Student’s speech turns Hollywood stars weepy
It wasn’t Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Lawrence who got the most rousing applause at the Hollywood Reporter’s annual Women in Entertainment breakfast. It was a college freshman named Carla Arellano.
The Loyola Marymount University student received a standing ovation and brought a room of Hollywood heavyweights to tears as she accepted a full-ride scholarship from “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot.
“All I can think about right now are all the papers I have to write for my finals,” Arellano said, alternately laughing and crying.
Wednesday’s 26th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast celebrating the trade publication’s yearly Power 100 ranking of women in the entertainment business included presentations of $1 million in college scholarships to girls from underrepresented communities in Los Angeles.
Arellano was surprised by the gift. Gadot said the aspiring screenwriter would have had to quit her studies had she not received the $250,000 scholarship, which was funded by Warner Bros.
Her emotional speech left Gadot and fellow presenter Justin Timberlake teary-eyed, along with A-list guests including Shonda Rhimes, Emmy Rossum, Bryce Dallas Howard and Glenn Close.
Lawrence recieved an award at the event, and Jolie was the keynote speaker.