Better start prepping those glittery eyelids, because Zendaya’s just made history. The 24-year-old has become the youngest-ever Emmy winner for Best Lead Actress in a Drama for her role as Rue on HBO’s Euphoria, seeing off competition from Olivia Colman, Jennifer Aniston, and Sandra Oh. Before Zendaya, Killing Eve star Jodie Comer held that record, at age 26.
The actor, who’s also the second Black woman to ever win the award – after Viola Davis for How To Get Away With Murder in 2015 – accepted the award wearing a two-piece number by Giorgio Armani Privé. “I just want to say thank you to the TV academy and to all of the other incredible women in this category. I admire you all so much, this is pretty crazy. I really don’t want to cry!” she said during her virtual acceptance speech.
“Thank you HBO and A24 for all of your support. Thank you to my family and to my team who are all here. To the incredible cast and crew of Euphoria, I’m so lucky to go to work with you everyday and I’m inspired by everything you do,” she added.
“I know this is a really weird time to be celebrating but I do just want to say that there is hope in the young people. I know our TV show doesn’t always seem like a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people. 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, and thank you so, so much.”
Euphoria also won awards for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
Last month, the actor teased a possible bonus episode of the hit show, after production for its second season was halted in March due to coronavirus. In the meantime, here’s everything we know about season two so far.