Here are L’Observatoire de l’Europe Culture’s People of the Year 2024 – the most influential figures who impacted and defined a year in European and Global Culture.
The L’Observatoire de l’Europe Culture team has selected its People of the Year, both European and Global, in the fields of cinema, music, arts, literature, fashion and sport.
We spent several weeks weighing our options and have come up with this list, which while non-exhaustive, represents the 12 figures who made our year and furthered conversation in their respective cultural domains.
Congratulations and a big thank you to them, for making 2024 moving, inspiring and iconic.
CINEMA – Europe: Karla Sofía Gascón
2024 was Karla Sofía Gascón’s year. And if we’re right, 2025 looks mighty bright for the breakout Spanish actress.
The 52-year-old Spanish actress – who lived as a man until she was 46 – made history in Cannes by becoming the first transgender woman to win the Best Actress Palme. She won, alongside her co-stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, for her turn in Jacques Audiard’s audacious and utterly thrilling cartel musical Emilia Pérez – one of our favourite films of the year.
In our review, we wrote: “Audiard manages to confidently balance the knowingly kitschy aspects of the musical genre (one number set in a clinic has “Rhinoplasty! Mammoplasty! Vaginoplasty!” as a chorus) with some touching character-driven moments, without forgetting to thrill you and address socially-charged hot-button topics along the way.”
We also noted how Gascón burned up the screen, and how there was “power, pathos and earnestness seeping through every moment of Gascón’s performance, and the double-act she and Zoe Saldaña go on to form is magnetic to watch.”
Her fearless turn makes her 2024’s most unforgettable silver screen star, and having had the pleasure of meeting her at this year’s European Film Awards, Gascón is as kind as she is talented, exuding remarkable movie star charisma and communicating infectious joy.
Naturally, her win in Cannes this year was met with all the hateful and shameful rhetoric you would sadly expect, with French far-right politician Marion Maréchal leading the vile charge. The politician wrote on X in reference to Gascón’s win that “it is therefore a man who receives in Cannes the prize for… best actress. The progress for the left wing is the erasing of women and mothers.” This sparked outrage in the LGBTQ community and led Gascón to file a legal complaint for “sexist insult on the basis of gender identity”.
Thankfully, Gascón’s attitude and words shone brighter – as she even predicted the hatred during her Cannes acceptance speech, which she dedicated to “all the trans people who are suffering.”
“Tomorrow, there will be plenty of comments from terrible people saying the same things about all of us trans people,” she said. “But I want to end with a message of hope. To all of them, like Emilia Pérez, we all have the opportunity to change for the better, to become better people.”
She capped it off with a message to her detractors: “Let’s see if you bastards change.”
A change that is sorely needed, as according to a study published this year by France’s Ministry of the Interior’s statistics department, 2023 saw 2,870 crimes or offences (assaults, threats, harassment) against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people recorded, a jump of 19% compared to 2022.
Karla Sofía Gascón represents not only incredible acting talent but the hope she mentioned. With any luck, her numerous wins this year – as well as her nomination for Best Actress at the upcoming Golden Globes – should continue to send the bastards another message. We can’t wait to see her win, and to see if an Oscar is on the horizon for 2024’s greatest actress. DM
CINEMA – Global: Mohammad Rasoulof
It’s tough to aptly describe the atmosphere and energy that filled the Grand Theatre Lumière in Cannes on 24 May 2024.
It was the world premiere of The Seed of the Sacred Fig by dissident Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, and in the run up to the big day, there was speculation as to whether the director would be able to make it on the Croisette to present his new film.
Days after finishing his film, shot in secret, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court announced he was sentenced to eight years in prison and a flogging over charges linked to his earlier films and activism. His public statements, films and documentaries are considered “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security” by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic, whose repression and brutality has reached new heights when it comes to all artists.
We’d been reporting over the years on Rasoulof’s travel bans and previous imprisonment, and his latest sentencing was the harshest in a series of arrests over the past decade – with no possibility of appeal.
Faced with this sentence, Rasoulof decided to flee his country, trekking for a perilous 28-days across a mountainous borderland before making his way to Germany – where he currently resides in exile.
It was only then that he managed to attend his film’s Cannes premiere – without some of his cast, who were banned from traveling.
The Grand Theatre Lumière gave him a moving and lengthy 15-minute standing ovation – one which would have carried on had Rasoulof not taken the microphone to thank all those who made the film possible, including the ones who could not make it.
