Octavia Spencer Among ESSENCE's 'Black Women in Hollywood' Honorees

ESSENCE's 2012 Black Women in Hollywood event will honor leading actresses Kerry Washington, Paula Patton, Octavia Spencer and Pam Grier along with executive producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes.

The luncheon will honor these amazing women on the week leading up to the Academy Awards on February 23, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. ESSENCE.com will be live streaming the red carpet from 11:30 am to 12:30pm PST.

Kerry Washington will be honored with the Vanguard Award for her impressive career. She's set to star in the upcoming ABC drama "Scandal," which will premiere in April, and Quentin Tarantino's controversial new film, "Django Unchained," opposite Jamie Foxx. Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe winner Octavia Spencer will receive the award for Breakthrough Performance for her work in 2011's "The Help." "Mission Impossible" star Paula Patton will be honored with the Shining Star Award, while iconic actress Pam Grier will be given the Legend Award.

Lastly, creator and executive producer of the ABC hit series "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice," Shonda Rhimes, will receive the Visionary Award presented by Lincoln. ABC recently ordered a pilot for Rhimes' new drama series, "Gilded Lillys." Last fall, ABC purchased their fourth Rhimes series, "The Circle."

ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Constance White said, "The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon exists to provide a fitting tribute to the brilliant talent and accomplishments of African-American trailblazers like Kerry, Pam, Paula, Octavia and Shonda as we celebrate their collective work as an inspiration for generations to come."