THR's Women in Entertainment 2012: Power 100

Maren Christensen
Executive vp and general counsel, Universal Studios

She oversees $7 billion a year in operations for a studio and theme parks business. Her specialty is antipiracy matters, which landed her amid the SOPA debate. She also put out several legal fires, including convincing the makers of a copycat Battleship movie to desist.

Moment I knew I wanted to work in the business: I was a junior associate in the early 1980s and working real estate cases. I was bored to death.

When I leave work each day, I can’t wait to: Get home to the Marina peninsula.

When my relatives are confused about what I do, I tell them: I protect movies.

Top three shows on my DVR: Homeland, Revolution and Meet the Press.

My indulgence: Wheat Thins.

Gwen Marcus
Executive vp and general counsel, Showtime

Showtime’s top lawyer has ridden the network’s Homeland-fueled streak to greater industry prominence. A 28-year veteran, Marcus, 56, also had a seat at the table for distribution deals with DirecTV, Cablevision and AT&T, which went smoothly — notable when ugly carriage disputes often spill into the headlines.

Toughest decision I had to make this year: What to wear to the Tony Awards.

When I leave work each day, I can’t wait to: Veg out in front of MSNBC.

My indulgence: Semisweet chocolate morsels right out of the bag.

Embarrassed to admit I watch: Property Virgins on HGTV.

Rebecca Prentice
Executive vp and general counsel, Paramount

Paramount’s top lawyer, 58, was crucial to DreamWorks Animation’s transition to Fox. She won a giant suit over rights to The Godfather.

Moment I knew I wanted to work in the business: When I walked on the Paramount lot. That was 1996.

When I leave work each day, I can’t wait to: See my husband and have a nice dinner. We’ve been married 19 years.

Favorite way to unwind on the weekend: We go to Joshua Tree or Yosemite.

Embarrassed to admit I watch: Chelsea Lately.

Rita Tuzon
Executive vp and general counsel, Fox Networks Group

Tuzon, 53, protects billions in News Corp. assets, putting her on the front line of Fox’s legal war against Dish’s AutoHop commercial-skipper and its battle to win more retransmission consent fees from TV distributors. She’s also knee-deep in Fox’s proposed mega-deal to carry Los Angeles Dodgers games, which could be worth more than $6 billion when closed.

Proudest accomplishment this year: The long-term deal with Major League Baseball.

My indulgence: Never staying in a crappy hotel, even if I’m paying

for it.

Can’t get through my workday without: Starbucks — seven pumps of chai tea latte.

Top three shows on my DVR: New Girl, Modern Family and Justified.

Leah Weil
Senior executive vp and general counsel, Sony Pictures

Weil, 52, wrangles the team that protects Sony Pictures’ $8 billion-plus in annual revenue. She’s basking in the success of Skyfall — which, thanks to a dizzyingly complicated distribution and co-financing deal with MGM and the Broccoli family, hit screens with a Sony logo.

Toughest decision I had to make this year: I can’t talk about that, I’m a lawyer!

Proudest moment this year: Watching my groups pull off a public art project that was spearheaded by my government affairs team.

Worst advice I’ve ever gotten: “Keep your head down.”

Favorite way to unwind: Watching the San Francisco Giants.

Click here to read THR's complete Women in Entertainment list.