Yahoo News Karen Pittman, Daniel Kaluuya, Alan Cumming Talk Strikes at Soho House Awards: “Hoping That the AMPTP Get Their S–t Together”
The dual writers and actors strikes were top of mind for stars who attended the second annual Soho House Awards, which honored the likes of Paul Mescal, Emma Corrin, Ayo Edebiri, Haley Lu Richardson, and Emma and Alex Watson.
The awards honor established and emerging creatives across film, music, art, changemaker and trailblazer categories, and were hosted by Jeremy O. Harris. Ahead of the event in New York City on Thursday night, stars took to the black carpet outside of DUMBO House to discuss the night’s honors and their mindsets as the SAG strike nears the two-month mark.
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“Well, not working,” Alan Cumming told The Hollywood Reporter when asked how he’s navigating during this time. “And, you know, hoping that the AMPTP get their shit together and start spreading the love and spreading the wealth and just waiting for it all to be resolved.”
Karen Pittman, who portrays Nya Wallace in And Just Like That, shared that she was excited to support The Bear star Edebiri as actors are still striking.
“It’s an opportunity just to come out and lend our support in the ways that we can navigate,” she told THR. “I’m so disappointed that we can’t come to some common ground, that it’s taking us so long to figure this out. I actually don’t think it’s that difficult to try to find a way to create and also make sure that people are financially taken care of.”
She explained that one thing the strike has shown people is how actors who are at the top of the totem pole need actors at the bottom of it, too, and if that isn’t the case, things tend to topple over.
“So, that’s kind of the point,” Pittman said. “I really do hope it ends soon because a lot of my friends really do need to get back to work, and I mean, we want to write, we want to create.”
Kaluuya, whose 59% Productions banner has partnered up with Soho House, attended the awards to present Nabhaan Rizwan with the 59% Gen Now Award, which spotlights multifaceted artists who are making an impact on the industry but haven’t been recognized enough for it.
“We try to select someone who moves people, who’s relevant, who’s kind of making stuff that like we want to watch, and we want to talk about,” the Nope star told THR, adding that he appreciates the fact that Soho House is cross-cultural.
“What they’re doing is quite exciting, and we get to do it in these kinds of times when it’s hard for people to get a platform,” he said. “So, it’s great that we can have an award like this and still celebrate actors but still honor what’s happening with the strike.”
Inside the event, Emma Watson and her brother, Alex, received the evening’s breakthrough entrepreneur award for their sustainable gin brand, Renais. The spirit, which is made from wine grapes, only launched a few months ago and is already available at every Soho House in the United Kingdom.
“It’s amazing to be able to do it with someone in your family that you trust, and we have all the foundations there from being brother and sister,” Alex Watson told THR. “So, it’s great to have that person as your business partner, to share all the highs and the lows.”
He continued, “We definitely complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses quite well as she’s very creative, and my background is drinks and bartending, and that kind of thing. So, we kind of meet somewhere in the middle in quite a lovely way.”
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