Page 29 - AT

A29
PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 13 december 2019

Reese Witherspoon honored at Women in Entertainment gala

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. ment and gender equal-
Associated Press ity. “But not everybody
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reese is going to do something
Witherspoon remembered about it. Leaders are really
when she met with sever- doers. Even though you
al film production studios don’t think of yourself as a
in 2011 to ask them how leader, or you’re hesitant
many movies were being or you’re hypnotized by
developed for women. words saying ‘You can’t.’
The studios’ responses Too bad. Do it anyway.”
nearly floored her. Around $1.5 million in uni-
“Of all the major seven stu- versity scholarships were
dios, the answer was one,” presented to high school
Witherspoon said after she seniors from under-served
received the prestigious communities in south and
Sherry Lansing Leadership east Los Angeles. All of the
Award at The Hollywood seniors have taken part in
Reporter’s Women in En- the program.
tertainment breakfast gala Often shedding tears on-
Wednesday in Los Angeles. stage, Theron said the gala
The Oscar and Emmy-win- “fed my soul.”
ning actress was handed Actress Olivia Wilde, a
the award by her friend guest editor of THR’s
actress Kerry Washington Women in Entertainment
for excelling in film and her issue that was released
philanthropic efforts. Ava Phillippe, from left, Reese Witherspoon, Deacon Phillippe and Jim Toth arrive at The Hollywood Wednesday, said women
Witherspoon said she was Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Breakfast Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in Los Angeles. should explore their femi-
grateful to receive the Associated Press nine strength. Ronan Far-
award named after Lan- row received the Equity in
sing, the former Paramount time, ‘Well, we already and the HBO drama series Kaling. It also had about Entertainment award for
Pictures CEO who was the have one female star this “Big Little Lies” with an all- 40 young women who are his journalistic work against
first woman to head a Hol- year. We can’t make two.’ female leading cast. taking part in THR’s Women gender-based discrimina-
lywood studio. While she Can you guess which year The actress, who starred in Entertainment mentor- tion. Political activist Sta-
called Lansing a “trailblaz- this was? 2011. Not 1911. ... in films including “Legal- ship program, established cey Abrams spoke during
er,” the actress hearkened 2011.” ly Blonde” and “Sweet a decade ago. her keynote speech about
back to her meeting with Witherspoon said the mo- Home Alabama,” told the “A lot of people can rec- storytelling holding an ex-
studios that felt “grim.” ment helped empower packed room of about 600 ognize a problem, look traordinary power. She said
“One movie was being her to start her own pro- people, mostly women, at it and complain about she’s witnessed moments
made with a female lead duction company, Hello that “this is our time.” it,” said Witherspoon, who when women and others
out of 140 movies,” she Sunshine, which has pro- The star-studded event in- is also a member of the who “look like me are of-
continued. “As I was told duced Oscar-nominated cluded Charlize Theron, Time’s Up movement, an ten footnotes not chapters
by a studio head at the films “Gone Girl,” “Wild,” John Legend and Mindy initiative for anti-harass- in stories.”q

Ryan Reynolds says he related to Peloton actress’ plight

By JOHN CARUCCI spot aired, the character
Associated Press was mocked for several
NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan reasons: Some noted she
Reynolds says he relates to was already thin, others
the social media criticism mocked her for having a
heaped on the Peloton ad “nervous” expression, and
actress. In fact, that feel- others were angry her hus-
ing led him to hire her for band gave her an exer-
a commercial promoting cise gift, as if she needed
his gin company. Reynolds to lose weight.
spoke Tuesday about the Reynolds thought the viral
uproar while promoting his negativity was unfair, and
new action flick, the Mi- said it’s “a situation that
chael Bay-directed “6 Un- I’ve been in many times
derground.’’ In the Pelo- before” as an actor.
ton commercial, Monica “You put it out there, and
Ruiz portrays a wife who re- it doesn’t quite work, and
ceives an exercise bike as you feel a little alienated
a Christmas present, and and stuff. So, I had tre-
chronicles her yearlong mendous empathy for her
journey to get in shape. in that moment,’’ Reyn-
The commercial ends with olds said at the premiere
the wife thanking her hus- Ryan Reynolds attends the premiere of Netflix’s “6 Underground” at The Shed at Hudson Yards of his new action flick, “6
band for the gift. After the on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in New York. Underground.”q
Associated Press