'When They See Us' / Netflix

Film / TV

‘when they see us,’ black actors acknowledged with hella emmy noms

July 17, 2019
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Frankly, overjoyed for Ava DuVernay, Jharrel Jerome and the entire cast and crew of Netflix’s When They See Us for earning 16 Emmy nominations! One of the breakout actors from 2016’s Moonlight, Jharrel Jerome earned his first Emmy nomination as the outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie category with Niecy Nash and Aunjanue Ellis earning theirs in the outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie category. DuVernay also picked up a nomination for direction and co-writing, with Michael Starrbury.

Seventeen-year-old Asante Blackk also earned his very first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Kevin Richardson in the Best Supporting Actor in a TV movie or Limited Series category, alongside Michael K. Williams. Marsha Stephanie Blake, too, snagged a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress in a TV movie or Limited Series category.

DuVernay and co. weren’t the only Black creatives to make waves in this year’s nomination pool, many actors across network and streaming were acknowledged for their work in film and tv, like Billy Porter (Pose) — who would be the first openly gay Black man to receive the nomination — and Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) in Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder), Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) and Don Cheadle (Black Monday) for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Marhersala Ali also earned a nom in Jerome’s category for his work on HBO’s True Detective and Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul) for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Reality wise, nominations were had for RuPaul’s Drag Race for Competition Program. The Daily Show With Trevor Noah got the nod for Variety Talk Show. Another groundbreaking nomination went to Lavern Cox (Orange Is The New Black) who was nominated alongside Cicely Tyson (How To Get Away With Murder) for Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Other notable notations went to Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us), Maya Rudolph (The Good Place), and Glynn Turman (How To Get Away With Murder).

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