Hasty Pudding Theatricals Names Helen Mirren 2014 Woman of the Year

Photo by Trevor Leighton Provided

What do Meryl Streep, Elizabeth Taylor, and Claire Danes all have in common? Well, they’ve each been named Woman of the Year by Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The country’s oldest theater organization, Hasty Pudding has been naming the Woman of the Year every year since 1951 to honor people for their “lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment.”

Hasty Pudding announced today that Helen Mirren is their Woman of the Year for 2014. The actress is known for numerous roles, including her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen—a role for which she received numerous Best Actress awards, including an Oscar. Mirren has portrayed Queen Elizabeth II on TV as well, in addition to tackling the role of Elizabeth I. (Mirren was named an official Dame of the British Empire in 2003.) More recently in 2013, she played Linda Kenney Baden in Phil Spector.

“How very saucy of the Hasty Pudding organization to offer me their award,” Mirren said in a press release. “As someone who adores Pudding in all its manifestations… Suet, Christmas, Treacle, Bread and Butter, Yorkshire, Plum, Figgy, etc., etc., I am so looking forward to the famous Hasty Pudding.”

Helen Mirren will participate in the 2014 Woman of the Year celebration on January 30 by leading a parade through Cambridge followed by a celebratory roast, Pudding Pot presentation, and press conference.

The 2014 Man of Year will be announced on February 7. Last year’s winner was Keifer Sutherland, and yes, of course, James Franco has already won in the past. He was Man of the Year in 2009.

You can learn more about Hasty Pudding and the Woman of the Year at hastypudding.org.