The Emmy Awards are looking less pale and male than years past. Nominations were just announced, and we’re heartened to see a more inclusive roster being recognized.
Sadly, it’s not at all unusual to see acting categories comprised entirely of white women — fortunately, that won’t be the case at this year’s ceremony. Of five women in the running for Best Actress in a Limited Series or a Television Movie, three are Black: Regina King (“Watchmen”), Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”), and Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”). Other women of color to score acting nods include Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”) and Zendaya (“Euphoria”), both of whom are up for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and Best Actress in a Comedy Series nominees Issa Rae (“Insecure”) and Tracee Ellis Ross (“black-ish”).
Female-led series up for major honors include “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Best Drama Series) and “Insecure” (Best Comedy Series). Four of five Best Limited Series nominees center on female protagonists: “Little Fires Everywhere,” “Mrs. America,” “Unbelievable,” and “Unorthodox.”
Women dominate the Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special category, accounting for four of six noms. Lynn Shelton received a posthumous nod for “Little Fires Everywhere,” and Maria Schrader is up for “Unorthodox.” Nicole Kassell and Steph Green both scored nods for “Watchmen.”
Female helmers also fare well in the Directing for a Drama Series category. Of eight nominees, three are women: Mimi Leder (“The Morning Show”), Jessica Hobbs (“The Crown”), and Lesli Linka Glatter (“Homeland”).
Two women are up for the Directing for a Comedy Series prize: five-time Emmy winner Amy Sherman-Palladino (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and two-time winner Gail Mancuso (“Modern Family”).
Four of five titles recognized in the Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special are written or co-written by women. Nominees include Tanya Barfield (“Mrs. America”), Sally Rooney and Alice Birch (“Normal People”), Anna Winger (“Unorthodox”), and Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon (“Unbelievable”).
Stefani Robinson (“What We Do in the Shadows”) and Miki Johnson (“Ozark”) are the sole women up for honors in their respective categories, Writing for a Comedy Series and Writing for a Drama Series.
This year’s Emmy Awards will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on September 20 on ABC.
Head over to the awards’ website to check out all of the nominees.
