Margaret Atwood to Receive ICON Award at The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada Event

The queen of Canadian letters is about to add another jewel to her crown. Legendary author, poet, and cultural force Margaret Atwood will be honoured with the ICON Award at this year’s Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada event, taking place Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto.

Created to recognize Canadian visionaries who have elevated the representation of women in media and entertainment, the ICON Award celebrates Atwood’s unmatched contributions to literature, film, and global feminist discourse. Her sharp prose, unflinching perspective, and knack for predicting the future have inspired generations—on and off the page.

With more than 50 books to her name spanning fiction, poetry, and critical essays, Atwood is best known for The Handmaid’s Tale, her dystopian 1985 novel that found new life as a hit television series. Now entering its sixth and final season on Hulu and Crave, the Emmy-winning adaptation helped usher in a wave of renewed activism and global conversations around bodily autonomy and surveillance. Its Booker Prize-winning sequel, The Testaments, cemented Atwood’s status as a literary force in the 21st century.

The Toronto-born writer will release her long-awaited memoir, Book of Lives, this November.

In addition to Atwood, this year’s Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada event will also honour a trio of groundbreaking women: acclaimed actress Tantoo Cardinal, who will receive the Equity in Entertainment Award; fashion journalist Jeanne Beker, recipient of the IMPACT Award; and actor-comedian-activist Amrit Kaur, who will take home the Breakthrough Award.

Now in its second year, the summit celebrates the Canadian women who are shaping the future of film, television, music, and beyond. From the page to the screen and the stage to the boardroom, the event promises to be an inspiring celebration of trailblazing talent and bold voices—Atwood, naturally, chief among them.

For more information about the event, visit The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada.