AP Entertainment

Los Angeles, 11 June 2014

1. Wide Exterior of Hyatt Regency Century Plaza

2. Various of Cate Blanchett posing for photographers

3. Medium of Eva Longoria

4. Medium of Kerry Washington

5. Zoom out on Maggie Gyllenhaal

6. Medium of Rose Byrne

7. Zoom out on Lake Bell

8. Medium of Cate Blanchett speaking to reporters

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress - on gender equality in Hollywood: "Well when you look at the statistics I think of all those so-called blockbusters, which are mainstream filmmaking, it's between five and nine percent of those are being directed by women and that's not a big percentage when you think about it and when you think about the talent pool out there. And the wonderful thing about women in film is it's not pandering to a niche. It's not talking about women in film as if they are a niche. It's talking about the stones that still need to be turned over by women. There's a lot of doors that still need to be opened, not because women don't have the ability but simply because there's a lack of imagination you know. There's certain inroads that have been made and certain pathways that have been trod and I think that women are saying 'well why does it have to be done that way?'"

10. Wide of Cate Blanchett posing for photos

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett/Actress - if she feels pressure to raise the bar after such a successful year: "It's been an extraordinary year. It keeps on giving. I keep on taking! No, it's been great, but I think that's a useless thing to think you know. I mean it's somebody else's go next year. It's not that I arrived anywhere particular. It's wonderful to be recognized, but it's very random you know. There's five of us, four of us being recognized tonight, but equally there's another 25 that could have been in our place."

13. Zoom in on Kerry Washington

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerry Washington/Actress: "It's really I mean it's surreal to be honored with women that I adore and respect and cherish. I mean I'm obsessed with 'Frozen.' So that's going to be a big, big fan girl moment for me. And Eva Longoria is one of my dearest friends and I just couldn't love her more. Cate Blanchett is one of my heroes. I'm a huge Rose Byrne fan. So it's thrilling to be here."

15. Wide of Kerry Washington hugging Eva Longoria

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerry Washington/Actress: "I just love nights when we get to honor each other as women. It's extra fun you know because girls rock. So it's fun to be able to hang with the ladies and celebrate each other."

17. Wide of Washington speaking to reporters

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Kerry Washington/Actress: "There isn't a way that 'Scandal' hasn't changed my life. I mean one of, in terms of being an actor, it's just so rewarding to be able to be challenged every week with such beautiful material and the extraordinary actors that I get to work with. And also I have found a family. I have a great family and it's so great to have a lot of family. The actors of 'Scandal' are, we really love each other."

Reporter: "Any Father's Day plans?"

Kerry Washington: "Lots! But I can't share them because then the surprise would be out."

19. Medium of Eva Longoria speaking to reporters

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Eva Longoria/Actress - on the most challenging part of her job: "The most challenging would be my philanthropy. I mean there's just so many problems that we need to solve in the world and so much inequality that to go about tackling it in a new way, and interesting way, in a sustainable way, is hard. But it's the work that brings me the most joy and it's definitely the most rewarding of anything that I do."

Reporter: "And the easiest?"

Eva Longoria: "The easiest? Acting! (laughs) You get to sit in the chair here and get your hair done and your make up."

21. Medium of Rose Byrne

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Rose Byrne/Actress: "I'm so honored and thrilled and it's such an encouragement. And these women that I'm amongst tonight, who are being honored, really I'm a fan of all of them. I can't wait to meet them all and this organization is really so cool and vital. And you know really thrilled to be ... I kind of can't believe that I'm here."

23. Medium of Diahann Carroll speaking to reporters

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Diahann Carroll/Actress, Recording Artist - on Maya Angelou: "She was an extraordinary woman and we need to have as many of those as we possibly can, particularly in this profession which is very often about just too much fluff. It's nice to have A Maya around to keep all of us in shape."

