Catherine O'Hara was visibly moved Sunday as her longtime collaborator Eugene Levy presented her with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award at the Toronto International Film Festival awards ceremony.
The 71-year-old actress choked up when Levy, 78, handed her the golden memento and later thanked him in an emotional acceptance speech that recalled decades of working together. "Eugene, that's too much. Thank you, darling," O'Hara said after Levy's introduction. She added, "Darling Eugene. When I think of my happiest days in this adventure in show business, I realize most of them have been with you."
O'Hara and Levy's on-screen partnership dates to the 1970s, when both appeared on the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV). They later co-starred in a string of Christopher Guest mockumentaries and comedies, including the 1996 comedy-musical Waiting for Guffman, the 2000 satire Best in Show, the 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind and 2006's For Your Consideration.
At the TIFF ceremony, O'Hara noted the award's namesake and drew parallels between her career and that of Norman Jewison, calling him "a delightful man" who "cared deeply about the stories he told," based on interviews she had studied online. She referenced her long association with the festival, quipping, "From trying to weasel my way into the parties of yours 50 years ago to this? Thank you," remarks that drew laughter from the audience.
O'Hara arrived at the event in a long-sleeved champagne-colored gown with black floral embroidery, wearing a chic bob and black-framed eyeglasses as she addressed the crowd.
Other honors at the TIFF awards included the TIFF Tribute Performer Award for Channing Tatum, 45, and the Impact Media honor for Idris Elba, 53. Elba used his acceptance to reflect on broader social issues, saying, in part, "Even though we don’t really want to talk about it at a celebration of our industry, it is important to acknowledge the pain the world is feeling altogether, and that pain is something that — no matter what you do, whether we make films or you sponsor events like this — you close your eyes at night, you feel that pain because we’re human beings; we’re empaths."
Tatum, who premiered his new film Roofman at the festival, appeared onstage after the premiere with co-star Kirsten Dunst. He told reporters at the premiere that he had long admired Dunst's work, singling out 1994's Interview with the Vampire as a favorite and saying he had been "so intimidated" to work with her, adding, "I just wanted her to like me. I was like, 'Please like me!'"
The TIFF Tribute Awards are part of the festival's annual celebration of cinematic achievement and take place alongside premieres and other industry events in Toronto.