Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara and Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Photo:Joe Scarnici/Variety via GettyMargot Robbiemade husbandTom Ackerleydeliver a playful acceptance speech that she wrote.AtVariety’s Power of Women eventheld at Mother Wolf in Los Angeles Thursday,Dua Lipapresented theproducer of the year award to Robbie’sLuckyChap Entertainment, the company behind this year’sBarbieandSaltburn.For the acceptance speech, Robbie, 33, unable to speak after losing her voice, had her producing partners, her husband Ackerley and Josey McNamara, read aloud a speech she prepared as she stood beside them onstage.“Margot’s lost her voice about four days ago,” said Ackerley, as McNamara said, “So she’s written this speech that Tom and I are going to read, so we apologize in advance: This is not our strong point.“Ackerley added, “We also haven’t read the speech yet. … We agreed to this yesterday.“Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Monica Schipper/Variety via GettyIn the speech, Robbie had Ackerley say multiple times that Dua Lipa is his “crush.” The actress also wrote for her producing partners to say that they “use her as a bit of a crutch for these public-facing sort of thing” and “just because she performs for a living, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t find public speaking just as terrifying as we do.“As Ackerley read, “We know that, so I vow here and now, in front of all these people, and Dua Lipa, who I have a secret crush on, true, to not leave all the speeches to Margot from now on.“After sharing how they met and formed their production company, Robbie wrote about having two men speak at an event celebrating women.Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Rodin Eckenroth/Variety via Getty"Now I know what you’re all thinking. ‘Wow, for a Power of Women event, we sure are hearing a lot from these two Dudes, in capitals, Dudes,” read Ackerley.“But it’s me, Margot, writing this and I have to say, the only thing I love more than seeing women supporting women is seeing men supporting women,” he continued reading, “and I have watched for the last 10 years as these two dudes have dedicated their careers to supporting women in this industry, and nothing could make me love them more.“Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Tom Ackerley at the “Barbie” Celebration Party at Museum of Contemporary Art on June 30, 2023, in Sydney, Australia.Don Arnold/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.McNamara then read, “So thank you,Variety, not just for this honor but for giving me the chance to force my two best friends to say things I know they’d be too embarrassed to say themselves.“Other honorees at the 2023 Power of Women event included Carey Mulligan, Fantasia Barrino, Lily Gladstone, Billie Eilish and Emily Blunt. Other presenters included Emerald Fennell, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Finneas O’Connell and Ariana Greenblatt.

Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara and Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Photo:Joe Scarnici/Variety via Getty

Honorees Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, and Margot Robbie speak onstage during Variety Power of Women Los Angeles presented by Lifetime at Mother Wolf on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Joe Scarnici/Variety via Getty

Margot Robbiemade husbandTom Ackerleydeliver a playful acceptance speech that she wrote.AtVariety’s Power of Women eventheld at Mother Wolf in Los Angeles Thursday,Dua Lipapresented theproducer of the year award to Robbie’sLuckyChap Entertainment, the company behind this year’sBarbieandSaltburn.For the acceptance speech, Robbie, 33, unable to speak after losing her voice, had her producing partners, her husband Ackerley and Josey McNamara, read aloud a speech she prepared as she stood beside them onstage.“Margot’s lost her voice about four days ago,” said Ackerley, as McNamara said, “So she’s written this speech that Tom and I are going to read, so we apologize in advance: This is not our strong point.“Ackerley added, “We also haven’t read the speech yet. … We agreed to this yesterday.“Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Monica Schipper/Variety via GettyIn the speech, Robbie had Ackerley say multiple times that Dua Lipa is his “crush.” The actress also wrote for her producing partners to say that they “use her as a bit of a crutch for these public-facing sort of thing” and “just because she performs for a living, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t find public speaking just as terrifying as we do.“As Ackerley read, “We know that, so I vow here and now, in front of all these people, and Dua Lipa, who I have a secret crush on, true, to not leave all the speeches to Margot from now on.“After sharing how they met and formed their production company, Robbie wrote about having two men speak at an event celebrating women.Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Rodin Eckenroth/Variety via Getty"Now I know what you’re all thinking. ‘Wow, for a Power of Women event, we sure are hearing a lot from these two Dudes, in capitals, Dudes,” read Ackerley.“But it’s me, Margot, writing this and I have to say, the only thing I love more than seeing women supporting women is seeing men supporting women,” he continued reading, “and I have watched for the last 10 years as these two dudes have dedicated their careers to supporting women in this industry, and nothing could make me love them more.“Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Tom Ackerley at the “Barbie” Celebration Party at Museum of Contemporary Art on June 30, 2023, in Sydney, Australia.Don Arnold/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.McNamara then read, “So thank you,Variety, not just for this honor but for giving me the chance to force my two best friends to say things I know they’d be too embarrassed to say themselves.“Other honorees at the 2023 Power of Women event included Carey Mulligan, Fantasia Barrino, Lily Gladstone, Billie Eilish and Emily Blunt. Other presenters included Emerald Fennell, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Finneas O’Connell and Ariana Greenblatt.

