In the span of just a few days, Marsai Martin went from commanding a room full of Hollywood’s most celebrated Black women to walking one of the most watched red carpets of the year. The 21-year-old actress, producer and entrepreneur hosted the 19th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards on March 12 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, and then joined a group of 11 rising stars invited to attend the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on March 15.
For someone who first gained wide recognition as a child actress on Black-ish and made history at 14 as the youngest Black executive producer on a major studio film, the week served as a reminder of how deliberately and consistently Martin has built her career since those early milestones.
Hosting the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards
The Essence Black Women in Hollywood ceremony is one of the most meaningful events on the pre-Oscars calendar, an annual celebration dedicated specifically to recognizing the achievements, influence and artistry of Black women across the entertainment industry. This year’s edition drew a star-studded guest list that included Zendaya, Halle Bailey, Chloe Bailey and Yvonne Orji, among others who brought considerable fashion and cultural energy to the blue carpet.
Martin’s hosting duties required her to introduce honorees, guide the room through the evening’s program and hold the attention of an audience made up of some of the industry’s most accomplished figures. By multiple accounts, she did it with poise, humor and genuine warmth, qualities that made the event feel personal despite its scale.
The 19th annual ceremony honored four women whose work spans performance, production and activism. The honorees were 1) Chase Infiniti, recognized for her emerging talent and cultural influence, including her breakout role in One Battle After Another, 2) Kerry Washington, celebrated for her lasting acting legacy and ongoing impact on screen and beyond, 3) LaTanya Richardson Jackson, honored for her work as a producer and activist, and 4) Zinzi Coogler, recognized for her producing work on the film Sinners, which is among the most nominated films at this year’s Academy Awards.
The tribute to Sinners proved particularly moving, with cast members and producers sharing remarks about the film’s cultural significance. The full ceremony became available on Essence’s YouTube channel on March 14.
Joining the next generation on the Oscars red carpet
Days after the Essence event, Martin was named among 11 rising stars invited by the Academy to attend the 98th Oscars as part of an effort to bring emerging talent into the room alongside established nominees and presenters. The full group of invited rising stars includes Anna Cathcart, Charithra Chandran, Auli’i Cravalho, Ryan Destiny, Barbie Ferreira, Mckenna Grace, Ariana Greenblatt, Milo Manheim, Marsai Martin, Chase Stokes and Mason Thames.
The group joined a ceremony already stacked with major names. The presenter lineup included last year’s acting winners Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña, alongside Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Paul Mescal, Demi Moore, Ewan McGregor and others. Oscars producers also confirmed a Bridesmaids cast reunion featuring Maya Rudolph and Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne, as well as appearances from Marvel alumni including Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Evans and Channing Tatum, and an appearance described only as an extraterrestrial with no further details provided.
The ceremony aired live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and streamed simultaneously on Hulu, with Conan O’Brien hosting.
What the week says about where Martin stands
The combination of hosting a landmark Black women’s ceremony and attending the Oscars as an invited emerging star in the same week is not a coincidence of scheduling. It reflects a deliberate recognition by multiple corners of the industry that Martin occupies a meaningful position in the current landscape of Hollywood talent, one that bridges her established record as a young trailblazer with the next chapter of a career that is clearly still accelerating.
