By Ranjan Bhaduri
New York, Feb 27, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Cicely Tyson is to be honored in the upcoming third annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon during the Oscar week. The 76-year-old American actress will be recognized alongside Queen Latifah, Zoe Saldana, Mary J. Blige and Gabourey Sidibe. The event will take place on March 4 at the Beverly Hills Hotel of Los Angeles.

Cicely Tyson will be recognized with the Legend Award which celebrates “pioneers who have paved the way and broken barriers for African-American actresses in Hollywood.” Cicely Tyson is a master performer and immensely talented actress who has delivered many a classics. She started off her career as a fashion model and landed up being featured across in the “Ebony Magazine” that made her climb the ladder of fame. Her first movie was “Cariib Gold”, in which she was appreciated for her role.

Although she has been a movie actress, Cicely Tyson’s first love has always been the television. Cicely Tyson has been nominated on several occasions for the best actress category. A New Jersey school of performing arts was subsequently renamed after her as “Cicely Tyson school of performing Arts”.

Essence Editor-in-Chief Angela Burt-Murray stated praising Cicely Tyson, that it’s been a pleasure witnessing her sheer genius on screen and that she has come along a long way in fulfilling her dreams with the touch of passion that everyone aspires and acknowledges. Cicely Tyson was nominated in the best actress category for the movie “Rounders” in the 1972 Oscars. She also holds two Emmys owing to her 1974 TV entanglement with “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.”