Two-time Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Annette Bening has received another trophy to add to her collection – the Hasty Pudding’s Pudding Pot!
Each year, Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals bestows the honor of Women of the Year (WOY) on a performer who has made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment. Other actors who have received this distinction include Annette’s ‘The Kids Are All Right’ co-star Julianne Moore in 2011, and her husband Warren Beatty in 1975.
Earlier this month, ‘Saltburn’ actor Barry Keoghan accepted the Pudding Pot as Man of the Year.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to honor Annette Bening in this milestone 175th anniversary year for the Hasty Pudding,” said Hasty Pudding President Josh Hillers.
The oldest theatrical organization in the United States welcomed Bening with a parade, a personal performance by the Blue Man Group, and a celebratory roast at Farkas Hall that included references to some of her iconic performances from American Beauty to her recently Oscar nominated role in Nyad.
“While Annette’s long list of accolades make it tough to come up with material for our historic roast, we have plenty of tricks up our sleeve,” said Hasty Pudding Producer Hannah Frazer. “That said, I can promise earning her Pudding Pot won’t be as difficult as swimming from Cuba to Florida.”
Some of those “tricks” included “synchronized swimming,” which the actress performed with ease, and a Pudding Pot worthy portrayal of the seagull from her 2018 film ‘The Seagull.’
“I would like to begin by thanking my kindergarten teacher…what I really wanted to say is I did it all myself with no help,” she joked in her acceptance speech.
All jokes aside, Bening is a vocal advocate for Trans rights and women’s equality. When asked about the portrayal of women in Hollywood during the WOY press conference, she said, “There’s a lot of talk about strong women and strong women’s roles, and that’s great, but really when you think about it a strong woman is also a flawed woman, is also a woman with weaknesses and vulnerabilities. So it’s not a question of just strong women roles, it’s real women.”
Following the roast, Bening was treated to the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 175th production, Heist Heist Baby, a musical comedy spectacular.
Tickets to the show are available to the public and can be purchased by telephone at (617) 495-5205, via email at tickets@hastypudding.org, or online at https://www.hastypudding.org/buy-tickets/
Cambridge, MA:
Feb. 2, 2024 – March 3, 2024 at Farkas Hall
The show performs Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. The full show calendar is available at
https://www.hastypudding.org/current-show/
New York City:
March 9, 2024 at Hunter College Kaye Playhouse
Show Saturday at 8pm
Purchase tickets online at https://www.hastypudding.org/buy-tickets/
Bermuda:
March 13 – 15 2024 at Hamilton City Hall
Shows Wednesday (6:30 PM), Thursday and Friday at 8pm
Please email tickets@hastypudding.org for information on tickets
