Marlo Thomas, 85, Honored With the Gracie's Lifetime Achievement Award for Activism and Opening Doors for Women in Television

The 48th Anniversary Gracie Awards presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, honored Marlo Thomas, television’s first depiction of an independent, single woman and founding mother of the Ms. Foundation for Women, with the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award for her exceptional contributions to the industry and beyond!

In her acceptance speech, Thomas told the story of practicing lines with her late actor father, Danny Thomas, when she was just 8 years old and detailed how her subsequent acting career gave her the opportunity to help those in need and contributed to a lifetime of activism.

Named after the late Gracie Allen, the Gracie Awards acknowledge outstanding team leadership and individual achievement, focusing on women who are making positive change and who further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks like.

You can watch Marlo Thomas’s full acceptance speech below.

The Sunday Paper also took home two Gracie Awards this year! Learn more here.