Charlize Theron backs gender-neutral awards categories

Theron received the Hollywood career achievement award at the 23rd Hollywood Film Awards
Theron backs abolishing gendered awards categories
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Charlize Theron has voiced her support for abolishing separate male and female categories at awards ceremonies.

Theron, who is raising her adopted child August as a girl after introducing her to the world as a boy, welcomed the prospect of gender-neutral awards.

Asked when the new categories might be introduced, Theron told reporters: “Let’s hope soon.”

The actress, 44, spoke out as she accepted the Hollywood career achievement award at the 23rd annual Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills.

Award-winning: Theron was recognised for her career achievements to date
Reuters

Nicole Kidman presented Theron with the prize. The Oscar-winning duo will shortly be seen on screen together in drama Bombshell, about the downfall of Fox News boss Roger Ailes. Other stars at the ceremony included Sienna Miller, who stood out in yellow, and Antonio Banderas, who won the Hollywood actor award for Pain And Glory, which was presented by his stepdaughter Dakota Johnson.

Hollywood Film Awards 2019: Red Carpet - In pictures

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Olivia Wilde took the director award, Cynthia Erivo won break-out actress and Renée Zellweger was named best actress. Rocketman star Taron Egerton was named break-out actor.

Two years ago, the MTV Movie & TV Awards became the first major ceremony to adopt the gender-neutral format, with Emma Watson winning the overall best actor prize for her portrayal of Belle in Beauty And The Beast.

At the time, Watson said: “[The award] indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. And that doesn’t need to be separated into two different categories.”

In September the Brit Awards reportedly said it was reviewing its award categories. It followed singer Sam Smith’s announcement that they identify as non-binary.

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