The other honorees will be Australian prime minister John Howard, NBC News anchor Ann Curry,and scientist James E. Hansen. The four recepients will share a $200,000 prize.

Close's many Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard, Death and the Maiden, The Real Thing, and Barnum. Her numerous film and television credits include The World According to Garp, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, South Pacific, and the current FX series Damages.