Zendaya Becomes Second Black Woman and Youngest Emmy Winner for Lead Actress in Drama category
Actress Zendaya at age 24, created history at the 72nd Emmy Awards by becoming the youngest winner of the best lead actress in a drama category. She accepted the award virtually.
Last year, Jodie Comer bagged the award for Killing Eve and became the youngest actress to win the best lead actress in a drama. She was 26. However, Zendaya surpassed her and beat the likes Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Olivia Colman (The Crown), Laura Linney (Ozark), and Sandra Oh (Killing Eve).
Zendaya also became the second Black woman to win in this category after Viola Davis, Deadline reported. Davis received her award for the record-breaking How To Get Away With Murder series in 2015.
The 24-year-old overcame a strong group of nominees — Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”), “Killing Eve” stars Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh, Olivia Colman (“The Crown”), and Laura Linney (“Ozark”), to win the honour.
Comer previously held the record as she was 26 when she won an Emmy in 2019. Zendaya is also the second-ever Black woman to win the category, following Viola Davis who won in 2015, reports variety.com.
Zendaya was euphoric after the win, and gave a special shoutout to “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson.
“I appreciate you so much; you’re my family,” said Zendaya, addressing Levinson, who based the series on his own battle with drug addiction.
“I’m so grateful for Rue (her character). I’m so grateful that you trusted me with your story. I know this feels like a really weird time to be celebrating. But I just want to say that there is hope in the young people out there,” she added.
The actress continued: “I know that our TV show doesn’t always feel like a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people. And I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, I see you, I admire you, I thank you.”
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