By Harshit
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 19, 2025 —
Torrential rain and flash flood warnings could not keep Hollywood’s brightest stars from gathering Thursday night at the Four Seasons Hotel for ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood celebration — an evening dedicated to honoring the creative power and resilience of women shaping the entertainment industry.
Among the night’s highlights was an emotional tribute from filmmaker Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan, who celebrated the women of their gothic Southern horror epic “Sinners.”
“Without y’all, we don’t have anything,” Coogler said from the stage, acknowledging the film’s actresses Hailee Steinfeld, Jayme Lawson, and Wunmi Mosaku. “They are truth-tellers, and perhaps more importantly, they are the beating heart of the story … This movie was powered by women.”
‘Sinners’ Shines in the Spotlight
Released earlier this year, “Sinners” has been praised as one of 2025’s most original films. Starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, the film follows their return to 1930s Mississippi to open a sawmill and juke joint — only to confront a supernatural vampire invasion that mirrors the racial and spiritual battles of their time.
Steinfeld portrays Mary, a white-passing woman wrestling with her mixed-race identity; Lawson plays Pearline, a preacher’s daughter torn between faith and survival; and Mosaku stars as Annie, a woman of fierce loyalty and quiet strength.
On Thursday night, Coogler and Jordan honored the trio for their performances — and for what Coogler described as “bringing the soul” to his most ambitious project yet.
Hailee Steinfeld’s Absence Acknowledged
Jordan took the stage to present the award, joking about filling in as a last-minute speaker but turning serious when explaining Steinfeld’s absence.
“She caught a little bug; she’s feeling under the weather, so she couldn’t be here with us tonight,” he said, drawing a sympathetic laugh from the crowd.
He went on to describe her preparation for the role: “‘Sinners’ gave Hailee the opportunity to dive into her own family’s history, and she didn’t hold back. She asked big questions about her grandfather’s identity as a half-Filipino, half-Black man. That theme of inheritance is in every frame of this film. Hailee, we love you, and we honor you for doing that story justice.”
Wunmi Mosaku and Jayme Lawson Steal the Night
Jordan called Mosaku, the British-Nigerian star of “Lovecraft Country,” “the UK’s best-kept secret for years.”
“As Wunmi once said, the scariest part of this movie is realizing that no matter how far you’ve gone, you still might be exactly where you started,” he said. “Wunmi, thank you for your gentle wisdom, your love, and your power. Tonight, we honor you — and always.”
Coogler followed by praising Lawson, who delivered one of the film’s most intense performances. “For us, you were never too much,” he said. “You were always enough.”
Both actresses took the stage together to accept their awards. Lawson, visibly emotional, thanked Coogler and her castmates for creating a space where women could be “seen and celebrated in full.”
“Every woman in this room knows what it feels like to crave as an artist but not feel full,” Lawson said. “Ryan filled our appetites — and he gave us each other. When you find your sisters in this industry, you hold on for dear life, and you don’t let them go.”
Mosaku added, addressing Coogler directly: “I’m grateful for the women who inspire and love you so deeply that you champion them by representing them in all their complexities and humanity — on and off camera.”
Nina Garcia Reflects on 30 Years of ELLE’s Women in Hollywood
At the start of the three-hour gala, ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia delivered opening remarks commemorating three decades of the annual event.
“At our first events, simply spotlighting the work of women in the industry felt revolutionary,” Garcia said. “Over the years, this has become a forum for honest reflection. For three decades, this event has witnessed Hollywood history — and even made some of its own.”
The audience included a star-studded mix of honorees and presenters, among them Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”), Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”), Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”), Renate Reinsve (“Sentimental Value”), and Emily Blunt (“The Smashing Machine”).
Rainy Night, Radiant Room
Outside, a torrential downpour turned the Beverly Hills streets into rivers, but inside the Four Seasons ballroom, the mood was warm and celebratory.
Celebrities carefully navigated the rain-soaked entrance while hotel staff worked tirelessly to dry the floors. “The real heroes tonight are the valets in yellow raincoats,” one guest quipped.
Despite the weather, the event drew big names including Jennifer Aniston, Ryan Coogler, Dwayne Johnson, Benny Safdie, and Emily Blunt.
At one point, Kerry Washington rushed straight from the premiere of “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” to present Taylor’s award after Kevin Hart was forced to cancel due to filming commitments.
By evening’s end, applause, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the ballroom — a fitting close to a night celebrating women who continue to transform Hollywood from within.