International Women's Day 2023

International Women's Day is a global day that exists to help forge a gender equal world. Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key. And here at Millstream, inclusivity, diversity and equality are an important part of our culture, both in the workplace and beyond our studio walls.

This year we wanted to mark the day in an authentic way. So we've decided to highlight women that inspire us every day, either professionally or personally. Here’s some of our team’s thoughts...

Emma

I want to highlight my sister as my hero on this International Women’s Day. Emma has always given her best to everything she tries. As a parent to two children she is fun and creative, and I can see that creativity in my niece and nephew. She manages this whilst advancing through her career in a job she loves, a job that involves helping people daily. Emma is passionate about faith and is involved with her local church, both on Sundays and during the week. She’s there for her local community in helping others live a happier life. I’m lucky to say my sister inspires me and is generally awesome. Just don’t tell her I said this!

Jennifer Lee

A woman in industry I would like to highlight as a female animator is Jennifer Lee. One of the best documentaries I've seen pertaining to my career was Into The Unknown: Making Frozen 2, where I saw something I'd never seen before - a boardroom of experienced Disney directors being led by a woman. Despite being the first female director to earn $1 billion at the box office, she talks honestly about both personal and artistic vulnerability in her experiences directing, which myself and a lot of my female peers in animation relate to.

Cassandra Peterson

One woman in industry I would like to talk about is Cassandra Peterson A.K.A Elvira. Peterson is a horror TV hostess and she carved out and crafted the character slowly over the course of her career, slowly assembling her production rights away from studios to work independently. Elvira the character to me represents strength and ideas of the self. Outside of the character, her drive, compassion and ability to see and reach her goal is something I’ve always admired. She’s set out on her own becoming a comedian, cabaret dancer, making out with Elvis, and had been a forefront for LGBT activism fund-raising for HIV and Aids during a period when it was considered a controversial topic.

Rachel Talalay

I don't know much about her, but I know she's directed some of my favourite television and she is a great inspiration for getting women into the film and television industry.  She has an incredible eye for detail for breaking film rules and for amazing storytelling.

Claire Danson

One woman we’d like to highlight is Claire Danson. Doing the job we do, we get to meet some amazing people and tell their stories and Claire is no exception. From being a triathlete involved in GB trials to being paralysed from the belly button down, her incredible story highlights her tenacity and I think is an inspiration for all.

Sue Barker

For me, there is no greater icon to me than Sue Barker, who has become a legend in the world of sports presenting. For many years, Sue Barker was the face of BBC's Wimbledon coverage, bringing her passion and expertise to millions of viewers around the world. Sue Barker's impact on the world of sports extends far beyond her role as a presenter. She was also an accomplished athlete in her own right, winning the French Open in 1976 and reaching the world No. 3 ranking in tennis.