Andrea Martin’s journey to theater and stardom on Broadway and in Hollywood came full circle Thursday when she received an honor at Hollywood ReporterWomen in Entertainment Canada concert in Toronto is within sight of the Royal Alexander Theatre, where Toronto’s quirky revue was staged in 1972 Gods magic Performing it became a life-changing experience.
“This new Canadian icon is basically a lucky person,” Martin said from a podium at Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton, across the downtown square from the Royal Alex Hotel. Martin was honored with the Icon Award at the WIE Canada event, which recognizes Canadian cultural achievements that have fostered greater representation of women in the media and entertainment industry and artistic visions that reach global audiences.
“I was selected in a Canadian company gods magic, And I found myself surrounded by a great group of actors who became my lifelong friends, who always spoke the truth to me, whether I wanted to hear it or not, and who were there for me, as I was for them, for more than 50 years.
American-born Martin played Robin in the popular Toronto hippie hit alongside fellow cast members Victor Garber, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas and Jane Eastwood, who helped present her award. More than half a century later, this modest offer of… Gods magic The musical paved the way for Martin, a Tony Award-winning stage actress My favorite year and Pippin. In 1976, Martin joined the emerging comedy troupe Second City, and subsequently performed featured comedy roles in sctv, Which won two Emmy Awards for writing.
“I arrived in this country in 1970 and all my dreams came true. This country gave me endless opportunity to continue to laugh, grow and entertain,” Martin recalled after crossing over to Hollywood and continuing to act in film. My big fat Greek wedding Film series such as Auntie Vola; Organize their individual presentation Andrea Martin: The Last Days, Everything must go!; Also shown in Shake the dog, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Sesame Street, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and SpongeBob SquarePants. Her most recent credits include Evil, Murders Just in the Building, The Gilded Aghe Overcompensation.
Also at the WIE Canada Awards, Hot competition Author Rachel Reid received a standing ovation when she took the stage at the Ritz-Carlton to accept a Changemaker Award for writing the book series adapted from the popular Crave and HBO Max romantic drama about gay hockey players played on TV by Hudson Williams and Connor Story.
She talked about why women in particular are drawn to her romance novels, and the TV series that became an unlikely TV hit. “For me, it’s very clear why women would want to watch a show where sex scenes are filled with consent, care, validation, and mutual pleasure,” Reid explained. “I write books about men, and I’m not saying I write them specifically for women, but I write them knowing that women will appreciate these characters, and I write them as a way to explore the ways in which toxic masculinity harms us all,” she added.
Also honored in Toronto was Malin Akerman, who received the Icon Award when she played manipulative socialite Margo Banks in the Netflix series. Hunting wives from Lionsgate and 3 Arts Entertainment, where she was welcomed to the stage by star Brittany Snow.
As a Toronto-raised artist with a global reach, Akerman spoke about being a woman in Hollywood where the focus on youth and ageism have long been a reality. “I really think this industry has changed. Women’s shelf life has been extended for so long, and if anything, we’re seeing more and more amazing roles for women of a certain age,” she said. “When women believe in themselves and empower each other, it impacts all of us.”
Another emotional moment came when YouTube star Lilly Singh turned late-night TV host on NBC. A little late He is now part owner of the WNBA expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, He received the Justice in Entertainment Award. “Let’s be real. Every time people say words like justice and entertainment, there’s someone with a podcast microphone rolling their eyes,” Singh once said on stage.
She continued, “I want every gatekeeper and every person who rejects this conversation to understand that this is not about billboards, this is not about red carpets. This is not about celebrities who want to be applauded for being diverse.” “I believe everyone deserves those defining moments when they watch something and feel an indescribable transformation inside them, where they feel seen, touched, healed, or empowered,” Singh added.
In the middle of the awards ceremony, Jenny Byun, deputy managing editor at… Hollywood Reporterwas welcomed to the stage in Canada’s 2026 Women in Entertainment list which highlights the executives and creatives shaping the Canadian media and entertainment industry.
“Hollywood ReporterWomen in Entertainment Canada’s Women in Entertainment Canada event gets bigger and better every year. It’s so gratifying to feel the community and see the growth in the industry and not just the amazing honorees, with Andrea Martin doing a Hamilton Pyun said after Martin sang a song and dance on stage to recap her “routine” career.
Stacey Aglock MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Canadian Inuk indigenous comedy producers. North North It is now heading to a second season on CBC and Netflix, and received a Breakthrough Award at the WIE Canada ceremony.
“There weren’t a lot of paths for Inuk filmmakers to get into this industry, and we had to carve it ourselves,” Arnaquq Baril recalls, as they had to train and inspire actors, storytellers, costume designers, musicians, comedians and other Indigenous Canadian creatives. “Those years of hauling equipment through blizzards and trying to convince people that Inuit stories weren’t very relevant have finally paid off,” Aglock MacDonald added.
The second WIE CAN Mentorship for 2026, which featured five young women – Jessica Landry, Anisha Kumar, Sarah Nicole Bolduc, Kianna Lecuir and Janet Rose Nguyen – was also recognized on stage, while industry mentors and mentors who help them learn new skills and advance their careers were also recognized.