Margot Robbiemade husbandTom Ackerleydeliver a playful acceptance speech that she wrote.

AtVariety’s Power of Women eventheld at Mother Wolf in Los Angeles Thursday,Dua Lipapresented theproducer of the year award to Robbie’sLuckyChap Entertainment, the company behind this year’sBarbieandSaltburn.

For the acceptance speech, Robbie, 33, unable to speak after losing her voice, had her producing partners, her husband Ackerley and Josey McNamara, read aloud a speech she prepared as she stood beside them onstage.

“Margot’s lost her voice about four days ago,” said Ackerley, as McNamara said, “So she’s written this speech that Tom and I are going to read, so we apologize in advance: This is not our strong point.”

Ackerley added, “We also haven’t read the speech yet. … We agreed to this yesterday.”

Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Monica Schipper/Variety via Getty

Honoree Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa attend Variety Power of Women Los Angeles presented by Lifetime at Mother Wolf on November 16, 2023

Monica Schipper/Variety via Getty

In the speech, Robbie had Ackerley say multiple times that Dua Lipa is his “crush.” The actress also wrote for her producing partners to say that they “use her as a bit of a crutch for these public-facing sort of thing” and “just because she performs for a living, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t find public speaking just as terrifying as we do.”

As Ackerley read, “We know that, so I vow here and now, in front of all these people, and Dua Lipa, who I have a secret crush on, true, to not leave all the speeches to Margot from now on.”

After sharing how they met and formed their production company, Robbie wrote about having two men speak at an event celebrating women.

Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event on Nov. 16, 2023.Rodin Eckenroth/Variety via Getty

Honoree Margot Robbie attends Variety Power of Women Los Angeles presented by Lifetime at Mother Wolf on November 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Rodin Eckenroth/Variety via Getty

“Now I know what you’re all thinking. ‘Wow, for a Power of Women event, we sure are hearing a lot from these two Dudes, in capitals, Dudes,” read Ackerley.

“But it’s me, Margot, writing this and I have to say, the only thing I love more than seeing women supporting women is seeing men supporting women,” he continued reading, “and I have watched for the last 10 years as these two dudes have dedicated their careers to supporting women in this industry, and nothing could make me love them more.”

Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Tom Ackerley at the “Barbie” Celebration Party at Museum of Contemporary Art on June 30, 2023, in Sydney, Australia.Don Arnold/WireImage

Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae, Margot Robbie , America Ferrera and Tom Ackerley attend the “Barbie” Celebration Party at Museum of Contemporary Art

Don Arnold/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

McNamara then read, “So thank you,Variety, not just for this honor but for giving me the chance to force my two best friends to say things I know they’d be too embarrassed to say themselves.”

Other honorees at the 2023 Power of Women event included Carey Mulligan, Fantasia Barrino, Lily Gladstone, Billie Eilish and Emily Blunt. Other presenters included Emerald Fennell, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Finneas O’Connell and Ariana Greenblatt.

source: people.com