, ‘The Princess Diaries’. Anne Hathaway (12th November, 1982) is more popular due to her character as a writer in the film, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Here, she worked with Meryl Streep, whom she greatly admires. Prior to this Anne starred in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ where she displayed another side of her acting skills.

These were some of the popular, talented and beautiful female Hollywood movie stars who have made their mark and some are still continuing with outstanding work in the world of films. Here’s hoping we get more exceptional leading ladies to this list!

Norway Sets 40% Female Quota for Boardrooms

Blazing a trail for women’s rights, egalitarian Norway is about to become the first country in the world to insist on female quotas for company boardrooms.

In a decree that has angered employer organisations and meritocratic-minded businesswomen, the government has ordered firms to ensure that at least 40% of their board members are women.

State-owned firms have just 12 months to comply; the country’s 650 public companies have three years. If they fail to meet the deadlines the government has said it will introduce legislation to enforce the quotas.

Although Norway prides itself on being one of the world’s most egalitarian societies, women make up a mere 7% of the boardroom elite (the European average is about 2%) and calls from successive governments to improve the situation have come to nothing.

“The minister has given firms an ultimatum,” Martin Bernsen, a spokesman for Laila Davoy, the minister for children and family affairs, said yesterday. “If they don’t succeed [in hitting the quota] the law will be changed.

“Here in Norway we have what we call an old boys’ network. The typical board member is male, over 55 years of age and has a background in law and economics. They collect people from their own network and that has to change. The minister is very angry about the current situation.”

Many companies claim that they will not be able to find enough suitably qualified women to fill 40% of boardroom posts but Mr Bernsen says government research has shown otherwise. “We have proven that there are lots of educated, highly qualified women out there with the right experience. But firms have to go and look for them.”

The number of women in higher education has over taken men, he added, with 60% of university places now occupied by females.

The figure of 40% was not plucked out of thin air. Informal gender quotas have existed in Norway since 1981 when Gro Harlem Brundtland, the country’s first female prime minister, took power, and around 40% of government posts have been held by women ever since.

Trade unions, who have lobbied for female quotas for the past 20 years, said they were delighted with the new decree.

Mie Opdordsmoen of LO, Norway’s biggest union, said: “Companies need to be forced to hire more women or else they won’t do it and if things were left as they are today it would be a hundred years before we have women making up 40% of company boards.

“Men recruit men. We all recruit people who are like ourselves, and men are in power.”

Ms Opdordsmoen conceded that Norway’s track record on gender equality was impressive but insisted more needed to be done. “We live in a fantasy land where we are practically the world champion of equal rights but that’s dangerous,” she warned. “Young women go into the workplace and realise that it’s not true. They’ve been told they have equal rights but they don’t.”

However, the edict has infuriated the country’s employers’ federation, which says it may make Norway uncompetitive. It also fears that foreign firms may be discouraged from setting up operations in Norway.

Sigrun Vageng, of the federation’s equality department, agreed too few women were reaching boardroom level but said firms would remedy the situation if left to their own devices, adding: “We don’t think the solution is having a new law. It should be up to shareholders to decide whether or not women are appointed to boardroom positions.”

Tags: Boardrooms, Female, Norway, Quota, Sets

Monday, February 15th, 2010 Grants 1 Comment