– Photo by William Tauro

Thursday the Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University honored Claire Danes as the recipient of its 2012 Woman of the Year award. The Pudding was proud to honor such accomplished actors whose work has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, in both drama and comedy.

The Woman of the Year festivities began at 3 p.m. on Monday, when Danes lead a parade through the streets of Cambridge. At 5 p.m., Danes was presented with her Pudding Pot at the newly-named Farkas Hall, the Hasty Pudding’s historic home in the heart of Harvard Square since 1889.

– Photo by William Tauro

Hasty Pudding cast members performed several musical numbers from the group’s 164th production “There Will Be Flood.”

The Man of the Year festivities will take place on Friday, February 3rd 2012. Jason Segel will be roasted and presented with his Pudding Pot at 8 p.m. in the newly named Farkas Hall. Afterward, the Pudding will present the opening night performance of its 164th production, “There Will Be Flood.”

– By William Tauro

Claire Danes has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading actresses throughout a critically acclaimed career that has spanned film, television, and theater. Danes currently stars on the Showtime series “Homeland,” for which she recently received the 2012 Golden Globe Award, her third Globe win.

This is the second year in a row that Danes has won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress, last year for her starring role in HBO’s critically acclaimed “Temple Grandin” biopic. The performance also earned her an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild award.

Danes first caught critics’ and audiences’ attention in Ed Zwick and Marshall Hershkovitz’s series, “My So Called Life”, which earned her an Emmy Nomination as well as a Golden Globe. Subsequently, Danes launched a brilliant film career, starring in Anand Tucker’s “Shopgirl,” Richard Eyre’s “Stage Beauty,” Burr Steer’s “Igby Goes Down,” and Baz Luhrman’s “William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet” opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

In 2007, Danes made her critically acclaimed Broadway debut starring in George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” opposite Jefferson Mays. She had previously appeared in Billie August’s film version of the renowned musical Les Misérables. Danes is also an accomplished dancer and has received critical acclaim for her performances in “Edith and Jenny” and “Christina Olson: American Model.”

– Photo by Marc Tulio Mariano

Miss Massachusetts 2011 Molly Whalen was also among special invited guests in attendence.

– Photo by Marc Tulio Mariano