Jamie Lee Curtis Champions ‘Woke’ Values and Female Empowerment at WIF Awards
Table of Contents
A night of celebration and advocacy unfolded as Jamie Lee curtis accepted the Jane fonda Humanitarian Award, highlighting the importance of empathy and the power of women in film and television.
Jamie Lee Curtis delivered a powerful message of compassion and female solidarity while accepting a prestigious honor,echoing a sentiment popularized by her fellow actress Jane Fonda. the ceremony, hosted by Women in Film (WIF), also recognized emerging talent and celebrated impactful storytelling.
Curtis Defines ‘Woke’ as Simple Caring
Accepting the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award,Curtis directly addressed the often-misunderstood term “woke,” paraphrasing Fonda’s remarks from the previous year’s Screen Actors guild Awards.”By the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people,” Curtis stated, reframing the term as a basic expression of human decency.
The actress also used the occasion to pay tribute to the women who inspired her own philanthropic efforts, specifically mentioning her late mother and a close friend. “This award is about caring for other people,” Curtis explained to Vogue. She recounted growing up watching her friend dolores [Narr nemiro], alongside her mother and other members of S.H.A.R.E., an organization dedicated to raising funds for children, perform annual benefit shows. Curtis expressed her desire to have brought Dolores as her date, acknowledging the lasting impact of their collective work.
Apatow Honored, thompson advocates for Continued Dialogue
The evening also spotlighted rising star Maude Apatow, who received the Max Mara Face of the Future award following the premiere of her directorial debut, Poetic License. Apatow expressed her gratitude and admiration for the women in her life, stating, “I’m just very grateful to be here…I love making movies, I love women, and I love the women that I’ve worked with throughout my career-so I’m happy to be in any room full of women.”
Following dinner, two panels delved into the importance of advocacy in television and film. Honorees Mara Brock Akil and Regina King, recipients of the Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV, discussed securing Judy blume’s blessing to reimagine her novel Forever as a coming-of-age story centered on two Black teenagers.
Tessa Thompson, Dede Gardner, and Gabrielle nadig, honored with the Crystal Award for advocacy in Film for their work on Hedda, emphasized the necessity of ongoing communication and support among women. Thompson noted, “I think what’s most notable is for women to communicate, and to be in communal spaces,” but also stressed the importance of extending these conversations beyond formal events, advocating for “all of the silent work people don’t see photographed, things you don’t dress up for.”
Wiig Receives Icon Award, Curtis Offers a Message of Hope
The night culminated in a humorous acceptance speech from Kristen Wiig, who was presented with WIF’s inaugural Icon Award by her Palm Royale co-star, Kaia Gerber. Gerber lauded Wiig’s ability to blend “devastation and laughter,” recognizing her unique comedic talent.
As the event drew to a close, a sense of optimism filled the room. Curtis shared a poignant reflection on her upcoming film, Ella McCay, revealing that the film’s narration concludes with the line: “There is no opposite word for trauma, but hope comes close.” She added, “And today, I feel hope. I think we all do.”
