Millie Bobby Brown, Mindy Kaling, Salma Hayek Reveal Netflix Series That Inspire Them

A number of female actors, directors and other creators have kicked off Women’s History Month by revealing the TV shows and movies that inspire and empower them. “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, comedian and actress Mindy Kaling and Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek were only a few of the celebrities to weigh in.

Brown is apparently a Taylor Swift fan because her answer was “Miss Americana,” the Netflix documentary detailing Swift’s life and political awakening.

The answers were in response to Netflix teaming up with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) to launch a collection of films, documentaries and TV series that empower women’s storytelling, according to Elle.

The collection, titled “Because She Watched,” is launching in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8 and will be available all year.

Famous females from all over the world were asked to submit a movie or TV show that aligns with the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights.”

“A Wrinkle in Time” director Ava DuVernay chose her own film as one that inspires her, while Netflix’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” star Lana Condor revealed the sitcom “Grace and Frankie” as her choice. Hayek’s choice was also a Netflix original, “Unbelievable” a series that aired in September 2019 that follows the story of a teenage girl who was raped.

Other notable stars that responded with movie/TV shows that inspire them were “Orange Is the New Black” star Laverne Cox, who gave a nod to “A Call to Courage,” and Italian actress Sophia Loren, who chose “The Crown.”

“TV and film have the power to reflect and shape popular culture, which is why we believe it's so important that more people see their lives reflected in storytelling,” said Stacy Smith, Founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

The collection includes a wide variety of thrillers, comedy, drama and documentaries from Shonda Rhimes' soapy drama “Scandal,” to the British comedy “Sex Education,” to Emmy-nominated “Russian Doll,” to the classic thriller “Silence of the Lambs,” to the Academy Award-winning “Roma.” To find the collection, simply search "Because She Watched" on Netflix.