It’s rare that standing ovations happen before a film screening and you got the impression you were witnessing a powerful moment in cultural history. Not only was the Cannes Film Festival daring enough to programme The Seed of the Sacred Fig in its Competition selection – which angered Iranian authorities considering the outspoken film is set against the backdrop of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests of 2022 and casts a critical eye on the consequences of life under authoritarian rule – but Rasoulof was there in person to show cinemagoers that art and freedom of expression finds a way. At all costs.
“Unfortunately, the regime always reacts in a very repressive and controlling manner – and that makes things very difficult,” Rasoulof shared with L’Observatoire de l’Europe Culture. “However, I know that all filmmakers working under repressive circumstances will be free of them one day. And it’s important to remember that so many filmmakers inside Iran today are working within these very difficult conditions with censorship, the same that I was working in. And they’re transforming these immense difficulties into beauty. They are working well and we need to remember they’re working under very difficult circumstances.”
The Seed of the Sacred Fig went on to win the Special Jury Prize in Cannes, will represent Germany at the 97th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film (an inspiring choice that shows how intercultural exchanges thrive in open society) and topped our Best Movies of 2024 list.
The work done by Rasoulof, as well as other Iranian creatives like Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, are not only windows into the crimes of state despotism but meaningful acts of bravery in the name of justice and art. Rasoulof’s film and his harrowing ordeal to get his film on our screens was a potent, powerful and precious reminder that nothing should be taken for granted. Western audiences are fortunate to watch movies from filmmakers who dare to challenge oppression, misogyny and tyranny, and we should not ignore what goes into making such works of art.
Mohammad Rasoulof risked it all in order to speak truth to power, showing that art often requires creatives to put it all on the line so that voices aren’t silenced. And for that, we thank him. DM
MUSIC – Europe: Charli XCX
Charli XCX ruled pop culture in 2024.
Her sixth album, ‘Brat’, released in the summer, didn’t just land – it exploded, catapulting Charli from a cult favourite to one of the biggest stars of the year. With its 15 tracks of rave-infused anthems, the British artist created more than just an album; she built a cultural movement.
“Brat summer” became 2024’s viral mantra, representing a hedonistic and carefree lifestyle that dominated TikTok, memes, and dance challenges. The Brat aesthetic – strappy white tops, chunky boots, Bic lighters and lime green everything – took over fashion. And in one of the year’s most surreal moments, Charli’s viral tweet, “kamala IS brat,” even found its way into Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
But the Brat train didn’t stop there. Charli kept the fire burning with an equally popular Brat remix album, featuring the likes of Ariana Grande, Caroline Polachek, and Bon Iver. Her collaboration with Billie Eilish on the song ‘Guess’ gave Charli her first-ever #1 UK hit. By November, Charli was up for seven Grammy noms – including Album and Record of the Year.
After years of carving out a space as one of pop’s most daring and innovative outsiders, Charli finally claimed the mainstream spotlight she deserves. It’s no surprise that ‘Brat’ was crowned Collins English Dictionary’s Word of the Year. TF
MUSIC – Global: Chappell Roan
If you haven’t spent the entire year listening to ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ on repeat, what have you even been doing?
Chappell Roan (get your pronounciation right), the 26-year-old singer from Missouri, US, seemingly burst out of nowhere, taking popular culture in a chokehold of flame red hair, turquoise eyeshadow and addictively camp pop songs. Her 2023 album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ snowballed with success into 2024, topping Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart, and sitting at No 1 in the UK music charts and No 2 in the official US music charts. It’s also been nominated for multiple Grammy awards, including Best Album of the Year, while Roan won Best New Artist at the MTV Music Awards, saying in her acceptance speech: “I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspired me. And I dedicate this to queer and trans people that fuel pop all around.”
Such astronomical success might seem sudden, but Roan has been writing and performing music since she was a teenager, uploading songs to YouTube before being signed to Atlantic Records aged 17. Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, her stage name was inspired by her late grandfather, Dennis Chappell, and his favourite Marty Robbins song, ‘The Strawberry Roan’.
It was a performance at this year’s Coachella that skyrocketed the star’s career, clips of her belting ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ in a big bedazzled butterfly outfit going viral on social media, along with the now iconic quote: “My name is Chappell Roan, I am your favourite artist’s favourite artist.” This cheeky reference to RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Colby turned out to be true, with everyone from Adele to Elton John, Charli XCX to Sabrina Carpenter, singing Roan’s praises.
