Rita Wilson Elected to Oscars Panel

Rita Wilson recently announced she was elected to the Oscars Panel, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy.

Rita Wilson on Oscars Panel

Greek-American actress and singer Wilson relayed the news to her fans on Instagram. The caption read, “very please to announced that I will be joining @whoopigoldberg @lauradern as a Governor of the Board for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Actors Branch.”

This marks Wilson’s first time being elected to the Board of Governors. New members in separate branches include Kim Taylor-Coleman in the Casting Directors Branch, as well as Paul Cameron in the Cinematographers Branch.

Wilson seemed incredibly excited to get to work on the Oscars panel. In her caption she added, “so honored to join all these wonderful artists and so many others in a variety of professions in our industry who work to keep our Academy vibrant, curious, and reflective of our society. Eager to get to work!”

Academy Board of Governors Requirements

In order to be elected to the board, there are certain requirements for actors. Members must be invited by the Board of Governors, as long as they meet specific criteria.

These include being “active in motion picture arts and sciences, or credit with screen achievements”.

The actor must also have a minimum of three feature film credits (as scripted roles), and at least one of the credits must be in the past five years. The features must also be of “a caliber that reflect the high standards of the Academy.”

On the other hand, if an actor has been nominated for an Academy Award in any acting category, this requirement is no longer necessary.

What Does the Academy’s Board of Governors Do?

Though it is a part-time position, members of the Oscars panel, including now Rita Wilson, have several responsibilities.

The Board of Governors meets approximately six to eight times a year. They plan out the Academy’s vision for the next year, but are also responsible for keeping the organization’s finances balanced.

This year’s board includes Jim Gianopulos as treasurer, the Greek-American CEO of Paramount Pictures.

Rita Wilson’s Acting Career

Wilson made a name herself in the 90s playing comedic parts in several high-profile romantic comedies of the era. These include “Runaway Bride” and “Sleepless in Seattle”, the latter of which she filmed with Tom Hanks.

In the last decade, she has played prominent recurring roles in critically-acclaimed TV series including “The Good Wife” and “Girls”.

However, Wilson has also taken time to focus on her singing career. She sang the main theme song for 2020’s “The Outpost”. The singer-songwriter has also performed at charity concerts, at the Stagecoach Festival, and of course in her beloved homeland of Greece.