Lawrence beats Cyrus, Netflix for top entertainer
LOS ANGELES: The battle for AP entertainer of the year came down to the Girl on Fire and the Queen of Twerk.
Jennifer Lawrence edged out Miley Cyrus by one vote in The Associated Press’s annual survey of its newspaper and broadcast members and subscribers for Entertainer of the Year.
There were 70 ballots submitted by US editors and news directors. Voters were asked to consider who had the most influence on entertainment and culture this year.
Lawrence won 15 votes. Cyrus had 14. Netflix was a close third, earning 13 votes for altering the TV landscape with its on-demand format and hit original series.
But Lawrence – who started the year with an Academy Award for best actress – fuelled a box-office franchise as The Hunger Games heroine, Katniss Everdeen.
She was also a fashion darling – a muse for Dior – who made headlines with her pixie haircut.
Lawrence declined comment for this story.
The 23-year-old actress “is not only talented and beautiful, but comes off as incredibly intelligent, genuine, funny and wellspoken in her public appearances and interviews”, writes Kristi Runyan of The Derrick and The News-Herald Newspapers in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
“It’s refreshing to see a young woman not squandering her talent and success by succumbing to the temptations many do in Hollywood and who actively speaks about the ridiculous behaviour of some of her peers.”
Speaking of ridiculous behaviour, Cyrus raised eyebrows throughout this year with her embrace of twerking, nudity and public pot smoking. The 21-year-old Wrecking Ball singer also made news with her pixie chop, but her break-up with fiancé, Liam Hemsworth, and highly-sexualised performances made her water-cooler chatter all year.
“She made the biggest splash, without comment on whether I thought it was a good thing,” said Jim Turpin of KMPH-TV in Fresno, California.
Women have dominated the Entertainer of the Year contest. Past titleholders include Adele, Lady Gaga, Tina Fey, Betty White and Taylor Swift. Stephen Colbert was the lone male winner in seven years of voting.
Netflix commanded votes for changing viewing habits (binge-watch Breaking Bad, anyone?) and challenging the traditional TV-release concept with its original series.
Breaking Bad was in fourth place with 10 votes. Justin Timberlake, whose year included a pair of albums and top-selling tours, seven Grammy nominations and two film roles, claimed fifth place. – Sapa-AP