Jennifer Lawrence is following in the footsteps of women like Tina Fey, Helen Mirren, Halle Berry, Barbra Streisand, and Shonda Rhimes. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Lawrence will be the youngest person to receive its Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. The honor is given each year to “a woman who has been a pioneer and philanthropic leader in her industry.” Lawrence will be presented with the award at The Hollywood Reporter’s 2017 Women in Entertainment breakfast on December 6 at Milk Studios in LA.
The Oscar-winning actress donated $2 million to start the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Kosair Children’s Hospital in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Her foundation also supports various philanthropic endeavors such as education, health services, and support of abused and neglected youth. In addition to being a vocal advocate for gender equality in Hollywood, Lawrence is on the board of Represent.Us, an anti-corruption organization that unites individuals across the ideological spectrum in order to reform U.S. politics.
“Having Jennifer agree to accept the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award is a wonderful honor,” emphasized Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures and the first woman to head a Hollywood studio. “In merely a decade, her remarkable professional achievements, her willingness to take risks, and her philanthropic generosity have inspired millions. She reminds young women all over the world that their voices are meant to be heard. The Hollywood Reporter could not have chosen a better individual to recognize.”
Lawrence won an Oscar for portraying a young, volatile widow in “Silver Linings Playbook.” The “Hunger Games” franchise, the “X-Men” franchise, “Joy,” and “American Hustle” are among her other credits. You catch Lawrence in theaters now as a woman terrorized by houseguests from hell in the controversial “mother!” Next, she’ll star as a woman forced to become a spy in “Red Sparrow,” out March 2.
“Ghostbusters” producer Amy Pascal will be honored at the Women in Entertainment breakfast, too. She’ll receive the second annual Equity in Entertainment Award. The accolade is granted to “an individual in the show business community who has proved committed to providing opportunities for women and people of color.” Meryl Streep will present Pascal with the award, which recognizes the work Pascal Pictures does to ensure equal opportunity for women and people of color. Pascal’s next film, Jessica Chastain-starrer “Molly’s Game,” hits select theaters Christmas Day.
“Both Jennifer and Amy perfectly embody the driving force behind THR’s Women in Entertainment initiative,” said Matthew Belloni, the publication’s editorial director. “They continue to use their voices and their talent to create opportunities for women in the industry, and I can’t think of two more deserving individuals to honor.”
Angelina Jolie, whose war film “First They Killed My Father” was recently selected as Cambodia’s foreign-language Oscar submission, will deliver the event’s keynote speech. THR also plans to present $1 million in university scholarships to the young women participating in its Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program. Eighteen mentorship participants will receive $10,000 to attend the college of her choosing, while two others will receive full-ride scholarships to Loyola Marymount University.
