Cynthia Erivo, Emilia Clarke, Suki Waterhouse, Emma Corrin and Hannah Waddingham took center stage at Variety’s inaugural Power of Women London, presented by Lifetime, where the five women reflected on their careers, the importance of their communities and the causes they champion.
The event, held at the Chancery Rosewood Hotel on Wednesday and hosted by Saturday Night Live UK star Ania Mariano, began with a performance of Waterhouse’s new single ‘Back in Love’. Dee Lawrence, publisher and co-president of Variety magazine, gave opening remarks touting London as “probably the largest entertainment capital outside of the United States,” followed by Variety co-editors-in-chief Cynthia Littleton and Ramin Setoudeh.
Clarke, the night’s first recipient, spoke about her recovery after suffering two brain bleeds while appearing on Game of Thrones, aged 22 and 24. “Now, 15 years after my first bleed, I look back and realize how difficult it was. I’ve never had a chance to reflect on the impact both brain traumas had on me.”
“What happened to my anxiety? I work in an image-driven industry, so that’s to be expected, right? Breaking a rib after filming a sex scene? Well, maybe it was his fault. But after long nights filming, I would sometimes black out and even feel pain all over my body. I didn’t even think I needed to know why. I just wrote it off as the stress of a non-stop work schedule.”
Disclosure Day’s Josh O’Connor introduced Colin as the next recipient of the award and recalled how the two met when Colin was brought in as an audition reader for The Crown. “There was a whole season where the producers didn’t even have an idea of who would play Princess Diana, and by the end of the first audition, the cameras were firmly on Emma.”
“It means so much to be here tonight among these inspiring women who are using their voices and platforms for such purpose,” said Colin. “As the first non-binary person to receive this award, I’m doubly honored to be here tonight. I think it’s more important than ever that we can come together and support each other, no matter what our identities are. These networks of mutual support can affect so many changes.”
Lawrence surprised the crowd by presenting the Power of Women Icon of the Year award to Dame Joan Collins. Reflecting on her successful career as a performer and producer, Collins said, “I realized that in order to survive and succeed in this business, we have to show which women have to reinvent themselves. We have to reinvent ourselves over and over again.”
Collins also teased her new film My Duchess, in which she plays Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, saying, “This is the last nine years of her life, and she started out as a strong, powerful woman, but sadly her strength and power was completely destroyed by another woman. I think this movie shows a lot of the elder abuse that goes on in the world.”
Taking the stage again, Waterhouse reflected on her newfound experience as a mother. “Becoming a mother has humbled my entire being. I truly feel connected to all women and my horizons and heart have just exploded. I am remembering my childhood and marveling at the grace and poise of my mother who is here tonight. Women are often praised for their unselfishness, but I’m glad to have the example of my mother.” She continued to give so much to her family, but she also continued to learn, work, and give to herself. ”
Ted Lasso’s Waddingham said the conversation among powerful women in the industry should go beyond strength. “When you see us facing forward, you see us being strong and you see us being attractive in any way. You see us falling apart on camera and on stage. You see all those sides. But it’s the quiet parts that we have to support. Me and Cynthia (Erivo) have supported each other a lot, both in the theater and on screen. We’ve had some really tough days.”
Erivo was the final recipient of the night, introduced by Edward Enninful, co-founder and chief creative officer of EE72. In her speech, she reflected on her philanthropic work for LGBTQ+ organizations and mentioned how fans reacted to a viral clip of her video paired with Variety’s recent cover story, in which she declined to discuss “Wicked.”
“Suddenly I’m a woman who’s disparaging the project that got me where I am. I should be more grateful. Don’t get me wrong, some people have appreciated my candor, but the former has given me the ability to be a powerful woman. “It made me think about what that actually means. What does that entail? Who can fully embody that, and who has to bury themselves a little bit so as not to offend?” “I think we’re obsessed with the idea of powerful women, but in reality, we rarely celebrate or lift women up when they claim their power, step into it, and use it.”
