Cynthia Erivo leads the stars at GQ Men Of The Year

The stars gathered for the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in London on Tuesday night. 

The annual ceremony was back for its 28th year, with Cynthia Erivo, Maya Jama and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock leading the talent on the red carpet at 180 Strand. 

They joined the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Louis Theroux and Traitors favourite Cat Burns at the event, to honour those who have made big cultural impacts on sport, art and entertainment in the last 12 months.

Cynthia showed no signs of jet-lag, despite being in New York for the Wicked: For Good premiere just 24 hours earlier. 

In high spirits, the actress, who was a cover star for GQ, wrapped up warm in a silver fringed coat before heading inside. 

And while Cynthia chose to stay warm, Leigh-Anne braved the chilly weather. 

The songstress, 34, put on a daring display as she went braless in a white minidress which plunged all the way down to her naval. 

Leigh-Anne sauntered down the red carpet in the barely-there dress and white peep toe heels. 

Her Little Mix co-star Jade, 32, arrived with boyfriend Jordan Stephens. The singer cut an edgy figure in buckle platform boots and a fitted black collar dress. 

Maya, 31, meanwhile, ensured all eyes were on her in a plunging black dress with leather fringing for the skirt. 

Sabrina Elba brought the glamour in a red halterneck gown which clung to her toned figure and had plunging sides. 

The actress, 36, teamed the look with matching heels and oozed confidence as she strutted down the red carpet. 

Pierce Brosnan, 72, had plenty of swagger as he arrived with his model son Dylan, 28. 

The Bond actor, who will be honoured at the ceremony and recently appeared as a cover star, looked cool in a pinstripe suit, which he teamed with a tailored coat and purple aviators.  

Meanwhile, his son looked suave in a grey suit, pairing it with a white shirt, a red tie and brown suede shoes as he joined his father for several photos. 

The James Bond actor is a father of five. He shares his late daughter Charlotte and sons Christopher, 53, and Sean, 42, with his first wife, the late actress Cassandra Harris.

This year the event – sponsored by Ebay, Patrón and Defender – is being hosted by    Subway Takes’ Kareem Rahma on the red carpet and Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone for the dinner.

The VIP list is rounded off by three musical acts who’ve taken the year by storm: Laufey, Nemzzz – who will perform on the night – and Wet Leg.

Both a London and Los Angeles ceremony are held annually, celebrating different groups of honorees.

The LA event took place on November 13 at the Chateau Marmont and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Men of the Year issue. 

Stephen Colbert, Sydney Sweeney, Seth Rogen, SZA, Oscar Isaac, Clipse, and Hailey Bieber were honoured. 

Other celebrities at the star-studded event included Shay Mitchell, Madison Beer, Winnie Harlow, and Kaley Cuoco. 

Cynthia covered GQ recently amid press for Wicked where she plays Elphaba Thropp.

In the interview, she admitted her continued success and the joy it brings to those who have championed her career, particularly her supportive mother Edith, is underpinned by a personal sadness. 

Estranged from her father, who she last saw when she was 16, the actress said he has not been present to witness her ascent following an unlikely dispute over a ticket in a London tube station. 

Discussing their final exchange, Cynthia recalled to GQ: ”This will be the last time I ever see you,’ he said. Just like that.

‘I just didn’t see it coming. I guess you wouldn’t, would you?’

The actress subsequently lost all contact with her biological father and said she knows nothing about his life, vocation, relationships or religious leanings. 

Nor does she have a contact number, but Cynthia admitted she’s reminded of him whenever she looks in a mirror or sees a picture of herself, because they share the same facial features – notably a distinctive gap between their two front teeth.   

‘It’s a supreme joke,’ she told GQ. ‘It’s a joke from the universe to remind me how human I am. 

‘I used to hear him all the time – he had a lovely voice. And so I think that’s where my voice comes from, which is so annoying and crazy, but… fine. It is what it is. 

‘It’s what the universe does. This is the lemon. Make lemonade.’ 

And Cynthia believes her acceptance of the situation has insulated herself from any emotional repercussions and prevents her from seeking answers regarding his decision to walk away so abruptly.  

‘I don’t think it serves me,’ she said. ‘It’s his why. It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t mean that we’ll have a relationship. And I think I’ve found the closure I want, my own way. 

‘Whatever needed to happen after that moment happened. And now we’re sitting here talking about me being Man of the Year.’

She added: ‘Everyone jokes that I let go of things really quickly. That I move past things really, really quickly. 

‘I think I just choose to acknowledge that something has happened, or something is happening, and I’m not in denial that it’s happening. 

‘It’s just that is life. Tomorrow is another day, and the day after that is another day, and life has not stopped today. 

‘So if I drag this thing into the next day, month, how do I function? How do I then move forwards? 

 ‘I think that is death. To be stuck.’