GQ Australia has celebrated the 16th GQ Men of the Year Awards with actor Sam Worthington being named Man of the Year, with the award presented by his wife, Lara.
Fifteen awards were presented at a black-tie event at iconic White Bay Power Station ahead of the special GQ Men of the Year collector’s edition being published in The Australian on Friday December 13.
B&T snagged a lucky invite to the ceremony to hear powerful and moving speeches that touched on masculinity, race and class from Sporting Icon winner Eddie Betts, Artist of the Year Reko Rennie and International Musician of the Year Orville Peck.
Worthington, meanwhile, had this to say accepting his award:
“Anyone that knows Lara and I, know that this kind of thing, I’m out of my comfort zone a lot, but we both talked about this and we know it’s very important because the concept of ‘Man of the Year’ was very confusing to me, until I unpacked it,” said Worthington accepting his award.
“There’s so many reflections of what it is to be a man now, and we’ve seen them all tonight, this beautiful prism, and we’re not beholden to any definition. We can challenge it now, we can force it to evolve. Men can talk about their feelings, their sexuality. They can be non-conforming, feminine. They can be honest. They don’t need to make excuses anymore.
“Now for me as a dad of three boys, that’s fucking great.
“I can teach my children how to accept every bit of themselves without shame. Love who they want to be. They can love others unconditionally and respectfully, without having to live up to some outdated standard or some stereotypical, archaic, and just plain sad idea of what a man should be.
“That’s kind of how I grew up, and I don’t want that for my sons,” he concluded.
The GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with Defender recognise and celebrate extraordinary individuals who have achieved success and continually raise the bar in their chosen field.
The GQ Men of the Year 2024 special collector’s issue is on sale Friday December 13 starring GQ Australia’s 2024 Man of the Year Sam Worthington on the cover, and featuring exclusive interviews with the award winners. The magazine will be distributed nationally through The Australian.
GQ Australia editor-in-chief Jake Millar said: “The GQ MOTY awards in association with Defender are always a really fun night out, though what I enjoy most is the opportunity it provides to showcase the sheer breadth of talent we have both here and around the world.
“I’m thrilled to have Sam Worthington as this year’s GQ Man of the Year. He is not simply the most successful Aussie actor of all time, thanks to his starring role in the Avatar films, but he is also among our most prolific, appearing in nearly 70 features over the course of his career. This year alone he has released seven films, a remarkable output that demonstrates the range of his talent.
“He joins a collection of some of our favourite figures, from American actor Cooper Koch, to swimming superstar Emma McKeon, icon Eddie Betts, musician Nick Ward, designer Jeremy Hershan and actors Felix Mallard and Sam Corlett. They have all not only had a big year, but together they also represent the values at the heart of GQ today.”
Winners of the 2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards in association with Defender:
1. GQ Man of the Year – Sam Worthington
2. Model of the Year – Noah Tumataroa
3. Breakthrough Actor of the Year – Hoa Xuande
4. Artist of the Year – Reko Rennie
5. Social Force – Sam Elsom
6. Designer of the Year – Jeremy Hershan
7. Actor of the Year – Felix Mallard
8. International Sensation – Gabbriette
9. Breakthrough Musician of the Year – Nick Ward
10. Sportsperson of the Year – Emma McKeon
11. TV Actor of the Year – Sam Corlett
12. Sporting Icon – Eddie Betts
13. International Actor – Cooper Koch
14. Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year – Noemie Fox
15. International Musician of the Year – Orville Peck
Supporting partners of the 2024 GQ Men of the Year Awards include Belvedere Vodka, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance, Michael Hill, and W Sydney.
