Zendaya Just Won Her First Emmy, and Legit Everyone Is Screaming
Her win is historic on two counts.
Commence the screaming like literally everyone in her virtual viewing room because Zendaya just picked up her first-ever Emmy Award. Deservedly, the Euphoria star elicited the biggest reaction of the 2020 Emmys so far when she won the award for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue in the HBO show. And, can we just say, she looked absolutely incredible doing it? No red carpet wasn’t going to stop Zendaya’s big fashion moment.
Host Jimmy Kimmel announced Zendaya as the winner, and after pausing to collect herself—”I’m really, really nervous,” she said—she thanked her family, her team, and Euphoria‘s cast and crew, specifically calling out Sam Levinson, the show’s creator.
“I’m so grateful for Rue, I’m so grateful that you trust me with your story, and I hope I can continue to do you proud,” she said, speaking to Levinson.
Zendaya’s win makes her only one of two Black actresses to take home a prime time Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in its 72-year (!!!) history.
She joins Viola Davis, who won for How to Get Away With Murder, in that winners’ circle, which will hopefully only grow. The Euphoria star beat out nominees Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Olivia Colman (The Crown), Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Laura Linney (Ozark), and Sandra Oh (Killing Eve).
Also in her acceptance speech, Zendaya nodded toward the ~controversial~ content of her HBO series while making a statement about young people in the world.
“There is hope in the young people out there,” she said. “I know that our TV show didn’t always feel like a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people.”
At only 24 years old—which, btw, is the youngest person to ever take home the trophy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Zendaya is a shining example of what young people can do.