Busy Philipps On Paving Her Own Career Path: ‘I’ve Realized How Important Feminism Is To Me’

By Aynslee Darmon. Published: 12 Aug 2019 3:21 PM

Shape Magazine

Busy Philipps is wanting to make her own mark on her career.

The actress, 40, is Shape magazine’s September cover star where she got real about how she paved her own path.

“Some people have a clear understanding of their purpose early in their lives. Mine developed slowly,” she confessed. “In the last several years, I’ve realized how important feminism is to me, as well as fighting for equality of women of colour and transgender women.”

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“It can feel incredibly overwhelming right now—the environment, the patriarchy, understanding how to be an ally, so many things. It can feel paralyzing, but if you focus on whatever you are capable of (in whatever way you can use your talents and abilities), that's how real change comes about. It’s not just showing up to vote every two years and then every four years. It’s all the other stuff in between." -@busyphilipps, actor, author, activist, and mom. Tap the link in bio for more on how Busy runs the world. #SHAPEwrtw 📷: @maxabadian

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And when times get tough, Philipps knows how to push through.

“I’ve been holding on to this sentiment from the Talmud: You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it,” she explained. “So I just keep going. I have no shortage of energy. I can go for days. And I do, which is great because we have a lot of work to do.”

But Philipps wants her career to benefit others.

“Look, I know it’s the internet, but I truly believe that we change minds and hearts through personal connection and storytelling,” she said. “I’m willing to share as much as I can in the hope that maybe it will help someone think of mental health differently or understand more about the nuances in a woman’s right to choose or witness the realities of marriage and raising kids. Also, I don’t know of any other way to be! I’ve tried. I can’t. I’m an unfiltered human.”