CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Cynthia Erivo, currently captivating audiences in the acclaimed musical “Wicked,” has been honored as the 2025 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals, a prestigious honor announced on Tuesday.

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, which boasts a legacy dating back to 1844 and is regarded as the third oldest theater group still in operation globally, will present Erivo with her Pudding Pot award during a celebratory roast scheduled for February 5. Following the award presentation, she will join the audience for a performance of the theatrical group’s 176th production, titled “101 Damnations.” Additionally, Jon Hamm, known for his iconic role as ad executive Don Draper in AMC’s “Mad Men,” has been named the 2025 Man of the Year and will receive his Pudding Pot on January 31.

“We are eagerly anticipating Cynthia Erivo’s arrival,” said Hannah Frazer, the Events Coordinator for the Man and Woman of the Year. “Our broomstick closets are getting a thorough cleaning and we’re preparing some clever humor as we look forward to welcoming her in February. Before she takes off with her Pudding Pot, she’ll need to perform a bit of magic to earn it.”

Erivo, a British talent known for her incredible performances, has garnered multiple accolades including two Oscar nominations along with Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Awards. She first gained recognition with her outstanding role in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2016. In addition, she performed songs from the show on the “Today” show, winning a Daytime Emmy for outstanding music performance in a daytime program, while the show’s soundtrack secured the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2017.

More recently, Erivo took on the dual role of producer and star in the film “Drift,” which tells the poignant story of a young Liberian refugee escaping her war-torn homeland for a new life on a Greek island. In 2021, she was nominated for an Emmy for her riveting portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic anthology series “Genius: Aretha.”

Since 1951, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals have annually recognized leading actresses with the Woman of the Year title, celebrating distinguished talent including renowned figures such as Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, and Annette Bening.