Cynthia Erivo brought a touch of humor and elegance to the Sundance Film Festival, receiving the prestigious Visionary Award for her contributions to cinema. The Wicked actress wowed the audience not so much with her magnetic presence and powerful speech as she did with the tiara she wore on the podium for none other than Olivia Colman.
While presenting the prestigious award to Erivo, the Oscar-winner removed her tiara and placed it carefully on the podium. “I also love how casual this festival is,” Coleman said, giving a nod to the fabulous accessory before leaving it behind.
When the British actress walked on stage to accept the award and saw the tiara on the stand, she picked it up and wore it without missing a beat. “It should be worn. That’s the point of it,” she said, addressing the crowd at the ceremony.
The actress, who is nominated for a 2025 Oscar for her performance in Wicked, talked about receiving the visionary award. Continuing his humorous tone, Erivo quipped about seeing the meaning of visionaries.
She explained that it was something to do with vision for the mind. Not the kind of viewing that is personal to everyone, but the kind that requires persistence. “I put one foot next to the other, and I keep sticking to the road until I can reach a destination,” Erivo said of his struggles and aftermath. I expressed gratitude for hard work and luck.
She accepted the award with the deepest respect and pride and dedicated it to all ambitious dreamers who can lie ahead and “though the road may be bleak, we will walk it anyway.”
The festival also paid tribute to Michelle Sutter, founder of the Sundance Institute Directors & Screenwriters Lab, who lost her home in the devastating Palisades Wildfire.
