Whether they starred in the summer’s breakout comedy, became the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing, or broke barriers in the Marvel universe, Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Tessa Thompson, and Danai Gurira have all been doing amazing work in the past year. So it makes sense that these four women are the recipients of Essence’s 2018 Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
The annual ceremony is “an uplifting gathering highlighting the phenomenal work of dynamic Black women in the industry,” Essence details. The event celebrates “game-changers who continue to elevate the culture through their art form.”
Haddish became a household name after starring as Dina — and defiling a grapefruit — in “Girls Trip,” for which she won a New York Film Critics Circle Award. The actress and comedian recently signed a first-look deal with HBO, landed a role in Andrea Berloff’s Irish mob drama “The Kitchen,” and was tapped to star in the comedy “The Temp.” Haddish’s previous credits include “Keanu” and “The Carmichael Show.” You can catch her next in the Tracy Morgan TBS comedy “The Last O.G.” The series premieres April 3.
Writer and actress Waithe won an Emmy for penning “Master of None” episode “Thanksgiving.” The ep explores how Waithe’s character, Denise, slowly came out to her family over two decades. “We just wanted to tell this unique, cool story that we hadn’t seen before, and in doing that it liberated a lot of people, as certain people saw themselves [in Denise],” Waithe has said of “Thanksgiving.” “The Chi,” the South Chicago-set Showtime drama she created, was renewed for a second season last week. “Bones” and “Hello Cupid” are among Waithe’s other writing credits and she will appear in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi epic “Ready Player One,” out next month.
Thompson helped make Marvel a bit more inclusive when she took on the traditionally-white role of Valkyrie in last year’s “Thor: Ragnarok.” “According to Thompson, Valkyrie is bisexual, which also makes her the first openly queer character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Essence notes. Also an activist, Thompson supports survivors of sexual assault and fights to end police brutality. Her credits include Ava DuVernay’s “Selma,” “Westworld,” and “Dear White People.” Thompson will star as part of an all-female team of explorers in “Annihilation,” which will bow February 23. Laurie Collyer’s road trip comedy “Furlough” and Nia DaCosta’s Western “Little Woods” are among her upcoming films.
Best known for playing Michonne in “The Walking Dead,” Gurira is also the playwright of “Eclipsed” and “Familiar.” Lupita Nyong’o starred in the former, a drama about four women held as sexual slaves by a warlord during the Liberian civil war. Like Thompson, Gurira is a Marvel trailblazer: she is starring in the much-anticipated “Black Panther,” which hits theaters February 16. Her previous credits include “All Eyez on Me,” “Mother of George,” and “Treme.”
The Black Women in Hollywood Awards will be presented at a luncheon March 1 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.