She’s also won plaudits among the entertainment industry for being outspoken about toxic fandoms and the online normalisation of invading public figures’ privacy. In a post uploaded to her TikTok account, she said: “It’s weird how people think that you know a person just because you see them online and you listen to the art they make. That’s fucking weird. I’m allowed to say no to creepy behaviour, OK?”
In a 2024 underscored by political and social turmoil, Roan’s music was an escape to carefree vibes. Her compulsively listenable pop, doused in kitsch and paired with bombastically goofy performances, reminded us it’s ok to have fun, to be free, and to keep on dancing at the Pink Pony Club. AB
ART – Europe: Maurizio Cattelan
When casting one’s mind back over the year in art, one fruit looms eerily large: the banana. Yes, that banana.
Maurizio Cattelan, an Italian artist often dubbed a jokester of the art world, has long blurred the line between satire and high art. But in 2024, his most infamous piece not only cemented his place as a cultural icon, but also stirred up fresh conversations about the value of art, celebrity, and the absurdity of our times.
In 2019, Cattelan made headlines (and Instagram feeds) with his work « Comedian »: a banana duct-taped to a wall that sold for $120,000 (€114,000). Critics scoffed, many of us laughed, and the art world collectively asked, « Is this art? »
Flash forward to this year, when « Comedian » made headlines again upon being resold at auction for a staggering $6.2 million (€5.8 million) in November. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun outbid six other contenders to acquire the fruit-centred work at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, later eating the banana during a press conference in Hong Kong in a stunt drawing a provocative comparison between the artwork and the world of cryptocurrency: a market also dealing in abstract concepts.
The sale underscored Cattelan’s uncanny ability to play the art world’s rules to his advantage, questioning the system while simultaneously playing a role in it. The work, while frankly ridiculous in its simplicity, speaks volumes about how art is bought, sold, and valued in a world that prizes spectacle over substance. It’s a witty commentary on the absurdity of the art world, and lays bare the seemingly arbitrary nature of how value is assigned to objects, asking what is the value of art – and who gets to decide?
Couldn’t that money have been better spent? Almost certainly. But, there aren’t all that many works that seem to get the whole world talking – the “art crowd” and those who would rather sit a maths exam than spend an afternoon in a gallery. We think that’s worth going bananas for. EM
ART – Global: Archie Moore
It might seem a bit too obvious to choose the winner of one of the most prestigious awards, at the world’s most prestigious art event, as a ‘Person of the Year’ in the arts. But when Archie Moore took home the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 2024 Venice Biennale, he not only saw Australia awarded this recognition for the first time in the Biennale’s 130-year history – but also brought international awareness to First Nations history and kinship, while speaking to the universality of the human family.
Moore’s powerful, site-specific installation « kith and kin » charts 65,000 years and 2,400 family generations using a vast hand-drawn genealogical map in chalk, beginning with his own family tree. Drawing on his Kamilaroi, Bigambul, and British heritage, the work highlights the deep importance of kinship while also serving as a poignant memorial to the ongoing injustices faced by First Nations peoples – notably via the stark white table beneath the genealogy, meticulously arranged with records documenting the deaths of hundreds of Aboriginal people. Among these are the redacted coronial reports of the 557 Aboriginal deaths in police and prison custody since the 1991 royal commission, which issued hundreds of recommendations aimed at preventing these avoidable losses. kith and kin is a powerful continuation of Moore’s decades-long exploration of history and identity, a theme he’s been deeply immersed in throughout his 30-year artistic journey.
“What a golden year. It was an honour and a privilege to be awarded the Golden Lion,” Moore told L’Observatoire de l’Europe Culture. His win in Venice, he explained, was accompanied by something he found equally exciting and meaningful: a golden owl artwork gifted by senior Yolŋu Elder Naminapu Maymuru-White, together with “a performance inside the Australian Pavilion by her people”.
“This also meant a lot for me,” Moore said. Moore was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Queensland University of Technology, an opportunity he used to draw attention to access to education for First Nations peoples.
“My acceptance speech touched on the importance of education for First Nations peoples in Australia and I would encourage them to seek out tertiary study. A full education is something my mother and her parents were not afforded,” he reflected.
