Cynthia Erivo to Receive Harvard Honor Woman of The Year
Two-time Oscar nominee and Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo, known for her seamless transition from the Broadway stage to the big screen, is adding yet another award to her decorated career. Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the nation’s oldest theatrical organization, has announced the Wicked star as their 2025 Woman of the Year.
“From her iconic performances in Harriet and Broadway’s The Color Purple, to her recently critically acclaimed role as Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked: Part One, the Pudding is proud to celebrate her truly unique and impactful presence in the world of entertainment,” the organization stated in a press release on Tuesday.
The Woman of the Year award is Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ most prestigious honor, dating back to its founding in 1844. Past recipients include legendary actresses such as Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, and Julia Roberts. Erivo will receive the award during a celebratory roast on February 5 followed by a press conference and her attendance at Hasty Pudding’s 176th production, 101 Dalmatians.
‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo named Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year https://t.co/YAErlKVbdb
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) January 21, 2025
In anticipation of the event, Hannah Frazer, the Man and Woman of the Year events coordinator, shared, “We’re sweeping out our broomstick closets and prepping some wicked smart humor as we eagerly await her in February. Before she flies off with her Pudding Pot, she’ll have to work a little magic to earn it.”
Born in London, Cynthia Erivo has built an extraordinary career in theater and film. She rose to fame portraying Celie Harris in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, alongside Jennifer Hudson, a performance that earned her a Tony Award in 2016. On the big screen, the actress received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic Harriet, which earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
Most recently, the Wicked star dazzled audiences as Elphaba in Wicked: Part One, the film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. The film, released last November, has become the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway production to date. Its sequel, Wicked: For Good, is set to release on November 21.
Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo will be the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2025 Woman of the Year, the student group announced Tuesday.
— The Harvard Crimson (@thecrimson) January 22, 2025
Hiral M. Chavre reports.https://t.co/RABnMkQaom
Alongside Erivo, Hasty Pudding Theatricals also announced actor Jon Hamm as their 2025 Man of the Year. Best known for his Emmy-winning role as Don Draper on AMC’s Mad Men, Hamm has recently appeared in the film adaptation of the musical Mean Girls.
Past recipients of the Man of the Year award include Ryan Reynolds and Barry Keoghan, recognizing just some of the talent recognized by the prestigious institution.
