Kerry Washington puts Hollywood on notice in speech: 'This is not a level playing field'

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. − Decked out in holiday decor, the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel was lit up bright and early Thursday morning as Hollywood's leading ladies – including Adele, Ariana DeBose, Kerry Washington and Helen Mirren – roamed the halls and strutted down the pink carpet.

The Hollywood Reporter's annual breakfast gala called for an early glam sesh for many of the women in attendance, but that didn't stop them from showing up and showering one another with praise.

Among the stars spotted were "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" actress (and newly crowned "Dancing with the Stars" winner) Xochitl Gomez and social media personality Lele Pons, who walked the pink carpet hand-in-hand and didn't stray from each other throughout the event. Gomez squealed when she saw actress Tia Mowry and embraced her in a hug; Lucy Hale rushed off the pink carpet excitedly telling her team that she had just spotted the one and only Helen Mirren; "Barbie" co-stars Alexandra Shipp and Will Ferrell hugged it out while posing for photos; and honoree Kerry Washington gushed about how pretty "Flamin' Hot" actress Annie Gonzalez looked when she walked by.

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Adele, who fangirled onstage about meeting Dua Lipa for the first time, received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award from Mirren, and Washington was honored with the Equity in Entertainment Award presented by "Wish" star Ariana DeBose.

As part of the breakfast, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, Billie Lourd and Lily Gladstone also handed out more than $1 million in university scholarships to students participating in THR's Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program, now in its 14th year.

Kerry Washington honored with Equity in Entertainment Award

When Kerry Washington asks you to close your eyes so she can paint a picture of the definition of equity and equality, you do as you're told.

The "Little Fires Everywhere" actress, who was recognized for her work amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry, stressed the importance of leveling the playing field so everyone can have an equal shot at success.

"Equity is not simple. And it's not easy to get it right all the time. It's nuanced and complicated and sometimes it's scary. Because equity asks us to pause and to see each other, consider each other's unique circumstances. Because let's be clear: This is not a level playing field," Washington said. "We are not – in real life – on equal ground."

"Insecure" creator and actress Issa Rae was the 2022 recipient of the Equity in Entertainment Award.

'Thicker than Water': Kerry Washington opens up about family secrets, struggles in memoir

On the pink carpet, Washington discussed her memoir "Thicker than Water," where she details childhood sexual abuse, family secrets and her Hollywood rise.

"('Thicker than Water') has created more community," she told USA TODAY. "The big response that people often have when they read the book is they tell me about their secrets and things they're holding onto with shame, so to be able to kind of be in truth and community with other women or other people about what we go through to not feel alone, that was my biggest dream."

Ariana DeBose on Kerry Washington challenging Hollywood stereotypes

Ariana DeBose presented the "Scandal" actress Thursday morning, praising Washington for challenging stereotypes in Hollywood and inspiring Black women to stay true to themselves.

"Kerry has squashed the traditional stereotype of being a Black woman in Hollywood," DeBose said. "She has expanded our minds of what we can be – from playing the messy, complicated, dynamic Olivia Pope, bringing Anita Hill to the screen, to producing and starring in 'Unprisoned.'"

Catch up on USA TODAY's The Essentials: 'Wish' star Ariana DeBose shares her Disney movie favorites

Helen Mirren calls Adele's voice 'one for the ages'

Mirren, a fellow Londoner and Academy Award-winning actress, presented Adele with her award and called the British singer a "timeless" voice that she "greatly" admires.

"Her passion, her soulfulness in her songs, her brilliance as a songwriter and of course, I cannot fail to mention her incredible work ethic," Mirren said as Adele looked onstage at her. "I read in an interview recently where Adele was called the voice of her generation, and I totally disagree with that. Her voice is one for the ages."

The "1923" actress was honored with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award in 2010.

Once Adele took the stage, the singer gave thanks to Lansging for paving the way. "Sherry, you are the absolute epitome of what it is to open doors and, more importantly, to leave them open," she said, addressing Lansing in the audience. "This all feels very big and grown up, and I feel a bit out of my depth, considering I'm only 35."

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'Barbie' actor Will Ferrell jokingly calls for Kerry Washington presidential run

Will Ferrell, who gave the opening remarks at THR's gala, called for a Washington presidential run and performed a rendition of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep."

"Kerry, you've always been amazing in everything you've ever done and an incredible advocate for so many different things. Can you just run for president? Please? We'll pay you. We’ll do a GoFundMe right in this room and we'll launch you," he joked.

More: Margot Robbie tells Cillian Murphy an 'Oppenheimer' producer asked her to move 'Barbie' release

Xochitl Gomez on being crowned 'Dancing With the Stars' champion

Just days after being crowned the Season 32 winner of "Dancing with the Stars," Gomez spoke to USA TODAY about the pride she felt representing her Latino heritage on the dancefloor.

"I was able to put my culture out there on live TV and it was accepted, and (dance pro Val Chmerkovskiy and I) did it as thoroughly as we could. I'm just proud of that," Gomez said, adding, "and the fact that we took it home."

In terms of prepping for "DWTS" as an actor, Gomez put it plainly: "I actually did Zumba."

"People don't believe me but that's what I did in preparation," she said. "It was the same mentality (as acting) where you have to strategically know what you're going to do, plan things out and have the right mindset, and so that's the similarity but the difference is, I got to play myself and show different sides of my personality."

Winners! Xochitl Gomez, Val Chmerkovskiy earn the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ariana DeBose, Will Ferrell praise Kerry Washington at Hollywood gala