Sure, Jennifer Siebel-Newsom is married to one of the most powerful politicians in California. But she’s a powerhouse in her own right.
She is up for an Academy Award for her work on the film, "The Invisible War." The film exposes the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military and questions the role of the Department of Defense.
According to the film, about a half million women have been sexually assaulted while serving.
Siebel-Newsom of Marin is one the film’s executive producers. She also happens to be the pregnant wife of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, expecting their third child - to soon be the newest sibling of Montana and Hunter. Gavin Newsom used to be mayor of San Francisco; the couple now lives in Marin County.
"I feel strongly because I think this film has put the Department of Defense in a position where they had to really take action," Siebel-Newsom said. "If we can prevent sexual assault in the military, I believe we can reduce it in our larger culture. And that’s why we wanted to be a part of this film."
Siebel-Newsom is not new to film. She wrote, directed, and produced her first film in 2001, "Miss Representation," which explores the under-representation of women in positions of power in America.
Now, that the Academy Awards is around the corner - on Feb. 24 - Siebel-Newsom is hoping to bring home an Oscar. But she insists she's not in it for the gold.
"I want other girls to see that I'm challenging myself intellectually," she said, "and that I am getting behind important causes."
Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area