Put simply, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a legend. When the Supreme Court justice of 27 years passed away in September of 2020, the loss of a giant was felt everywhere, and especially by women. Through sharing what she meant to us—"Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the only proof I'll ever need that superheroes don't wear capes"—or re-reading our favorite quotes by her, we all have different ways of mourning her and honoring the legacy she left behind.
Few people put it better than Felicity Jones: "Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave us hope, a public figure who stood for integrity and justice—a responsibility she did not wear lightly," said Jones, who portrayed the powerhouse in the biopic On the Basis of Sex. "She will be missed not only as a beacon of light in these difficult times but for her razor-sharp wit and extraordinary humanity. She taught us all so much."
Ginsburg paved the way for women's rights and fought for us every single day of her life. But believe it or not, she didn't become a cultural icon until late in life. Here are some of the movies, TV shows, and books about her, so you can learn more about the justice's life and honor her everlasting legacy.
'RBG'
This Oscar-nominated documentary is a great place to start if you want to know more about the late justice. It covers her early years as a law student at Harvard in the late '50s to how she rose in the ranks to being appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993.
'On the Basis of Sex'
You have Felicity Jones as RBG, Armie Hammer as her loving attorney husband Martin Ginsburg, Kathy Bates as the feminist Dorothy Kenyon, Justin Theroux as the legal director of the ACLU—and does it work! While it only covers a small portion of her life, a.k.a the 1971 Reed v. Reed case, oh, do the tears roll. You'll admire her even more after watching this one.
'Saturday Night Live'
If Kate McKinnon is posing as you weekly on SNL, you know you've made it. There are countless videos of McKinnon playing the famous judge on YouTube, but this is a personal favorite. Even Bader Ginsburg has given her stamp of approval on the impression. “I liked the actress who portrayed me,” said Ginsburg in 2018 at the Sundance Film Festival of McKinnon. “And I would like to say, ‘Gins-Burn!’ sometimes to my colleagues.”
Inspired by the famous Tumblr page, its creator and Shana and award-winning journalist Carmon set out to create a book for the ultimate Ruth lover. It features archival photos, documents, and illustrations you've never seen, while also looking très chic on any coffee table.
There's no better way to get to know the trailblazer than from her autobiography. It features a collection of Bader Ginsburg's speeches, writings, and interviews dating all the way back to when she was just a teen. It's the ultimate history lesson.
