The stars that arrived on the red carpet at the Global Education & Skills Forum (GESF) gala on Sunday night in Dubai may not have worn black gowns as a mark of solidarity for the Time’s Up movement, but the actors proved to be champions of this cause as Gulf News tabloid! discussed it with several artists.
Quantico star Priyanka Chopra, who was wearing a grey silk Vivienne Westwood gown, dubbed the present as an “ideal time to speak up” and hailed the support system that has sprung up for survivors that have faced systemic sexual harassment in the workplace.
“In an ideal world, people should have listened to women’s voices long ago. But now, we have reached a time in the world where women are standing by each other and we also have men who are standing by these women. I think what’s amazing is that when women raises her voice now, somebody will surely support her,” said Chopra on the red carpet at the Atlantis, The Palm.
American actress Gina Torres, from the hit TV show Suits, also said the current environment is conducive to all those speaking out against workplace harassment without feeling threatened.
“It’s now a time when they can come out without feeling that there will be repercussions to their livelihood,” said Torres. But that isn’t enough for Torres, who is gearing up for a Suits spin-off after playing Jessica Pearson, the brilliant mind in a top New York law firm on the show.
“I want the men to start speaking up as well… They witnessed things too in their backyard and it’s not just about the women now. Yes, we are at the centre of it, but it’s up to all of us to make a safer world for all those who raise their voices,” she added.
Sarah Rafferty, who wore a black gown to the red carpet, said the conversation for a unified change for women has just begun.
“We are on our way now … It has already happened. It’s here and the conversation is never going to end,” said Rafferty.
But activism alone wasn’t the central conversation as these stars reminisced about their favourite teachers and the role models that shaped their lives and personalities.
Oscar winner Charlize Theron stressed on the importance of education and how it was fundamental to creating future world leaders.
“I am so honoured to be here. Education is truly everything and it can be a solution to all the problems in the world. I wish we could do something like this everyday,” said Theron, alluding to the education initiative by Varkey Foundation that culminated in the Global Teacher Prize. Her favourite teacher? The one who taught her the importance of maintaining boundaries.
For Chopra and Suits actresses Rafferty and Torres, it was their mothers who taught them everything and sculpted their existence.
“My mother has been my biggest teacher in my life. She has taught me everything. I started working in this business of entertainment when I was 16 years old and she taught me how to conduct myself and to hold on to a certain set of values,” said Chopra, who was given a rockstar welcome by the students who had waited for several hours in the fan pit for their matinee idol. Her strong values of being grounded were on display as she didn’t just glide past her young fans with a customary wave, but instead took time to take selfies with them and blow kisses like a true blue former Miss World.
“I am who I am because of them. They are the ones who go watch my movies, they are the ones who watch my shows and they are the ones who are screaming my name loud now. So I have to take a picture with them. I owe it to them,” said Chopra to reporters on the red carpet.
Rafferty, whose mother was a teacher, described her GESF appearance as an enlightening experience where she witnessed the collective dedication, hard work, creativity and integrity from the teachers worldwide.
Torres credits her parents as her role models and believes that they were the underlying force behind her achievements in her life.
“They showed me and taught me about courage, honesty, passion and being in earnest in whatever you do,” said Torres. It was also a night where stars became nostalgic about their favourite teachers. While Chopra remembers her kindergarten teacher and grade three class teachers fondly, Formula One four-time champion race driver Lewis Hamilton even went to the extent of saying that he wish he had a teacher like the Global Prize Winner Andria Zafirakou when growing up.
“I had a difficult time in school. I struggled because I had limited time to study. And teachers didn’t always have time. So a teacher like Andria would have made it more accessible and easier for me to keep up. I wish Andria was my teacher, then I would have gone further along,” said Hamilton.
Speaking of roaring to life, another talent that stole the show at the Global Teachers Prize Gala was Oscar and Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson who performed live before the glittering awards presentation ceremony. Chopra was spotted taking pictures on her phone as Hudson sang like there was no one watching.
“Jen is also a friend, but I also forget how incredibly talented she is. I met her backstage, but watching her sing in all her glory … Every single time I was telling her that it blows my mind,” Chopra said.
The same sentiment could be attached to the star-studded red carpet that played after the Global Teachers Prize.
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WHAT PRIYANKA SAID
Actress and Unicef Priyanka Chopra’s session at the GESF was peppered with nuggets of wisdom and life lessons. tabloid! picks out her best lines from the discussion with the activist and global star:
- “We have come to a point where we [survivors of sexual misconduct] are going to stand up for our rights and say it’s not OK. Now we have brothers in arms standing next to you saying that ‘yes, we stand up for this girl or guy and what they are saying is right’. That never happened before. It’s such a powerful time.”
- “Your roots define who you are. You can never erase where you came from. I am proudly Indian and I am as desi as it can get … especially since my achaar [pickle] travels with me.”
- “I am a global citizen because the world matters to me … It means that you realise that you are privileged and understanding that no matter where you go in this world, there will be someone lesser off than you.”
- “If everything of mine was stolen from me, displaced from war and I was made to live under a tent roof … I would be angry at the world for not caring.”
- “The kids in the war-ravaged places like Syria — all they wanted were books, all they wanted were teachers and all they wanted was some grip on their future … Each one that I met at this refugee camp in Jordan were talking about rebuilding Syria. That was incredible.”
- “I flew directly from the refugee camp to the Emmys last year. I was wearing Balmain custom-made gown and 50-carats of diamonds that day. But I was sitting for hair and make-up and I had tears in my eyes. I told my make-up artist that I just can’t do this after seeing what I just saw … I was explained we are means to an end … As a human being, it [refugee camp visits] it shook to my core.”
- “It [Rohingya crisis] and the genocide is unbelievable. I am hoping I can do a field visit with Unicef. Have we become desensitised as a society to what’s happening around us.”
- “I did not have a problem with the word ‘Bollywood’ until I started working in America or internationally … I realised that the word Bollywood has been reduced to a stereotype where people show dancing like taking bulbs off.”
