Zoe Kazan & Florence Pugh Steinbeck Award Event

About

Netflix’s critically acclaimed limited series East of Eden from co-showrunner, writer and executive producer Zoe Kazan is a fresh interpretation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece that explores the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, bringing renewed focus to its indelible antihero, Cathy Ames, played by Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, who also executive produces. The series also stars Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Ciarán Hinds, Martha Plimpton, Joseph Zada and Joe Anders.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the John Steinbeck Award to Zoe Kazan and Florence Pugh by the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University. The Center will honor Kazan and Pugh for bringing fresh perspective and new life to Steinbeck’s 74-year-old modern classic. Previous recipients of the John Steinbeck Award include Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, Sean Penn, Dolores Huerta, Khaled Hosseini, Ken Burns, Rachel Maddow, Ruby Bridges, Bill McKibben, and José Andrés.

Zoe Kazan is a film, television and stage actor, playwright and screenwriter. Kazan is the co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer of Netflix’s acclaimed limited series “East of Eden”, a breathtaking adaptation of John Steinbeck’s landmark novel reimagining the epic story through the perspective of its antihero, Cathy Ames. The series stars Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Ciarán Hinds, Tracy Letts, and Hoon Lee, and premiered on Netflix on October 1st. In 2022, Kazan starred alongside Carey Mulligan in Universal Pictures’ critically acclaimed film “She Said.” In 2018, Kazan co-wrote, and co-executive produced the drama “Wildlife” based on the novel by Richard Ford and directed by Paul Dano. “Wildlife” was nominated for “Best First Feature” at the 2019 Independent Spirit Awards. In 2015, Kazan was nominated for an Emmy award for her performance in a supporting role in the Emmy-nominated HBO miniseries “Olive Kitteridge.” Other television credits include HBO’s “The Deuce” and “Bored to Death” and Netflix’s “Clickbait.” In 2012, Kazan starred alongside Paul Dano in the Fox Searchlight film, “Ruby Sparks,” which she wrote and executive produced. In 2008, Kazan was named the recipient of the Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Actress. She resides in New York City.

British actress Florence Pugh is a globally acclaimed Academy Award and BAFTA- nominated actress who has delivered noteworthy performances across film and television.Pugh stars and serves as Executive Producer for Netflix’s limited series “East of Eden,” which was adapted from John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel of the same name. Also this year, Pugh will reprise her role as ‘Princess Irulan’ in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Dune: Part Three” and her role as ‘Yelena Belova’ in Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday.” Both films will be released in theaters on December 18, 2026. In 2023, Pugh appeared as ‘Jean Tatlock’ in the Academy Award, SAG, BAFTA, and Golden Globe winning film “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan. In December 2019, Pugh starred as ‘Amy March’ in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women.” Pugh received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress. In July 2019, Pugh starred in A24’s cult classic horror film “Midsommar,” directed by Ari Aster. Pugh was nominated in the category of Best Actress for the 2019 Gotham Independent Film Awards. Pugh made her stunning debut in Carol Morley’s “The Falling” as ‘Abigail’ which earned her a Best Young Performer nomination at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.