Some of Hollywood’s biggest actors weren’t afraid to act out Friday night.
Ahead of this year’s Golden Globe Awards, Variety magazine held an invitation-only gala to celebrate the 23rd season of its “Actors on Actors” series. Industry insiders and many of the year’s biggest stars and filmmakers gathered in the hallowed Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel to toast the series, which pairs notable actors with uncensored conversations about the craft.
Sidney Sweeney, Kate Hudson, Teyana Taylor, Dwayne Johnson, Adam Sandler, Jesse Plemons, Ethan Hawke, Tonatiu, Conner Story, Odessa Azion, Kumail Nanjiani and more attended the event hosted by Variety co-president and co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoudeh and Golden Globes president Helen. Hoene. Sponsors for the evening were Aman Beverly Hills and Morgan Stanley.
Season 23 was special. For the first time, Leonardo DiCaprio allowed fellow A-lister Jennifer Lawrence to ask questions about his process. Julia Roberts showed the world how long and meaningful her friendship with Sean Penn was as she talked about her most unforgettable role since Erin Brockovich in Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt. Kate Hudson shared with Jeremy Allen White about the small dedication that helped her achieve the most convincing dramatic performance of her career in “Song San Bleu.” These moments and many more proved worthy of a great pre-Globes celebration.
Hikari, Ethan Hawke, and Odessa Azion attend the Variety & Golden Globe Awards Pre-Golden Globe Party hosted by Aman Beverly Hills and Morgan Stanley.
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“‘Actors on Actors’ is so valuable because it’s so intimate,” said Hohne, who was spotted chatting with Johnson and Adrien Brody two days before her organization’s big Sunday telecast. “You get to know who they are, what they love, and how they work. Many of the combinations are unexpected, but always rewarding.”
Hudson and her power manager Jason Weinberg delighted the crowd as tuna tartare corn and mini grilled cheeses were passed around on the plate. Eva Victor, the breakout screenwriter, director, and star of “Sorry Baby,” meets Story (of “Rivals” fame), an enthusiastic fan in town. Sweeney looked glamorous in a shimmering black dress as Sandler (“Jay Kelly”) took a victory lap in what many called a career-defining role. Kevin Ulrich, the billionaire who sold MGM to Amazon, made a best-dressed effort in a killer double-breasted heather gray suit by J.Crew (the iconic apparel company he acquired in 2020).
Connor Story and Eva Victor attend the Variety & Golden Globe Awards Pre-Golden Globe Party hosted by Aman Beverly Hills and Morgan Stanley.
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Dear Lawrence, Variety’s co-president and publisher, held court with deputy publisher Donna Penestri, along with some of the biggest names in the film industry, including Tom Barnard and Michael Barker, heads of Sony Pictures Classics. Joining co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton are Azion, the breakout star of “Marty Supreme,” and Kathryn Newton (Searchlight’s “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come”), a talented young star.
Industry representatives were Sue Kroll, Head of Marketing, Amazon MGM; Todd Boley, Chairman of Eldridge Industries. Beau Swayze, Management 360 Partner; Weinberg; fashion entrepreneur Natalie Bond Bloomingdale; and communications guru Ashley Hansen, partner at Forward Global (formerly Archewell, Universal and Annapurna). Guests were presented with gift bags commemorating the anticipated opening of Aman Beverly Hills.
Tonatiu and Jesse Plemons at the Variety & Golden Globe Awards Pre-Golden Globe Party hosted by Aman Beverly Hills and Morgan Stanley.
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Ms. Setude, also wearing Prada, spent the evening greeting actors at the door (which is the point of the evening, after all).
“At Actors on Actors, we seek to curate the best portfolios of awards season, and this series has become an online phenomenon. This year, in partnership with CNN, has been our biggest year yet, and that’s something to celebrate on top of this incredible work on screen.”
