SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris has been elected president of the International Federation of Actors — the first American woman to ever hold the position, it was announced Friday.
Carteris succeeds Canadian actress Ferne Downey, who had been its president since 2012. FIA represents performers’ trade unions, guilds and professional associations in 65 countries whose members work in all recorded media and live theatre.
“It is my profound honor to be elected president of the International Federation of Actors,” Carteris said in a statement. “For nearly 70 years, FIA has been a leader and fighter for actors around the world. FIA has worked tirelessly to make stages, sets and studios more diverse and equitable, in addition to creating a culture of respect and accountability in the entertainment, media and performing arts industry that transcends international boundaries.”
“I am grateful to Ferne Downey for her leadership as president over the past nine years, and look forward to working with my colleagues across FIA in the years ahead,” Carteris said.
As leader of the FIA, Carteris will work to improve working conditions, protect intellectual property and promote global diversity for FIA’s 81 member organizations, the organization said.