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Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cynthia Erivo Encourages Black Women to Dream Big at Essence Awards: ‘I Got to Fly and Now the Skies Are Waiting for You Too'
As Cynthia Erivo accepted her honors at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood awards, she offered up words of affirmation for the Black women that filled the ballroom, encouraging everyone to dream big and to 'take up space.' 'I know that some of us in this room are still waiting for permission to be, to own every facet of what makes us, us. Let me be the one to say, 'Stop hiding,'' Erivo told the crowd, assembled at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon. 'The thing I have learned in this wonderful moment in my life is that if you do it your way, no one can take it from you.' More from Variety Keke Palmer Didn't Learn Her SAG Awards Dress Was Worn By Jamie Lee Curtis in 1986 Until She Read About It Online: 'I Had No Idea' Oscar Performers: 'Wicked' Stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Plus Lisa of Blackpink, Doja Cat and More Cynthia Erivo to Host the 2025 Tony Awards Erivo — who was honored alongside Teyana Taylor, Raamla Mohamed, Marla Gibbs and Tyra Banks — began her speech by reading a quote that Essence posted shortly after 'Wicked' hit theaters. The story characterized her performance as the young witch Elphaba, who is ostracized for being born with green skin, as a character that 'speaks to the heart of every Black woman who has ever been judged and misunderstood and yet still, learned that her power was a gift all along.' With that idea front of mind, Erivo used her time to encourage the audience of Black talent, creatives and executives to tap into their own power. 'You weren't insane when you were dreaming of being a superhero. You weren't asking too much when you wanted to be seen for the lead,' Erivo said. 'When you were little and you believed you could fly, that wasn't a fairy tale. When you look at the mirror and the thought crosses your mind, if only for a fleeting moment, that you might be in possession of powerful magic, entertain that thought. Do not dismiss it, nourish it, because it's free. When you walk into a room and people stare, my darling, you have an audience now. Give them what they came for.' Taking a beat to allow the sentiment to sink in (and for the applause to die down), Erivo then said: 'It's not easy to believe that any dream you have is possible, but if you happen to be sat listening to a bald-headed Black Brit, born in South London to a single mom. If you happen to be sat listening to a 30-something-year-old, proud alt Black girl with a gap in her smile, a wide nose and high cheek bones, then you happen to be listening to a woman whose dreams materialized in real time before your very eyes.' As the crowd murmured their own affirmations of 'Mmhmm' and 'yes' back, Erivo wrapped up her remarks: 'I got to fly and now the skies are waiting for you too … I hope and pray that those dreams you keep tucked away rise to the surface. I hope those dreams you dare to dream, really do come true.' Erivo received her award from Keke Palmer, bringing things full circle from Sunday at the NAACP Image Awards when Palmer made a point to shout out the 'Wicked' star (and perform her iconic 'Defying Gravity' riff) while accepting the Entertainer of the Year trophy. Erivo thanked Palmer for that gesture, which she said lifted her spirits amid the exhaustion of awards season, as well as the 'many times that you have celebrated me, even when it's meant to be your moment. It's a very selfless thing to do.' The memeable interaction also invoked another pair of Black women loving on one another — Whitney Houston and Natalie Cole at the 1991 American Music Awards. Because that's one thing about Black women: we're going to big up one another. The special event, hosted by 'Cross' star Aldis Hodge as the token male ally in the room, celebrated Black women every which way — which meant witnessing Issa Rae salute her fellow Emmy-nominated TV creator Mohamed ('Reasonable Doubt,' 'Little Fires Everywhere') by sharing that she'd been a fan since she was a 12 year old schoolgirl dreaming of becoming friends with Mohamed and her clique of cool, older girls. In the same spirit, Mohamed then shouted out nearly three dozen Black women writers — from Yvette Lee Bowser, Shonda Rimes and Courtney Kemp, to Lena Waithe, Robin Thede and Natasha Rothwell — for 'surviving and thriving' and inspiring her despite the challenges they all face. 'All we have is each other,' Mohamed declared, as the audience cheered raucously. Then there was the way Niecy Nash Betts delivered a poetic tribute to her friend Taylor, lauding the multifaceted artist for her talent as an actor, musician, choreographer and more; for her resilience amid personal strife; and, of course, for her killer body. 'Now we will buy the lingerie, but Teyana, do the abs come with it?' Nash Betts joked, referencing Taylor's new collection with Victoria's Secret. Speaking of model looks, another highlight came as Tyra Banks tearfully thanked her mom, Carolyn London, for not allowing her to quit when she struggled making her name in Paris as a teen and for encouraging her to sign a major modeling contract, despite the fact that she'd be making 90% less than a model with a lower Q score. 'Perception is reality,' her mother told her about the upside of agreeing to the deal. 'You're going to sign that and you're going to be everywhere. And that perception is going to make that next check what you are truly worth. And she was right.' Reflecting on her career, Banks added: 'I'm so excited that I, and so many of us, have opened that door for others to follow. And now my 51-year-old dimpled, cellulite, bigger tummy, 10 million times bigger titties, is walking through that door that I opened, with all of us behind us on that runway saying, 'Baby it's just beginning.'' Scroll for a look inside this year's ceremony, which will stream on Essence's YouTube channel beginning March 3: Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in March 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?
Los Angeles Times
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Anora' takes PGA and DGA. Is the Oscar next?
