Los Angeles: Lupita Nyong'o, Helen Mirren and Kathy Bates shared life lessons with three generations of actresses at Elle magazine's Women in Hollywood awards.
Nyong'o discussed the value of mentoring. Bates highlighted the importance of humility. Mirren imparted general life tips such as "at the blackjack table, always split aces, eights and nines," and "ignore anyone who judges the way you look." She also vowed to become "the nastiest of all nasty women."
The three Oscar winners were recognized alongside Amy Adams, Felicity Jones, Anna Kendrick, Aja Naomi King and Kristen Stewart on Monday at the magazine's 23rd annual celebration of women's creative contributions in Hollywood.
The honourees each appear on the cover of Elle's November issue.
"In a million years, I wouldn't have dreamed that I would be on the cover of a fashion magazine," Bates said. "Ace Hardware, maybe."
The 68-year-old actress told a story about the days after she won her Oscar for 1990's 'Misery'.
The studio sent a limo instead of a town car. Fans on the street asked for her autograph. A bodyguard insisted he accompany her when she took her little dog for a walk to "do his business."
Bates said she was mortified when she realized she didn't have anything with her to pick up after the dog. She used a discarded piece of paper she found on the ground — one with her autograph on it.
"It's been a wonderful night of patting ourselves on the back, and it's great, we need to do that," Bates said. "But humility also goes a long way."