TIME MAGAZINE HAS released its annual 100 most influential people list, and as usual there’s a smattering of celebs and showbiz types featured.
We’ve taken a look at why some of them deserve to be there…
1. Kanye West
West is listed as a Time 100 ‘Titan’ and explains his status by telling us that “everytime I say something that’s extremely truthful out loud it literally breaks the internet”.
So that’s one reason why he’s on the list. The other reasons are his singing, writing, producing, fashion designing, directing and partnership with Kim Kardashian (who’s also on the list).
2. Emma Watson
Harry Potter actress Watson (who’s in Time’s ‘Pioneer’ section of their list) celebrated her 25th birthday this week.
At a quarter of a century she’s been part of one of the biggest movie franchises ever. She’s an Ivy League graduate, she’s a fashion icon, she’s worth $60m, she’s the UN’s Women Goodwill Ambassador and a trailblazer for gender equality. Phew.
3. Laverne Cox
Also a Time ‘Pioneer’, transgender OINTB actress, producer and activist Cox is on this list for being “visible and strong” and “inspiring” (according to 14-year-old Jazz Jennings, who wrote Cox’s Time entry).
4. Lee Daniels
He produced Monster’s Ball, he directed Precious and The Butler and he created, directed and produced the TV series Empire.
Oh andhe’s pals with Oprah. Is that enough?
5. Amy Schumer
Sure you’ve heard of Amy Poehler, but there’s another Amy on the block too. Writing her Time entry for the ‘Artists’ section of the 100 list Tilda Swinton says:
She’s the first in the water every time, fully clothed with the abandon only 8- or 80-year-olds tend to display, and she urges us to join her. I’m in.
Schumer, by the way, is a comedian who stars in her own sketch series on Comedy Central and wrote and will star in her first film Trainwreck this summer.
6. Bradley Cooper
Look, a few years ago Bradley Cooper the bad guy in The Wedding Crashers.
Now he’s been nominated for four Academy Awards, starred in some of the biggest movies of recent years (we’re still smarting over no Oscar for his turn as Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy) and is worth about $70m.
7. Taylor Swift
Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate.
At 25 years old Swift has won seven Grammy awards, 16 American Music Awards, 11 CMA awards, 34 Billboard Awards and one BRIT award. Now, she’s also made it into Time’s ‘Icons’ section of its 100 influential people list.
She has sold more than 40 million albums and there appears to be no stopping her.
8. Kim Kardashian
Need we say much of anything about Kim Kardashian? Media giant, fashion designer, one part of the most powerful couples in pop culture. Worth around $30m. Time has listed her as a ‘Titan’.
9. Lorne Michaels
Lorne is the creator and producer of Saturday Night Live which celebrated it’s 40th anniversary earlier this year.
Writing for the Time ‘Titans’ section Jack Nicholson says that it’s:
Hard to think of anyone more skilled at discovering extraordinary comedic performers, who have gone on to become household names in their own right. It’s no wonder SNL‘s takes on current events have made headlines for 40 years.
10. Julianna Margulies
First introduced to the world as Carol Hathaway in ER, Margulies has experienced an astonishing renaissance in her acting career with her role on The Good Wife. Her advocacy work as well as her acting places her firmly on Time’s list.
11. Jill Soloway
If you haven’t already seen the Amazon series Transparent, what have you been doing with your time?
Jill Soloway created, wrote, produced and directed the show (she also wrote some episodes of Six Feet Under and Grey’s Anatomy). She’s in Time’s ‘Artists’ section.
12. Chris Pratt
From lovable dope on Parks and Rec Andy Dwyer to Guardian of the Galaxy Starlord, Chris Pratt has the distinction of Amy Poehler writing his Time 100 entry for the ‘Artists’ section of the list.
She says:
America has decided he is its next big movie star, and I understand why. It’s not because of his broad shoulders and humble roots. It’s not because he looks like the perfect combination of a guy you know mixed with a guy you want to be. It’s because he has that something special.
He also just seems like a really sound guy.
13. Kevin Hart
Comedian Kevin Hart has about 17 films out this year (okay that’s an exaggeration, but it’s close). Chris Rock calls him the “biggest stand-up comedian in the country” and maintains that Hillary Clinton should announce him as his running mate.
That’s a pretty ringing endorsement.
