Ladies lauded
'The Women' honored at Crystal + Lucy awards
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Annette Benning and Meg Ryan at Tuesday's Crystal + Lucy awards. |
Unfortunately, many women in the aud didn't stay until the show's end, opting to try and beat the valet rush, and missed the movie's helmer, Diane English, and stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debi Mazar, Eva Mendes and Cloris Leachman take home the final award of the night.
Those that did stay were treated to a funny acceptance speech by English who acknowledged the 13 years it took to get the film made.
"Debi Mazar auditioned for her part 10 years ago, and a decade later her agent calls her and tells her, 'You got the part,' " she said.
Earlier in the evening, "The Devil Wears Prada" producer Karen Rosenfelt put aside plaque-presenting protocol when she handed Sherry Lansing the Paltrow Mentorship nod. Instead of gushing over the woman she called "her mentor," she said, "As I tell you about working with and for Sherry Lansing for 15 years, just remember that only three letters, 't'-'o'-'r,' separate the word 'mentor' from 'tormentor.' "
Although the night's focus was clearly on women -- Salma Hayek, Ginnifer Goodwin and cinematographer Mandy Walker were also lauded -- Jeffrey Katzenberg was honored for his humanitarian work, and the evening was dedicated Sydney Pollack.
Thesp Maria Bello paid tribute to Pollack, saying, "His female characters were complex, three-dimensional, strong and human. We need more directors that will fight for female roles."
