EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood Confidential, the long-running event series created by author and producer Steve Jones, will honor veteran actor Loretta Devine at its next edition with its Vanguard Award for career achievement.
The honor will also mark the 30th anniversary of the seminal romantic comedy Waiting to Exhale, which starred Devine alongside Angela Bassett, Whitney Houston, and Wendell Pierce.
The event and Devine’s award presentation will take place on February 27 at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles. The evening will also include an intimate conversation between Jones and Devine titled ‘A Moment To Exhale With Our Dreamgirl.’
“Loretta Devine has built a career on truth,” Jones said in a statement. “Whether through humor, heartbreak, or quiet strength, she brings an honesty to her work that audiences immediately recognize and trust. Her performances don’t just entertain—they affirm our shared humanity and leave a lasting imprint on culture.”
Devine is an Emmy and multiple NAACP Image Award recipient. She was an original cast member on the Broadway edition of Dreamgirls. Her other credits include This Christmas, Crash, Jumping the Broom, Boston Public, Grey’s Anatomy, and The PJs.
Previous Hollywood Confidential honorees include Lupita Nyong’o, Regina King, Angela Bassett, Issa Rae, KeKe Palmer, and Snoop Dogg. Mara Brock Akil received Hollywood Confidential’s Icon Award last year at an event held at The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Jones has been running the Hollywood Confidential series for over a decade. Last year, he published a non-fiction book titled ‘Hollywood Confidential: 12 Secrets to Becoming the Star of Your Own Life’ with HarperCollins. The event with Devine is presented by Wells Fargo.
“Partnering with Hollywood Confidential for this special event is truly an honor,” said Gigi Dixon, head of External Engagement at Wells Fargo.
“Celebrating Loretta Devine—a trailblazing, award-winning actress—reflects our commitment to uplifting talent that shapes culture and inspires excellence. We are proud to support Hollywood Confidential as it continues its tradition of honoring the extraordinary cultural contributions and acting achievements of remarkable artists like Ms. Devine.”
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