'It's still pretty sexist': Heather Graham claims 'more people care' about equality but Hollywood is still run by men who don't share 'female voices'

By AMY LAMARE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

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Heather Graham is opening up about her long and successful career and the sexism she now sees in her iconic roles.

The actress, 53, told People, 'some of the movies from that time period, they were so sexist.' 

'No one really thought about it or commented on it. At that point, people thought they were being really evolved and now we look back and go, "Whoa, that was so sexist." I'm glad that we are growing as a culture,' she added.

But Graham - who has also spoken out on the pressure women get to marry and have children - said the film industry still has a long way to go. 'I feel like nothing has changed drastically,' she said. 

'More people care, but it's not suddenly equal. It's still pretty sexist, to be honest,' she continued. 

Sexism in Hollywood: Heather Graham is opening up about her long and successful career and the sexism she now sees in her iconic roles

Sexism in Hollywood: Heather Graham is opening up about her long and successful career and the sexism she now sees in her iconic roles

Say it isn't so: 'To get a female driven story that is appealing mostly to women through all these levels of male dominated business, it's not that easy,' she said; seen with Chris Klein in the 2001 movie Say It Isn't So

Say it isn't so: 'To get a female driven story that is appealing mostly to women through all these levels of male dominated business, it's not that easy,' she said; seen with Chris Klein in the 2001 movie Say It Isn't So

She then got specific. 

'Every phase of the business, whether it's financing, distribution, the reviewers, all those people are mostly men. To get a female driven story that is appealing mostly to women through all these levels of male dominated business, it's not that easy,' she admitted.

As Heather reflected on her career, she realized most of the stories revolved around men and their issues, which affected how she saw herself. 

'I always felt like I was a supporting character in a man's story,' the Extrapolations star said. 'I wasn't always going, what do I want? I was going, how do I people please someone else? My journey has been to get more clear on what I want and go after that.'

And she plans to do just that with her new projects. She wrote her new series Chosen Family which she also directs and stars in and is producing the television series adaptation of Liane Moriarty's Hypnotist's Love Story. 

'The most inspiring thing to me is to see a lot of female writers, directors, and that's something that I'm starting to do,' the Boogie Nights star said.

'I think that's really fun,' she said. 'And I like cool, groovy female directors that are telling humorous stories about female points of view. I'd like to be in those more.' 

Change is needed: 'I always felt like I was a supporting character in a man's story,' the Extrapolations star said

Change is needed: 'I always felt like I was a supporting character in a man's story,' the Extrapolations star said

Iconic roles: The 53 year old actress has appeared in a number of blockbuster films including Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Iconic roles: The 53 year old actress has appeared in a number of blockbuster films including Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

Supporting character: She said her roles in the past were more to serve what the men in the stories wanted

Supporting character: She said her roles in the past were more to serve what the men in the stories wanted 

'I really like hearing female voices because I think we learn a lot about the world from the movies and TV that we watch. 

'If we're always being told stories from just a male point of view, that doesn't help women.' 

Heather's latest movie, On a Wing and a Prayer - which is out today on Amazon Prime - has her playing Terri White, whose husband Doug - played by Dennis Quaid - has to land a plane on Easter after the pilot dies.

The film is based on a true story from 2009, and the Twin Peaks alum calls it 'an edge-of-your-seat-type story.'

'I like the hopefulness of feeling like there's a spiritual energy out there in the universe looking out for your highest good — that sometimes you think all hope is lost, but something good can still happen,' she said.

Taking charge: The actress wrote, directed and stars in the series Chosen Family

Taking charge: The actress wrote, directed and stars in the series Chosen Family

Adaptation: She is also producing the television series adaptation of Liane Moriarty's Hypnotist's Love Story

Adaptation: She is also producing the television series adaptation of Liane Moriarty's Hypnotist's Love Story

And the actress also recently reflected on another way sexism affects women - specifically women who choose not to get married or have children.

Heather said she 'feels free' having decided never to get married or have children with any of her past boyfriends: 'And I get a lot of sleep!'

'I don't feel that I'm missing anything,' the Miss Conceptions star admitted.

'If you're meant to have kids, you have kids. And if you're not meant to have kids, then the universe gives you someone or something to nurture. I do sometimes feel like my projects are little kids; I have started to get more involved in producing and writing and directing.'

Heather continued: 'I do feel like as a woman, culturally, you're not allowed to say, "I didn't want to have kids." Because it's like, "What's wrong with you?" I think as a man it's like, "Oh cool, you didn't want to have kids." Now, women are getting more free to make their own choices.'

Heather Graham

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