:: Past Recipients ::

Hasty Pudding Award - Woman and Man of the Year 2008

Charlize Theron & Christopher Walken

Woman of the Year Roast: February 7th
Man of the Year Roast (black-tie event): Opening Night, February 15th

 

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University has announced that Christopher Walken and Charlize Theron are the recipients of the 2008 Man and Woman of the Year awards.

BACKGROUND

The Man and Woman of the Year awards are presented annually to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment." Established in 1951, the Woman of the Year award has been granted to many notable and talented entertainers, including Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Meg Ryan, Halle Berry, and, most recently, Scarlett Johansson. The Man of the Year award was established in 1963. Its past recipients include Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, and, last year, Ben Stiller.

Charlize Theron won the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her remarkable performance as Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkin's "Monster," a role that also won her the 2004 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama. Theron also received 2006 Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Motion Picture- Drama for "North Country."  Moviegoers were first introduced to Theron in her feature film debut in "2 Days in the Valley," starring with Jeff Daniels, James Spader, and Eric Stoltz.  Since then Theron has been one of the most active and highly sought after actresses in motion pictures, having appeared in over 25 feature films including Tom Hank's "That Thing You Do," the critically-acclaimed "Cider House Rules," and the 2003 re-make of "The Italian Job." Theron got her start in entertainment back in her native South Africa where she both danced and modeled, her work eventually taking her to Europe and finally New York where she worked for the Joffrey Ballet. From there she made her way to Los Angeles at the age of 18, landing her first part some 8 months after arriving in the city.  In 2005, Theron appeared as Rita in "Arrested Development," and will soon be seen alongside her co-star from that appearance, Jason Bateman, and Will Smith in "Hancock," to be released in July of 2008.  Theron recently returned from the Sundance Film Festival where she received rave reviews for her new film “Sleepwalking,” to be released March 14, 2008, in which she both produces and co-stars alongside Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Nick Stahl and AnnaSophia Robb. Theron is currently filming and executive producing Guillermo Arriaga’s directorial debut “The Burning Plan.”

Christopher Walken won the 1978 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his astonishing performance in Michael Cimino's "The Deer Hunter," a role that also earned him the New York Film Critic's Circle Award, and a Golden Globe nomination. Walken also received a 2002 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and won BAFTA and SAG awards for his role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me if You Can."  Christopher Walken's film career skyrocketed after his unforgettable role as "Duane Hall," brother to Diane Keaton's title character in Woody Allen's Oscar-winning Best Picture "Annie Hall."  Since then, Walken has appeared in memorable roles in more than 50 feature films including Tony Scott's "True Romance" and "Man on Fire" opposite Denzel Washington, Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" and "Batman Returns," Barry Levinson's "Man of the Year," the smash hit comedy "Wedding Crashers," and most recently, starring opposite John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer in New Line's hit musical comedy, "Hairspray."  Walken began his lengthy career training to be a dancer at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, and eventually went on to appear in numerous stage plays and musicals, including the Broadway production of "The Lion in Winter" for which he received the Clarence Derwent Award.  On television, Walken has hilariously hosted "Saturday Night Live" a total of 6 times since 1990 and contributed a mesmerizing dance performance to the Spike Jonze-directed music video for Fat Boy Slim's "Weapon of Choice."  Walken is currently in production playing a con artist opposite Sam Rockwell in Nigel Cole's road movie, "Five Dollars a Day."

THE NEW COLLEGE THEATRE

Please note that both the Woman and Man of the Year events will be held in our newly-renovated theater at 12 Holyoke St, Cambridge, MA 02138, the historic home of the Hasty Pudding in the heart of Harvard Square since 1889.

Videos of past Man and Woman of the Year roasts are available for order from our merchandise section here.

For more ticket information, click here.