Gena Rowlands Celebrated by LA Film Critics Association with Career Achievement Award

Some of Hollywood’s heaviest-hitters gathered on the red carpet for the 40th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, representing the year’s most accolated films. Patricia Arquette walked with Best Actress for Boyhood; Tom Hardy as Best Actor for Locke; and J.K. Simmons gleamed at his Best Supporting Actor prize. But the evening’s highest honor was awarded to one of our very own, Academy alum Gena Rowlands, as she accepted the Career Achievement Award recognizing the tremendous impact she’s made in the industry.
 
Introduced by film critic Chuck Williams who pegged Rowlands as the female version of Marlon Brando, Angelina Jolie made a surprise appearance to honor her long-time role model. “You will never hear, ‘She’s the next Gena Rowlands’,” gushed Jolie, “because there will never be another.”
 
Rowlands accepted the award following a beautiful tribute highlighting her illustrious career spanning more than 60 years. “Anyone who has eyes to see can tell anything about your life by watching you on film,” tells Rowlands during the five-minute glimpse into some of her most brilliant performances. “You just can’t hide it.  No matter how much you are into a character, you can just see an active soul on film.”

 
Known in this generation as the aged Allie in the gripping, undaunted love story The Notebook directed by her son, Academy alum Nick Cassavetes, Rowlands has quite the compelling love story of her own. She met the love of her life, legendary actor-director John Cassavetes, while studying at The Academy in 1951. The two married and started a family together, while working alongside each other in more than ten films over the next 30 years. 
 
Through her award winning productions and star performances, Rowlands has captured the true essence of being an honest, truthful actor. Together, she and Cassavetes established their family legacy, passing the torch to their children and grandchildren who attended The Academy and advanced as celebrated directors, actors and screenwriters.
 
Thank you for the positive impact you’ve made not only on this industry, but on this world, Ms. Rowlands. The Academy is honored to call you one of our own.