*The 7th annual Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema and Television brought the stars out in style! Hollywood heavyweights like Tyler Perry, Cynthia Erivo, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor shined bright as they were honored on Dec. 9, 2024. Of course, EURweb was front and center on the carpet catching all the glam, gratitude, and golden moments.
This celebration wasn’t just about star power—it was about spotlighting performances that left a mark on the culture. The night was packed with talent and trailblazers, making it one for the books.
Erivo, fresh off a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Elphaba in “Wicked,” was one of the night’s standout honorees. Known for her ability to tackle complex roles, Erivo shared how her latest challenge stacks up against her iconic turn as Celie in “The Color Purple“ on Broadway.
“I think every role I pick is a challenge, to be honest. Uh, and that role was hard in its own way. Elphaba is equally as difficult as Celie because they require very, very different things of me. And that’s, I think, something I ask of all the characters that I play. I think, as long as they challenge what I can do and challenge the skill set and ask me to bring something different to a role that I haven’t bought before, I’m, I’m satisfied,” Erivo told us.
“I mean, I’m excited because I never thought something like this would ever happen to me in my life. So, I’m excited. It’s a little wish fulfillment tonight,” she said with a big smile.
When it comes to dream roles, Ellis-Taylor has her sights set on bringing the story of civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer to life.
Ryan Destiny, crowned with the Rising Star Award, is gearing up to take over the big screen. She’s stepping into the ring as Claressa Shields in a highly anticipated boxing biopic. Destiny didn’t hold back about the grit it took to transform into the champion.
“I want people to feel inspired because she is inspiring, you know, coming from nothing and knowing that if you believe in yourself more than anybody else, you can achieve anything that you want to.
She added: “So I think that’s a huge thing that I’d love to see. For people to take away and also just shining a light on women athletes,” she said passionately.
As if that wasn’t enough, Destiny also hinted that new music is on the horizon for 2025.
The evening also welcomed legendary actress Lynn Whitfield, who turned heads as always. Known for her iconic roles, Whitfield is raising the bar yet again with her role in the upcoming film “Albany Road.” The buzz is real, and whispers of a potential Best Supporting Actress nod have the industry talking.
Jharrel Jerome, who knows a thing or two about taking on transformative roles, was also honored. His latest project has him portraying Anthony Robles, the wrestler who defied all odds to become the 2011 NCAA champion in the 125-pound weight class.
The man of the hour, Anthony Robles himself, presented Jerome with the award and couldn’t stop singing his praises.
“I mean, he put so much time and effort into portraying me, not just the emotional side, but walking on crutches, the wrestling scenes, the technique that he had to develop, uh, he dedicated himself to it. And it was just an honor to see him go through the process of it, to step outside of his comfort zone in a number of ways, and really just to make me proud,” Robles said, beaming.
From heartfelt tributes to exciting teasers of what’s to come, this celebration was a testament to Black excellence in every form.
WATCH ALL the interviews via the player at the top of the page and be sure to scroll down to react and/or leave a comment.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Spike Lee Talks Collaboration with Denzel Washington and Upcoming Film ‘Highest 2 Lowest’
