CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (JN) — Rose Byrne, the Australian actress celebrated for her Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, has been named the 2026 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The announcement came Wednesday from the historic Cambridge-based theatrical society.
Byrne’s award recognizes a standout year for the actor, whose career includes roles in Bridesmaids, Neighbors, Insidious, and Damages. She will be celebrated on February 13 with a traditional parade through Cambridge, followed by a ceremonial roast and the presentation of the iconic pudding pot. The festivities will also include a performance of Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 177th production, Salooney Tunes.
Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Legacy
Founded in 1795, Hasty Pudding Theatricals is one of the oldest theatrical organizations in the United States and globally. Its Woman of the Year award honors distinguished female entertainers, with past recipients including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, and Annette Bening. Last year, the award went to Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
Byrne’s Career Highlights
Byrne’s recent work has earned widespread acclaim. In If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, critics praised her dramatic range and intensity. The Associated Press described her performance as “a chance to display versatility and grit in surely the toughest dramatic role of her career.”
Her broader filmography includes Juliet, Naked, Get Him to the Greek, and 28 Weeks Later. Byrne’s theater work is equally notable, with performances in Medea and You Can’t Take It With You at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In March, she will star alongside Kelli O’Hara in the Broadway revival of Fallen Angels.
Man of the Year 2026
Actor Michael Keaton has been named the 2026 Man of the Year by Hasty Pudding Theatricals. He will receive his award at a separate February ceremony.
“We are thrilled to honor Rose Byrne as our Woman of the Year,” said Daisy Nussbaum, president of Hasty Pudding Theatricals. “Hot off a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination, it’s only right that she receives the most prestigious award of all: a pudding pot.”
Byrne’s recognition continues the tradition of honoring performers who have made significant contributions to film and theater, reflecting both enduring achievement and current acclaim.
ceremony in February.
“We are thrilled to honor Rose Byrne as our Woman of the Year,” said Daisy Nussbaum, president of Hasty Pudding Theatricals. “Hot off a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination, it’s only right that she receives the most prestigious award of all: a pudding pot.”
Byrne’s recognition continues the tradition of celebrating artists who have made significant contributions to film and theater, reflecting both enduring achievement and current acclaim.
Sourcee: AP News – Actor Rose Byrne named Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
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