Laverne Cox Is E!'s New Red Carpet Host
The red carpet is getting a new face. Emmy-nominated actor and producer Laverne Cox will host E!'s red carpet coverage starting with the 2022 awards season. The news comes just a few days after Giuliana Rancic announced that she would be leaving her post last week after 20 years to pursue other projects with NBC (Ryan Seacrest, another E! red carpet veteran, also said that he would be leaving the network back in February).
In a statement, E! shared that in addition to her duties on the red carpet, Cox will be hosting a new series for the network, which is set to feature interviews with celebrities and tastemakers that is set to premiere next year.
Cox shared that she's been a fan of E! for years and that being a part of the network's red carpet team is a dream come true. As a part of the industry herself, she says that she'll bring a personal touch to interviews, treating her fellow celebrities like colleagues and friends.
"I'm so excited and deeply humbled to be hosting E!'s iconic red carpet coverage. For many years I would wake up early on awards show days, get my snacks in place and watch E!'s coverage all day long," Cox said in a statement. "I dreamed of walking red carpets. Now, not only have I had several fun and amazing personal red carpet moments, I also get to be a red carpet guide for E!'s discerning audience and chat with my colleagues and folks I deeply admire for these very special events in their lives. I can't wait to get started while hopefully serving up fashion fantasies for the ages, honey."
Courtesy photo
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Jen Neal, executive vice president, entertainment live events, specials, and E! News, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, called Cox a "risk-taker, groundbreaking pioneer, and fashion tour de force." Fans should expect a mix of fashion expertise in addition to Cox's passion for pop culture. It's just one way that the network is crafting a new way to cover the red carpet at big events, like the Academy Awards, Emmys, and Golden Globes. After a year of virtual events, Cox's coverage will bring audiences back to the glamour that they may have missed in a year marked by the pandemic and pared-down entertainment events.
"Laverne Cox is a risk-taker, groundbreaking pioneer, and a fashion tour de force," Neal said. "As we continue to evolve the way we cover Hollywood's biggest nights, Laverne's passion for, and extensive knowledge of, the fashion community resonates with our audience and we look forward to seeing her shine on the other side of the velvet rope."
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Cox is a four-time Emmy-nominated actor in addition to an Emmy-winning producer. More than that, she's become a prominent equal rights advocate, championing Trans causes and inclusion. Cox is best known for her turn as Sophia Burset Netflix's Orange is The New Black. The groundbreaking role made Cox the very first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a primetime Emmy and made the first Trans woman of color with a leading role in a mainstream scripted television series. The currently hosts The Laverne Cox Show, a podcast for Shondaland Audio and iHeart.
