Nicole Kidman, Selena Gomez Celebrate Mentorship and Unity at THR Women in Entertainment Event: “Together, We Can Break Down Barriers”

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As a woman who has spent my fair share of years navigating the often tumultuous waters of the entertainment industry, I find myself deeply inspired by the stories and accomplishments of the women honored at this year’s Women in Entertainment gala. From Nicole Kidman’s trailblazing career to Laura Dern’s tireless advocacy for female directors, these women serve as shining examples of resilience, determination, and a commitment to uplifting others.

The annual Women in Entertainment event hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, sponsored by Lifetime, resumed on Wednesday to honor the influential women of Hollywood.

2021 saw a prestigious gathering graced by numerous celebrities, concurrently marking the release of THR‘s yearly Women in Entertainment Power 100 list. The occasion celebrated Nicole Kidman with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, acknowledging her trailblazing role in her profession. Additionally, Selena Gomez received the Equity in Entertainment Award, recognizing her efforts to boost representation within underrepresented groups in the entertainment sector. (Check out images from the event.)

At the crack of dawn this year, nestled within the Beverly Hills Hotel, I, as a gamer, found myself stepping into the Breakfast event. Kicking off the morning with a laugh was Nikki Glaser, who joked, “Why not celebrate women at 8 in the morning? It’s before the industry even stirs, right smack in the post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas Hollywood lull. We’re the powerhouse women of Hollywood, and we’ve got the roar to match!

Let’s pause for a second to truly admire the influence in this room. Look around – these are the top 100 influential women in Hollywood. They’re gathered here together, much like the superheroes from “The Avengers”. Jokingly, Glaser said, “We might not have seen ‘The Avengers’, but we’re still a team!” He also acknowledged that it can be challenging to uplift each other when the industry fosters competition among women. “I know I sometimes find it difficult to support other women, and I’m sure you do too. I’m envious by nature; I wish I wasn’t. I bet there are at least 30 of you here today whose careers or relationships I’ve had to mute on Instagram because, at some point, you got a job I wanted, had a relationship I envied, or worst of all, your hair air-dries naturally,” Glaser humorously admitted.

She continued to laughs from the crowd, “And muting is fine when you need to protect yourself from the comparing and despairing, but the thing I’ve found that has helped me in this business more than anything — is sleeping with powerful men. No, it’s Adderall. But besides those two things, the truth is the hard thing to do is to be kind — and not Ellen kind, but kind, kind. It’s so easy to just judge and resent women you fear will take your place in this business, but the harder thing to do is to bring them in, to give advice and give them opportunities. I really try to challenge myself to do exactly what I really wanted women to do for me when I was coming up in this business.”

Jeanie Pyun, deputy editorial director at THR, and Lacey Rose, writer-at-large for the same publication, joined Joe Shields, president of THR, and Lori O’Connor, senior vice president of entertainment, digital sales, and strategy, on stage. They praised this year’s honorees, expressed gratitude towards the event sponsors, and later welcomed Molly Shannon who presented Gomez with the Equity in Entertainment Award.

Shannon expressed excitement about working with Gomez during season four of “Only Murders in the Building,” saying, “Ever since our first encounter, I felt I was standing before someone exceptional. Indeed, she’s an immensely gifted actress, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, and a groundbreaking producer. Yet, what sets her apart is her genuine concern for people and the world around her. She utilizes her influence to bring about meaningful, enduring changes.

Accepting her award, Gomez recalled when she was 15 and filming Wizards of Waverly Place in front of a live studio audience. “A young mother from the audience came down, and she was with her daughter and said, ‘I’m so excited and happy, thank you for being someone that looks like my daughter on TV because she can finally look up to someone like her,’” the star remembered. “At that age, I really wasn’t thinking about the representation or what the gravity of those words meant, but I knew I was very grateful and I wanted to do my best to live up to that, whatever that looked like.”

Actress Gomez, who’s presently gracing Netflix’s series “Emilia Pérez“, expressed that her motivation in her work comes from the vibrant young generation. They are the ones pushing for visibility and refusing to accept the existing norm. Moreover, she emphasized that as viewers, we possess significant influence; by opting to back films and shows emphasizing equitable representation, we communicate our preference for stories mirroring our multifaceted world to industry leaders. By uniting in this effort, we can shatter barriers, boost women’s voices, and foster a future where every narrative finds its place.