25. "Frozen" director Jennifer Lee speaks to reporters

CATE BLANCHETT ON WOMEN IN SHOWBIZ: 'THERE'S A LOT OF DOORS THAT STILL NEED TO BE OPENED'

Cate Blanchett says there are still strides to be made on the path to gender equality in Hollywood.

"Well when you look at the statistics I think of all those so-called blockbusters, which are mainstream filmmaking, it's between five and nine percent of those are being directed by women and that's not a big percentage when you think about it and when you think about the talent pool out there," she said.

"And the wonderful thing about Women in Film is it's not pandering to a niche. It's not talking about women in film as if they are a niche. It's talking about the stones that still need to be turned over by women. There's a lot of doors that still need to be opened, not because women don't have the ability but simply because there's a lack of imagination you know. There's certain inroads that have been made and certain pathways that have been trod and I think that women are saying 'well why does it have to be done that way?'"

The Academy Award-winning Australian actress was the woman of the hour Wednesday (11 JUNE 2014) at Women in Film's annual Crystal + Lucy Awards. On the red carpet Blanchett, who won the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film, discussed the pressure to follow up her massively successful year.

"It's been an extraordinary year. It keeps on giving. I keep on taking! No, it's been great, but I think that's a useless thing to think you know. I mean it's somebody else's go next year. It's not that I arrived anywhere particular. It's wonderful to be recognized, but it's very random you know. There's five of us, four of us being recognized tonight, but equally there's another 25 that could have been in our place."

New mom Kerry Washington was on hand to accept the 2014 Lucy Award for Excellence in Television.

"I just love nights when we get to honor each other as women. It's extra fun you know because girls rock. So it's fun to be able to hang with the ladies and celebrate each other," she said.

Washington discussed finding a family on the set of her hit ABC series "Scandal."

"There isn't a way that 'Scandal' hasn't changed my life. I mean one of, in terms of being an actor, it's just so rewarding to be able to be challenged every week with such beautiful material and the extraordinary actors that I get to work with. And also I have found a family. I have a great family and it's so great to have a lot of family. The actors of 'Scandal' are, we really love each other."

Washington and retired NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha (NAHM'-dee AH'-suhm-wah) welcomed daughter, Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha, on April 21.

But the famously private starlet kept mum about her father's day plans.

"Lots! But I can't share them because then the surprise would be out," she said.

Actress and producer Eva Longoria was honored for her charity work.

The "Desperate Housewives" star said her humanitarian efforts are the most challenging and most rewarding part of her life.

"The most challenging would be my philanthropy. I mean there's just so many problems that we need to solve in the world and so much inequality that to go about tackling it in a new way, and interesting way, in a sustainable way, is hard. But it's the work that brings me the most joy and it's definitely the most rewarding of anything that I do," she said before heading inside to accept the Norma Zarky Humanitarian Award.

"The easiest?" she continued. "Acting! You get to sit in the chair here and get your hair done and your make up."

Rose Byrne received The Women In Film Max Mara "Face of the Future" award.

"I'm so honored and thrilled and it's such an encouragement," said the Australian actress. "And these women that I'm amongst tonight, who are being honored, really I'm a fan of all of them. I can't wait to meet them all and this organization is really so cool and vital. And you know really thrilled to be ... I kind of can't believe that I'm here."

But while the night was one of celebration, screen and stage legend Diahann Carroll noted the absence of celebrated author and poet Maya Angelou.

"She was an extraordinary woman and we need to have as many of those as we possibly can, particularly in this profession which is very often about just too much fluff. It's nice to have A Maya around to keep all of us in shape," said Carroll.

Angelou died May 28 at age 86. She was known worldwide as a literary pioneer and civil rights champion.

Wednesday's program, which serves as a fundraiser for Women in Film, also included honors for "Frozen" director Jennifer Lee. "Frozen" star Kristen Bell presented Lee with the Dorothy Arzner Directors Award.

"I mean I'm obsessed with 'Frozen.' So that's going to be a big, big fan girl moment for me," said Washington.