Woman on Top

Even in a room full of Hollywood’s most accomplished women, it was clear to everyone at last night’s Crystal and Lucy Awards dinner in Beverly Hills that Salma Hayek, as the saying goes, has it all. “I’m 41 now and I have to say it’s the best time in my life,” said the luminous (and enviously post-pregnancy svelte) fiancée of Francois-Henri Pinault as she accepted the 2008 Lucy award celebrating the 35th anniversary of Women In Film. Hayek credited “I Love Lucy” (the award is named for Lucille Ball) for helping her learn English 10 years ago when she first moved to California from Mexico. Through her still thick accent, Hayek joked, “I guess I paid a little too much attention to Desi.”

Earlier in the evening, a Max Mara-clad Ginnifer Goodwin accepted the Fresh Face of the Future award. The cherubic-faced Big Love ingénue said she felt empowered by the industry heavyweights in the audience, which included Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan and Debra Messing. But while Hayek credited adversity for the strength it gave her to be a successful woman in the industry, Goodwin warned that as women, “we can be our own worst enemy.” Her final words were greeted with cheers: “Here’s to not wasting our brainpower on counting the calories in our suppers!”

Hayek, wearing Alexander McQueen, at the awards.

Photo by Eric Charbonneau/WireImage