Johansson Braves Cold Temps for Hasty Pudding

CAMBRIDGE, Mass: Starlet Scarlett Johansson braved frigid temperatures on Thursday to lead Harvard University's flamboyant parade in honor of her Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year award from the school's drama department.

Flanked by drag queens, Johansson greeted onlookers in Harvard Square from a silver Bentley convertible.

The star said it was "the closest I'll get to a Harvard degree for sure."

The Hasty Pudding Man and Woman of the Year awards are an annual tradition at Harvard, dating back to 1795. The honor is presented to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment."

Johansson made her acting debut at age 8 in the Off-Broadway production of "Sophistry" with Ethan Hawke.

At 22, Scarlett Johansson has more than a decade of silver screen work under her belt and is often touted as one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses. She is a four-time Golden Globe nominee and received a best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her role opposite Bill Murray in Lost in Translation.

Her film credits include Girl With a Pearl Earring, The Horse Whisperer, Ghost World, The Man Who Wasn't There, The Island, North, Just Cause, Manny & Lo, In Good Company and recently Woody Allen's Match Point.

The Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year award was established in 1951. Previous recipients include Meryl Streep, Katherine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Meg Ryan and, last year, Halle Berry.

After the parade through the streets of Cambridge yesterday, the Woman of the Year festivities continued with a celebrity roast and the presentation of the traditional Hasty Pudding Pot.

Johansson told the press she was impressed by the drama department's dedication to the tradition, especially in Thursday's frigid temperatures. She said, "I wouldn't be caught dead in a bra and panties on a day like this. They were really suffering for their craft."

Next week, Hasty Pudding will honor Man of the Year, Ben Stiller. Stiller is an actor, director, producer and writer who has defined a unique comedy style in his film work. Stiller has starred in Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Along Came Polly, Zoolander and There's Something About Mary. His Hasty Pudding award comes just weeks after his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, were honored with a Hollywood star.

The Man of the Year award has been given to veteran male entertainers including Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, and Richard Gere.

Sources

"Johansson receives Hasty Pudding" BBC News, February 16, 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6367631.stm

http://www.hno.harvard.edu/hastypudding