An awards season notable for wild momentum swings saw another big shift Saturday night with Sean Baker's 'Anora' winning top honors from both the directors and producers guilds. Baker picked up the DGA's award around 9 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton, delivered an emotional speech, posed for pictures and was then sped down Santa Monica Boulevard to the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, where he arrived in time to see his movie prevail at the PGA ceremony. 'My impostor syndrome is skyrocketing right now, as well as my cortisol levels,' Baker said, accepting the DGA prize. Baker's freewheeling fractured fairy tale about a Brooklyn sex worker's heady and, ultimately, heartbreaking relationship with the son of a Russian oligarch, now stands, once again, as the favorite to win the best picture Oscar next month at the 97th Academy Awards. It's a perch that 'Anora' had enjoyed after taking the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival where had its world premiere in May. It picked up more momentum when it opened in October to ecstatic reviews. But after 'Anora' failed to take any prizes last month at the Golden Globes, there was some thought that the movie might have peaked too soon, eclipsed by later arrivals like 'The Brutalist' and 'A Complete Unknown.' When Oscar nominations were announced on Jan. 23, 'Anora' picked up all the nods it was expected to earn: picture, director, original screenplay, lead actress Mikey Madison, supporting actor Yura Borisov and film editing. But several films enjoyed bigger hauls, including 'Emilia Pérez,' which earned a leading 13 noms. But 'Emilia Pérez,' the French-produced, Spanish-language musical soap opera about a Mexican cartel boss who transitions into a woman, soon found itself embroiled in controversy, criticized for its depiction of trans people and excoriated by Mexicans for insensitivity and a lack of representation. Last week, its star Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar, faced a backlash after Canadian journalist Sarah Hagi shared screenshots of offensive posts Gascón wrote in Spanish, expressing insensitive opinions on Islam, Muslims and George Floyd. Gascón apologized, deleted her X account, but then did an interview with CNN en Español, saying, 'I have been convicted and sacrificed and crucified and stoned without a trial and without the option to defend myself.' The bad vibes surrounding Gascón and the Netflix film created a vacuum in the best picture race. Many thought 'The Brutalist,' a portrait of an immigrant architect that examines the relationship between patron and artist while considering the purpose and lasting value of art, might fill the void. But that film also found itself enmeshed in controversy when it was reported that it had used AI behind the scenes. 'The whole campaign for that movie was about championing human creativity, so when that came out, it felt a little tainted,' one Oscar voter told me recently. 'The Brutalist' may have also been hurt by another one of its selling points — its three-and-a-half-hour running time. It's an event movie. But if voters can't wrap their heads — and their schedules — around that kind of time investment, it's in danger of losing votes. The Screen Actors Guild Awards remains the last major ceremony remaining. But its Feb. 23 show will air after Oscar voting has ended, negating the impact of any speeches and celebratory moments. (Oscar balloting begins Tuesday and runs through Feb. 18.) SAG though is another spot where 'Anora' met expectations, picking up nominations for ensemble and individual nods for Madison and Borisov. Before we get too carried away, it's worth noting that not every movie that won both PGA and DGA honors went on to win the best picture Oscar. 'Apollo 13' lost at the 1996 Academy Awards to 'Braveheart.' Three years later, 'Shakespeare in Love' bested Steven Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan.' 'Crash,' infamously, won the Oscar over 'Brokeback Mountain.' Most recently, 'La La Land' won DGA and PGA, only to lose the Oscar (once they found the right envelope) to 'Moonlight.' But for now, 'Anora' is out in front. And even if this $6-million-budgeted wonder comes up short at the Oscars, the shock and awe of its two-fer with the guilds won't be forgotten by its creator. Late Saturday evening, responding to a text I sent him, Baker wrote, 'I'm hoping I wake up in the morning and it's still true.' Sweet. He followed that message with another one that sported a cartoon image. 'That's my dog with an 'Anora' thong.' Really, is there any wonder why 'Anora' is out in front?
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cynthia Erivo, Teyana Taylor & More Set as ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Honorees
Newly minted Academy Award nominee and Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), actress-director Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One), Emmy-nominated industry veteran Marla Gibbs (227) and Emmy-nominated creator, writer and-producer Raamla Mohamed (Reasonable Doubt) are 2025's honorees for the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. The 18th annual gala will take place Feb. 27 in Los Angeles at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. Aldis Hodge, producer and star of Prime Video's Cross, will host. Underscoring the inspiration behind this year's event theme — 'Scene and Unseen' — Sundial Media Group and ESSENCE Ventures leadership shared the following statement: 'When the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards were first established, our mission was to celebrate and elevate the extraordinary artistry of Black women, both on screen and behind the scenes in the television and film industry. For nearly two decades, this sacred gathering has honored exceptional women who are creating a foundation for the next generation of artistic trailblazers. We remain in awe of the profound depth that our honorees bring to their craft.' More from Billboard 'The Voice' Star Ryan Whyte Maloney Dies at 44 Julia Fox Consults Magic 8 Ball to Ask: Will She Ever Be a Billboard Hot 100 Artist? Could Chappell Roan Sweep the Big 4? Or Is It Beyoncé's Time for Album of the Year? What to Expect at 2025 Grammys In the wake of the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood is also supporting existing relief efforts in collaboration with organizations dedicated to providing centralized resources to the Los Angeles community. On Feb. 28, ESSENCE will also present its sixth annual ESSENCE Hollywood House: To Altadena With Love. Open to the public, this year's Hollywood House honors the resilience of this wildfire-impacted neighborhood that was home for many creative professionals in the television and film industries. The day's offerings will include panel discussions, a community resource hub and networking opportunities. For more information and to register, visit the ESSENCE website. ESSENCE's YouTube channel will premiere the awards ceremony pre-show on March 3. In addition to featuring red carpet arrivals and celebrity interviews, the presentation will reveal the winner of the inaugural ESSIES' Choice Award: Presented by Diet Coke. Chosen by fans, the special honor recognizes an emerging industry leader. Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
