Malala's Nobel prize is the talk of the town, even in Hollywood

Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon and Jane Fonda cheer on Malala Yousafzai's Nobel prize win at event honoring powerful women.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) - Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon and Jane Fonda were among the honorees promoting female empowerment at the Power of Women Luncheon in Beverly Hills on Friday (October 10).Ordinarily the talk would be all about them but instead most people on the red carpet were abuzz about Malala Yousafzai's Nobel Peace prize win earlier that morning.

"Yes, I was so excited. I woke up to an email this morning that said that Malala won the Nobel Peace prize. Not only is it incredible that she accomplished this but she's the youngest person ever, at 17 years old, to win the Nobel Peace prize. So, I woke up my daughter who is the first person who ever gave me Malala's book and I said, she won today, she won the Nobel Peace prize, so Ava was really excited," says actress Reese Witherspoon.

Witherspoon attended the event as an honoree for her work with the Malala Fund, promoting education for girls everywhere.

Viola Davis, who was recognized for her work with Hunger Is, raising awareness and funds for children living in poverty, was equally excited for Malala's recognition.

"Awesome I think. I heard that, my husband and I watching it this morning. And to think, you know, it was just a short time ago that she was injured and you didn't even know if she was going to live. And not only has she lived, now she's living a life even bigger than herself and impacting the world. I mean, we're talking about it here inCalifornia so I think it's wonderful," says Davis.

Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls' right to education, along with Indian campaigner against child trafficking and labor Kailash Satyarthi, won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

Yousafzai, 17, is the youngest Nobel Prize winner.