Transcript provided by cnn.com

KARYN BRYANT: Earlier on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, you say that we went right to Geena Davis to ask her about whether fellow actor Ben Affleck could be senator in real life. Well, that’s because the Oscar winning actress makes her return to the small screen tonight in her new ABC drama, “Commander in Chief.”

Well, Geena stopped by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT earlier today, and I asked her if she thinks we’ll see a woman in the White House any time soon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: Mackenzie Allen is the first female president of the United States. In reality, what do you think of the chances that this could happen in the near future?

DAVIS: Well, first of all, I would have to say that I think it’s an incredible shame that it hasn’t happened yet. America ranks 61st in the world as far as female representation in government goes. America, we’re supposed to be, you know, on the cutting edge of stuff and leading the way and it’s just – I think it’s a shame.

And so, the whole idea that it’s strange and wow, will it ever happen, you know, it’s like, what century are we living in now, you know? Because, you know, I thought we figured this out.

BRYANT: Why do you think it is so hard for people to wrap their minds around that idea?

DAVIS: You know, I don’t have a personal theory. Supposedly, one theory is that people have trouble picturing a woman being strong on defense. But that’s changing, as well. The latest polls show that the majority of people would trust a woman to make defense decisions. So I think we’re getting there slowly.

BRYANT: Don’t you think it is time, though, that this enters the national dialogue for real? There’s been rumblings about Hillary, but for real, shouldn’t we be talking about women in office?

DAVIS: Absolutely. Yes, we really should. It should have happened a long time ago. “New York Times” magazine did a study that showed if women are added to Congress at the same rate they have been, we’ll achieve parity in 500 years.

BRYANT: Wow.

DAVIS: So, you know, we do need to have a dialogue about this. That’s too slow, in my humble opinion.

BRYANT: You think? So let’s talk about Hillary Clinton, though, because people are saying potentially she could run in a few years.

DAVIS: Right. Right.

BRYANT: Do you think she would make a good president?

DAVIS: I do. I do. I think she would. And I think that the conversation about a female president being so narrowly focused on her is a mistake. I think certainly, she’s an incredibly potent potential candidate, but, you know, there is some talk about Condoleezza Rice. But there’s so many women that today are up to the job, and there’s so many women that have been in the past that, you know, I think it’s a little narrow to just make it all about Hillary.

BRYANT: Do you think that Condoleezza has what it takes?

DAVIS: You know, I’m an actor. I don’t really – my personal politics are, you know – I’m just, you know, I’m just an entertainer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRYANT: An entertainer and a lovely lady. Geena’s new show, “Commander in Chief,” premieres tonight on ABC.