If you missed Moore’s work at Venice, « kith and kin » will go on show at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane in 2025-2026, followed by London’s Tate. EM
LITERATURE – Europe: Sally Rooney
Before even hitting 30, Irish novelist Sally Rooney became a global sensation with her novels « Conversations with Friends » and « Normal People », which sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and were both adapted into hit BBC TV series.
Through her intimate portrayals of modern relationships, adolescence, and social issues, Rooney has drawn comparisons to Jane Austen, emerging as the poster child for a new wave of literature.
Yet, her meteoric rise hasn’t been without its critics. Some have dismissed her work as emotionally and intellectually shallow, accusing it of catering solely to the « Snapchat generation ». But this year, she broke away from her familiar terrain and proved many of her critics wrong.
« Intermezzo », her fourth novel, marks a new evolution in her writing. It tells the poignant story of two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, grappling with the death of their father. Highly anticipated, its release became one of the year’s most talked-about literary events, and it has been overwhelmingly praised for its philosophical depth and stylistic range.
Beyond cementing her status as one of Europe’s most influential contemporary authors, Rooney has also used her platform to consistently advocate for Palestinian causes. Earlier this year, she pledged, along with more than 1,000 writers and publishing professionals, not to work with Israeli publishers or festivals that they deem are “complicit in violating Palestinian rights.” TF
LITERATURE – Global: Richard Flanagan
By winning this year’s Baillie Gifford Prize, Richard Flanagan completed a double in literature heretofore unachieved. He is the only person to have won both the Baillie Gifford and the Man Booker Prize (now known as just the Booker Prize).
The Australian writer has penned novels, films, TV shows and non-fiction works across an impressive oeuvre. His Man Booker win in 2014 for his novel « The Narrow Road to the Deep North » was earned in the first year the prize was opened up to every nationality. A decade later, he won the Baillie Gifford Prize for « Question 7 », a brilliant book that weaves memoir, historical accounts and narrative. It’s an astonishing achievement and makes him deservedly the only person to win Britain’s top literary prize in fiction and non-fiction.
But it isn’t his double victory that has earned Flanagan his place in our People of the Year list. It’s for his decision to decline the £50,000 (€60,000) prize as a protest against Baillie Gifford’s investment links to the oil industry.
In a pre-recorded speech at the ceremony, Flanagan noted that he wasn’t intending to criticise the firm, but would welcome an opportunity to speak with Baillie Gifford’s board to “describe how fossil fuels are destroying our country”.
Flanagan is a highly successful author, but being a critical darling of the literary world is rarely enough to be flush with cash anymore. Taking a stance instead of accepting his crowning moment was a statement of his huge integrity.
This year, Scottish investment firm Baillie Gifford regularly hit headlines as the literary events they sponsored protested their ties to oil and the Israeli state. Flanagan earns his place on our list for the personal sacrifice he made to keep the pressure on against corporate artwashing. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a bloody good writer too. JW
FASHION – Europe: Daniel Craig
You read correctly. While the British actor famous for playing James Bond for 15 years should by all rights be in the Cinema category – especially considering his stunning turn in this year’s Queer, which made our end of year Best Movies of 2024 list – Craig had a sizeable impact on the world of fashion this year.
His time as 007 saw him don various stunning and classy outfits. However, in 2024, he effectively became a sartorial god.
Sounds a bit much? Hear us out…
The 56-year-old made appearances at premieres and fashion shows this year, during which he rocked everything from double-breasted suits, stylish yellow shades, colourful vintage jumpers, playful retro designs and very baggy trousers. It was a huge departure from his classic and impeccably tailored Bond-era style, and showed that boundaries need to be pushed.
If you want to embrace oversized clothing, go to town. Bold statements with prints and colours? Have at it! Rebellious combinations and anachronistic verve? Yes please, Daniel!
It all can be seen in Craig’s collaboration with fashion brand Loewe, which saw the actor stepping into experimental fashion territory – with new longer hair to boot.
It looks a bit brash, sometimes messy, but always fun.
Most importantly of all, Craig’s outfits challenge archetypal standards and traditional notions of masculinity in fashion – especially because he embodied the ultimate, clean cut and, dare we say it, macho male sex symbol in the spy film franchise.
Don’t get us wrong – sleek looks in fashion are great. But how much more thrilling is it to go off-kilter and embrace a kookier sense of style?
