ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood Event Was Full of Stars, Tears, and Celebration

THE RUNDOWN

On November 17, ELLE hosted its annual Women in Hollywood event, bringing together some of the industry’s biggest stars.
This year’s honorees included Jennifer Aniston, Teyana Taylor, and Rose Byrne, who all took the stage to deliver heartfelt speeches.
The celebration took place at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, where guests joked, mingled, and reflected on the state of Hollywood.

On Monday night, ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood celebration gathered some of the industry’s most influential talents. The annual event, held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, honored an extraordinary slate of women featured in ELLE’s latest issue: Jessie Buckley, Teyana Taylor, Jennifer Aniston, Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve, Chase Infiniti, Emily Blunt, and Sinners co-stars Jayme Lawson, Wunmi Mosaku, and Hailee Steinfeld. Each was recognized for her artistry, ambition, and influence.

Guests in attendance included Selma Blair, Melissa McCarthy, Ruth E. Carter, Mandy Moore, Niecy Nash, and Jackie Tohn, who set the tone with show-stopping looks. The venue came to life with the help of the evening’s partners: Ralph Lauren, Lucid, Hendrick’s Gin, Evian, and Bulgari. Attendees mingled before settling into their seats, kicking off a lineup of tributes that underscored the power of women shaping show business.

ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia opened the program, framing the evening as both a celebration and a moment to acknowledge the industry’s progress and path forward. “For three decades, this event has witnessed Hollywood history—and even made some of its own. I feel that legacy in the room tonight as I look out on this spectacular crowd,” she noted. “At the first events, merely spotlighting the work of women in the industry felt like something new. But over the years, this event has become a forum for candid and meaningful reflection.”

elle's 2025 women in hollywood celebration presented by ralph lauren and bvlgari with support from evian, hendrick's gin, and lucid motors arrivals — Nina Garcia. Amy Sussman – Getty Images

Regina Hall then took the stage to present the Ralph Lauren Spotlight Award to Infiniti. The 25-year-old star accepted the honor, delivering a heartfelt speech that reflected on her creative upbringing and life-changing roles in the Apple TV series Presumed Innocent and this year’s critically acclaimed film One Battle After Another. “My parents never once hesitated helping me achieve my wildest dreams, and they didn’t make them seem all that wild,” she said, tearing up. “This is crazy!” she added as she laughed it off.

Throughout the night, even more stars commanded the stage and gave one another their flowers. Sebastian Stan introduced Reinsve, who revealed that she brought her son as her date. “I’m so happy and proud to be here and be celebrating with all you amazing women—and I see some men here, too,” she added with a wave as the audience laughed. She offered sweet remarks about her son, saying, “He’s such a wonderful person, so sensitive, and strong, and cool.”

2025 elle women in hollywood celebration inside — Chase Infiniti Gilbert Flores – Getty Images

Dwayne Johnson—who mentioned that he was “raised in a house full of estrogen”—welcomed Blunt, his The Smashing Machine castmate. The actress clued the crowd into an inside joke, sharing that she nicknamed Johnson “Tutz,” then “Toosie,” which the former wrestler said sounded like “Titties.” Hence, Blunt’s on-stage jest directed at Johnson: “Your soulfulness is as great as your titties.” And, in her signature comedic form, the Devil Wears Prada star also encouraged everyone to play a game of “What song blew your mind?”

Kerry Washington then honored Taylor, who thanked the Scandal actress for splitting her time between the Women in Hollywood event and the L.A. premiere of her upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The multihyphenate performer also gave Aniston a shout-out, saying, “Jen, I loved you on Friends, girl.”

Chloé Zhao followed with an introduction for Buckley, who cried while delivering an emotional speech that supported the event’s focus on perseverance.

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came courtesy of the women of Sinners, introduced by Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler. Steinfeld couldn’t attend, but Lawson and Mosaku acknowledged that she’s there “in spirit” before reflecting on the power of their vampire film. Lawson offered a heartfelt tribute to Jordan and Coogler for trusting the cast with such nuanced characters.

She described Sinners as a cultural phenomenon that brought women with agency, desire, and unapologetic appetite to the big screen. Her speech evolved into a celebration of sisterhood as she shed tears and spoke about finding her creative family: “When you find your sisters in this industry, you hold on for dear life and you do not dare let them go.”

Mosaku’s remarks were equally impassioned. She spoke about the honor of standing alongside talented women and the responsibility to help build environments where women can thrive freely. She thanked Coogler and Jordan for carving out more space for women of color in Hollywood. “Your contribution to this industry has expanded our vision of what film can do,” she said. Jordan even took a moment to help fix the train of Mosaku’s dress.

Next, Melissa McCarthy introduced Rose Byrne, highlighting the If I Had Legs I’d Kick You star’s acting chops and reminiscing on their time filming Bridesmaids.

los angeles, california november 17: enter caption here attends elle's 2025 women in hollywood celebration presented by ralph lauren and bvlgari with support from evian, hendrick's gin, and lucid motors on november 17, 2025 in los angeles, california. (photo by presley ann/getty images for elle) — Jennifer Aniston (center) Presley Ann – Getty Images

Finally, Aniston, presented by Adam Sandler (who called her “the best in so many ways”), closed out the night’s speeches, tracing her journey from her first Women in Hollywood honor in 2011 to the present. While she looked back on what’s changed since then, she also reflected on what still motivates her and “keeps me showing up every day.” She explained, “It’s the friendships and the shared belief that storytelling still matters. That baring our souls and creators still matters, something that AI will never be able to duplicate, no matter how ‘smart’ it gets.”

As all the honorees posed for a group photo with Garcia, the room filled with a vibrant energy that fit the uplifting feel of the night. Ahead, see more moments from ELLE’s 2025 Women in Hollywood celebration.