CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Dozens of cheering fans lined the streets of Cambridge Friday to celebrate the Australian actress Rose Byrne, who was honored as the 2026 Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

Byrne, the Golden Globe Award winner and Oscar nominee for her leading role in “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” waved to fans and blew kisses as her car made its way slowly near Harvard University campus. Byrne, who also has starred in “Bridesmaids,” “Neighbors,” “Insidious” and “Damages,” later received her pudding pot award at a celebratory roast and attended a performance of Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 177th production “Salooney Tunes.”

In her review of “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” The Associated Press’ Jocelyn Noveck wrote that the film gave Byrne “a chance to display versatility and grit in surely the toughest dramatic role of her career.”

“I’m so excited to be in the parade and to see Rose Byrne. I loved her movie ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,’" said Jacqueline Metzger, a junior at Harvard and president of the university's short-form improv group. “It was like so anxiety inducing and the best movie I’ve seen all year. So I’m super excited, and we love her. We love Rose Byrne.”

The parade included a colorful cast of characters, some in drag and bright wigs, one dressed as a cactus, and several dressed as revolutionary soldiers. Before heading inside Farkas Hall for the roast, Byrne joined members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals players in chorus line-style dancing.

At the roast, Byrne was put through a mock therapy session inspired by “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” She was asked to interpret a series of ink blots including one painting that Byrne joked looked like a “vagina.”

Based on her work in previous “Peter Rabbit” movies, she was asked to read in a scene from a new, fake entry into the series. This one saw her confronting a rabbit under the influence of drugs who shows up late one night.

“I don’t like it when you lie. Do you even care about the kids?” Byrne yells at the rabbit, who appears to be staggering. “How am I supposed to stay calm when you are ruining our lives? I know you are using again.”

The roast closed with Byrne donning a wedding dress and marrying the pudding pot. “This is marvelous,” she said, after getting her gold pudding pot.

Afterward, Byrne told reporters the day on campus with students had been “magical” and then spoke on what it's meant for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You" to be recognized this awards season.

“It is a tougher subject; it isn’t a typical kind of Oscar fair, I suppose, and so it is very meaningful that the work is being recognized,” she said. “It really will live on and it’s very fearless and kind of radical and I’m really proud of that.”

Byrne also talked about returning to the stage in March after five years in the revival of “Fallen Angels” on Broadway, saying she was “absolutely terrified” but looking forward to starring opposite the “brilliant” Kelli O’Hara.

Friday’s event comes more than a week after the Justice Department released a huge trove of records surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a longtime donor to the organization. The documents showed Epstein regularly donated $50,000 per year to Hasty Pudding between 2013 and 2019 to secure top-tier donor states and received special perks totaling more than $300,000.

In an undated news release announcing Epstein’s donations, Hasty Pudding officials described Epstein as a “well-known science and Harvard philanthropist” and said he “put his substantial support behind Harvard’s famous and oldest theatrical troupe.”

The Pudding is the oldest theatrical organization in the nation and one of the oldest in the world. Since 1951, it has bestowed the award annually on women including actors Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson and Annette Bening. Last year, the winner was “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo.

Byrne also acted in “Juliet, Naked,” “Get Him to the Greek” and “28 Weeks Later.” Her theater credits include “Medea, You Can’t Take it With You” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Actor Michael Keaton, known for his roles in films such as “Batman,” “Birdman,” “Beetlejuice” and “Spotlight,” is the 2026 Man of the Year. He received his pudding pot Feb. 6.