EW's 2019 Entertainers of the Year photos: Lizzo, Awkwafina, Succession stars, and more

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Drama Queen

AWK_3_32732832932032 — James Macari for EW

Awkwafina is our first Entertainer of the Year.

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Awkwafina

AWK_2_98894378438433434 — James Macari for EW

The rapper and comic actress got serious in 2019, which culminated in a career-making turn in The Farewell.

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Awkwafina

Entertainers of the Year 2019 — James Macari for EW

“As a girl, as a woman, we’re constantly negotiating our identities,” Awkwafina says. “How we’re seen by the world, and how we want to be seen, and how we want to see ourselves."

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Awkwafina

Jan-20_Awk_723893290329023023 — James Macari for EW

Read EW's full interview with Awkwafina — and buy the new issue featuring the rapper-actress on the cover.

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Good as Gold

RZ_1_2167328723939202 — James Macari for EW

Renée Zellweger is our second Entertainer of the Year.

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Renée Zellweger

RZ_2_843732892390323 — James Macari for EW

The Oscar winner may get a matching golden bookend after taking fans over the rainbow in Judy.

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Renée Zellweger

RZ_3_3782389238932092 — James Macari for EW

"I’ve never been ashamed of my age," she tells EW. "Not everybody gets 50 years. Aging is a privilege. There’s just a certain kind of liberation — there’s freedom from a certain level of self-doubt."

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Renée Zellweger

Jan-20_RZ_21782383290233232 — James Macari for EW

Read more from EW's interview with Renée — and buy the new issue featuring the Judy star on the cover.

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Bow Down

RK_1_3267328239032032 — James Macari for EW

Regina King is our third Entertainer of the Year.

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Regina King

RK_2_3903284373292092121 — James Macari for EW

She started 2019 by winning an Oscar. She ended it kicking whitesupremacist ass on HBO’s Watchmen. All hail the King.

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Regina King

RK_3_723843732932032-01 — James Macari for EW

“It is so much fun,” she tells EW of working on Watchmen. “I’m waiting until I’m damn near 50 to be a superhero. What?”

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Regina King

Jan20_RK_32382732239843043904 — James Macari for EW

Read our full interview with King — and buy the new issue featuring the Watchmen star on the cover.

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Seriously Funny

TK_1_32632893290320 — James Macari for EW

Taika Waititi is our fourth Entertainer of the Year.

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Taika Waititi

TK_4_36238328920923 — James Macari for EW

The multihyphenate has lampooned vampires and superheroes. Now he leaps to stardom in Jojo Rabbit, a lauded satire he both headlines and helms.

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Taika Waititi

TK_2_23623892390902334 — James Macari for EW

“I want to be seen. I’m like, me me me me!" he tells EW. "But when I’m alone, I’m so exhausted by that that I basically just shut my mouth and stare into space.”

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Taika Waititi

TK_3_9374378239032903232 — James Macari for EW

“I love ridiculous comedy,” he shares. “I want to see comedy that’s so dumb — but also comedy where you’re forced to think.”

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Taika Waitit

Jan20_TK_327237823932903 — James Macari for EW

Read Taika's full cover story — and buy the new issue featuring the Jojo Rabbit director.

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Cuz we love her

LZ_2_43783289239032032 — James Macari for EW

Lizzo is our fifth Entertainer of the Year.

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Lizzo

LZ_3_23732982902012102 — James Macari for EW

The rapper-singer-flautist just took a DNA test. Turns out she’s the most significant artist of 2019.

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Lizzo

LZ_1_32623823902302323 — James Macari for EW

"I had a very, very vivid imagination," she tells EW of her childhood. "And I think that is the thing that helped bring out the performer in me."

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Lizzo

Jan20_LZ_943873434943043 — James Macari for EW

Read more from EW's interview with Lizzo — and buy the new issue featuring the singer-rapper-flautist.

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On the money

SN_272892192211221 — James Macari for EW

The cast of Succession — Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, and Sarah Snook (a.k.a. Kendall, Roman, and Shiv Roy) — are our final Entertainers of the Year.

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Jeremy Strong

JS_1_7823893289230232 — James Macari for EW

"We’re all our characters,” Strong says to EW with a smile.

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Kieran Culkin

"People just shout at me on the street," notes Culkin. "They did that a little after season 1, like, 'Oh, you’re on that show.' Now they know the name of the show, and they yell it at me."

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Sarah Snook

SS_26727823892302323 — James Macari for EW

"If people have come to [Succession] before their friends, there’s a personal ownership there," explains Snook. "My favorite is when [fans say], 'Nobody watches, but I’m telling my friends to watch it.' Like, 'Thanks?'"

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