As I dive into my academic tasks this morning, I find myself reflecting on a remarkable initiative I’m proud to be associated with – the mentorship program run by THR, a renowned media platform. This program connects some of the brightest young women from underprivileged communities in Los Angeles with influential female executives in film and TV. I have the honor to stand alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Amanda Zurawski, who spearhead this effort, and whose impact is showcased in the 2024 documentary feature film, “Zurawski v Texas,” where Jennifer served as a producer. This lawsuit, “Zurawski v State of Texas,” focused on reproductive rights in Texas, and their journey was highlighted in the film.

In simple terms, the students currently in their mentorship program were given a $10,000 scholarship each to attend any university they prefer, courtesy of Lifetime. Meanwhile, the 2025 class members received a MacBook as part of their welcome package. Additionally, four full scholarships worth over $1 million were distributed. Two of these were awarded by Lawrence and Zurawski from the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. One went to Chapman University for mentee Leslie, and another was given to Loyola Marymount University for mentee Josie.

Last year’s Equity in Entertainment Award recipient, Kerry Washington, later announced that The Roybal School of Film and Television Magnet, where she serves on the advisory board, has become a new partner school for their mentorship program. This collaboration aims to provide a pathway for Roybal students to eventually become mentees. Later in the event, Washington presented the National Association of Theatre Owners California Nevada’s scholarship to Kenya, who is currently a mentee.

This year, writer-producer Melissa Blake, recognized for her contributions to Peacock’s “Based on a True Story” and Amazon’s “The Wilds”, generously funded a scholarship at Loyola Marymount University. The university granted this scholarship to one of her mentees, Bryanna.

For the event’s headlining moment, Laura Dern took the stage to present Kidman with the Sherry Lansing honor, reflecting on their 20-year friendship and collaboration on Big Little Lies. She also celebrated Kidman’s 2017 commitment to work with a female director every 18 months, noting four of her six projects in the last year were directed by women.

Nicole’s remarkable leadership qualities are evident in her consistent presence, as she never fails to seize opportunities or weave stories. With a multitude of responsibilities, from acting and producing roles to her duties as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, advocate, and neighbor, Nicole is always there. As it was stated by her colleague, ‘She builds a true home.’ She’s always available with a warm cup of tea, open ears, and an open heart. Nothing escapes her attention when she’s around. From the moment I first saw her on screen to our latest encounter – indeed over a delightful cup of tea – Nicole continues to instruct me on how to foster inspiring and enchanting leadership.

Nicole Kidman, who is featured on the cover of THR this week, received a standing ovation and started by expressing her gratitude towards Lansing. She mentioned that Lansing was the first executive she met when she initially arrived in Los Angeles, and he continued to support her film The Hours even after it faced financing issues. Kidman stated that this movie significantly impacted her life.

Indeed, this recognition is for leadership, but it’s crucial to emphasize that it encompasses mentorship – both exceptional mentors and the role of being a mentor. That’s exactly what Sherry has provided to us all, and personally to me as well.

Additionally, Kidman acknowledged past recipients of the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, highlighted rising talents she’s collaborated with, mentioned her production crew, her long-term agent Kevin Huvane, her spouse Keith Urban, her daughters, and her late mother who recently passed away after three months.

Extend a helping hand today as you step out of this room, and guide someone who needs it, for you never truly understand the value of assistance until you receive it yourself,” the celebrity went on. “There are numerous influential individuals in this room, so offer your support, share your knowledge, mentor effectively, because the world will gain from it. And you may touch a life in the same manner that Sherry Lansing touched mine.

Additionally present at the gala were WIE honorees and several well-known figures such as Pamela Anderson, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Natasha Rothwell, Danielle Brooks, Ariana Madix, Kathy Bates, Julia Fox, Anna Konkle, Gia Coppola, Diane Warren, and Rachel Morrison.

As a passionate fan, I’d like to share that the Women in Entertainment event was generously supported by a group of esteemed partners including Best Buy, Delta Air Lines, Rare Beauty, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sephora, WME, and in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Gersh, Chapman University, and Loyola Marymount University. What a fantastic lineup!

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2024-12-04 23:57