Executives bankrolling the most popular and relevant film and TV, creators shifting perspectives, reps brokering every deal and talent making sure people pay attention… they’re all at the top of the game. That’s why they made THR’s definitive annual rundown of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry — which includes first-time honorees Taylor Swift, Quinta Brunson, Selena Gomez and Lizzo this year. Here, they reveal who they’d trade places with for a day, make their predictions for Hollywood in 2023 and reflect on bizarre first jobs in the industry. (Spoiler alert: ALF didn’t brush himself.)
In creating the 2022 list of entertainment’s top female players, editors considered portfolio sizes, series loads, TV ratings, box office returns, awards, deals, employees overseen, revenue and profit generated, subscriber counts and, let’s be honest, leadership. Written by J. Clara Chan, Kirsten Chuba, Ashley Cullins, Mia Galuppo, Carolyn Giardina, Lesley Goldberg, Rebecca Keegan, Borys Kit, Pamela McClintock, Mikey O’Connell, Sydney Odman, Lacey Rose and Rebecca Sun