Long may it continue. Daniel Craig, fashion god, will return. DM
FASHION – Global: Alex Consani
American model Alex Consani has repeatedly made history over the past two years.
The 21-year-old already became the youngest signed transgender model, securing a contract with IMG Models, as well as the first trans model to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2023. Last October, both Consani and Valentina Sampaio became the first trans models to appear on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Beyond making her mark on the catwalk, Consani has expanded minds when it comes to the modelling profession. She has done this in part through her TikTok account @captincroook. With more than four million subscribers, it features NSFW content and a refreshing amount of candid shots and videos which reveal the behind-the-scenes life as one of the most in-demand models in the world.
This year was a consecration though, as Consani won 2024’s Model of the Year at the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Awards – the first transgender woman not only to be nominated but to win the prestigious award.
“Now, more than ever, it’s an important conversation that should be had about how to truly support and uplift one another within this industry, especially those who have been made to feel insignificant,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Change is more than possible – it’s needed, » she concluded.
Of course, Consani’s historic win caused outcry online, with transphobes taking to their devices and predictably rage posting. But her win was bigger than the hateful noise. It showed that no matter what bile is spread online, attitudes are changing, and mindsets will hopefully continue to follow in the wake of a historic moment in the world of fashion. DM
SPORT – Europe: Aurélie Aubert
The Paris Olympic Games were a triumph this year, and once again, the Paralympic flame burned brightly for the athletes.
One of the breakout stars was French Paralympian Aurélie Aubert, who won gold for boccia – a precision ball sport related to pétanque.
Throughout the competition, the 27-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, captured the attention and hearts of all those watching. She began playing boccia in 2010 and professionally competed only a year prior at the European Boccia Championships in Rotterdam.
On 8 September, everything changed for Aubert, as she secured her very first international title of her career and gave the sport its very first French Paralympic medal. When she won, her face lit up and her visible emotion was infectious. It was an incredibly moving sight to behold, and the moment made Aubert a champion for determination. It was also an important reminder of the effort that goes into such high-pressure competitions.
When she was named flag bearer of the French delegation for the closing ceremony of the games, Aubert’s mark was truly made. French President Emmanuel Macron awarded her the Légion d’honneur – the highest civilian order of merit – and it was hard to contain the tears when watching Aubert receive the honour.
Aubert said she hoped that her victory would give more visibility to boccia, which remains a relatively unknown sport – and one in dire need of funding. Hopefully, her story will continue to secure more resources for the sport, as well as show that no sport is off-limits to anyone. Athletes of her caliber will doubtlessly inspire new generations for the Paralympic Games, and she is without a doubt one of 2024’s brightest stars. DM
SPORT – Global: Simone Biles
In a sparkling year for sporting events, global gymnastic superstar Simone Biles beamed brightest.
A seven-time Olympic Gold medallist, she is tied with the late Věra Čáslavská as the second-most decorated female Olympic gymnast – and now considered one of America’s greatest athletes of all time.
Yet the 27-year-old’s achievements are only part of what has made Biles such an inspiration. Her openness about mental health struggles, humbleness in the face of loss, and an innate brio as dazzling as her sequined costumes, all propagate a hard-to-define specialness that feels powerful and captivating.
It’s an aura that outshone at this year’s Paris Olympics – not only because Biles won three gold medals in team events and a silver medal in the women’s floor event, but also because of the incredible journey she went on to get there.
After withdrawing from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to experiencing a phenomenon known as the ‘twisties’ (a sudden loss of spatial awareness), Biles took a 732-day absence from the sport to recover both mentally and physically. She then embarked on a rigorous training programme to rebuild her skills ahead of competing in Paris, becoming the oldest American woman to make an Olympic gymnastics team since the 1950s.This period was documented in the four-part Netflix series ‘Simone Biles: Rising’, a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of a woman with unmatched talent and fierce ambition, as she navigates the highly competitive and sometimes cruel world of elite gymnastics.
Having become a household name at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she won four gold medals in seven days, Biles remains one of the most impressive athletes of all time; exquisitely technical and boundary-pushing in her execution of complex routines.
In 2024, she also proved herself to be something much more important: a guiding force for aspiring athletes, a mental health advocate, and a commanding presence that springboards hope and hubris in the face of adversity. AB
For more L’Observatoire de l’Europe Culture Best Ofs, check out our Best Movies of 2024 and Best Albums of 2024 lists.
