Claim: Melanie Griffith performed in a movie.

Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Kevin Wade . It tells the story of a Staten Island-raised secretary , Tess McGill -LRB- Melanie Griffith -RRB- , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank . When her boss , Katharine Parker -LRB- Sigourney Weaver -RRB- , breaks her leg skiing , Tess uses Parker 's absence and connections , including her errant beau Jack Trainer -LRB- Harrison Ford -RRB- , to put forward her own idea for a merger deal .   The film features a notable opening sequence following Manhattan-bound commuters on the Staten Island Ferry accompanied by Carly Simon 's song `` Let the River Run '' , for which she received the Academy Award for Best Song . The film was a box office hit , grossing a worldwide total of $ 103 million .   Griffith was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress , while both Weaver and Joan Cusack were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . The film itself was nominated for Best Picture at the 61st Academy Awards .