Cynthia Erivo, currently starring in Wicked, has been named the 2025 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The prestigious theater group, which has been around since 1844, will honor her with a Pudding Pot award on February 5 during a celebratory roast. Afterward, Erivo will attend a performance of the group’s latest production, 101 Damnations.
Alongside Erivo, Jon Hamm, famous for his role in Mad Men, will be recognized as the 2025 Man of the Year, receiving his Pudding Pot award on January 31. Erivo’s recognition celebrates her impressive career, which includes being a two-time Oscar nominee, a Tony Award, Emmy Award, and Grammy Award winner. She first gained widespread recognition for her role in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, which earned her a Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. She also made waves for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha, and she produced and starred in the film Drift.
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals has honored a range of notable actresses with this award, including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and Scarlett Johansson.
