Nicole Kidman’s AFI life achievement award postponed due to writers' strike
The American Film Institute has postponed its annual Life Achievement Award ceremony, slated to be the first to recognise an Australian actor
The American Film Institute has decided to delay its annual Life Achievement Award ceremony, which was set to honour Australian actor Nicole Kidman, due to the ongoing writers' strike in Hollywood.
In a statement, the organisation cited the “division in our community at this time” as the reason for postponing the gala, which was originally scheduled for June 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The event, which would have been the 49th annual Life Achievement Award ceremony, was also slated to be the first to recognise an Australian actor.
Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, praised Kidman‘s “daring artistry” and described her as a ”screen icon” when the announcement was first made.
“She is a force both brave in her choices and bold in each performance.”
Kidman has had a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, winning an Academy Award for her performance in The Hours and earning nominations for Moulin Rouge, Rabbit Hole, Lion, and Being the Ricardos. She has also received two Emmy Awards for Big Little Lies and a Golden Globe nomination for The Undoing.
The ongoing writers' strike, which began on Tuesday, has brought much of Hollywood production to a standstill and marks the first such strike from The Writers Guild of America since 2007.
The Writers Guild of America, which represents over 11,000 screenwriters, failed to reach a contract agreement with studios, streaming services, and networks, leading to the current impasse. As part of the strike, WGA members can’t write or work on projects, including awards ceremonies.
Late-night shows are expected to stall immediately — the big three chat shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert have been taken off the air — while television series and movies scheduled for release later this year could face major delays.