NEW YORK, N.Y. – World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder presented Academy Award winner Helen Mirren with the WJC Recognition Award for her role in the acclaimed hit film ‘Woman in Gold’ at a special event last week at New York’s Neue Galerie. The WJC Recognition Award honors outstanding individuals working on behalf of the Jewish people.

The event celebrated the actress’ portrayal of Maria Altmann, an Austrian-American woman who made headlines with her legal battle against the Austrian government to reclaim five Gustav Klimt paintings – including the famous ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,’ nicknamed ‘Woman in Gold’ – that were stolen from her family by the Nazis during World War II. Following its restitution to Maria Altmann in 2006, it was acquired by Ronald Lauder and is now on display at the Neue Galerie in Manhattan.

“Being a part of this film and preserving Maria Altmann’s legacy has been a truly exceptional experience from the start,” said Helen Mirren. “I am utterly moved to receive this award from the World Jewish Congress, an organization that does such important work all over the globe in advocating for Jewish rights.”

“With the opening of this new movie,” said Lauder, “audiences can learn about the second half of the Nazi-looted art story: the postwar art grab by governments and museums that willfully continued the Nazi theft, both by hiding the art from the rightful owners or their heirs and by fighting the victims in court to keep the artworks. Thanks to Helen Mirren’s stunning performance – which really electrified this issue – the international public will learn about this legacy of World War II which still hasn’t been addressed properly by many governments and museums.”

The WJC has played a pivotal role for decades advocating for Holocaust-era restitution around the world and led the efforts for the return of Nazi-looted art.

CAP: Ronald Lauder and Helen Mirren, holding the WJC Recognition Award, in front of the famous ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,’ nicknamed ‘Woman in Gold.’