Emmys 2015: Viola Davis, ‘Bessie,’ Regina King And Uzo Aduba Make Emmy History

 

Black actors and actresses have reason to celebrate big tonight. History was made at the Emmys and in more than one way. First up: Viola Davis‘ win in the Lead Actress category is a historic first for the Emmys and for the actress, who won, of course, for her role in How To Get Away With Murder. Davis becomes the first Black actress in Emmy history to win in a Lead Actress role for a drama series.watch

 Uzo Aduba‘s win for Orange Is The New Black also set a new Emmy distinction – Aduba is the first actress in Emmy history to win the award for the same role but in two different categories. Last year, her role as Crazy Eyes was written with more of a comic slant and she won in the Supporting Comedy Actress category. This year, her role become more of a dramatic one and she won her second award as Best Supporting Actress for the same role in the Drama category. 

Veteran TV and film actress Regina King won her first Emmy as Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for the role she played as a Muslim woman on American Crime.

Though Bessie actresses Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique didn’t get the wins for their respective roles as Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, the movie, directed by Dee Rees, did win Outstanding Television Movie at the Creative Arts Emmys handed out on September 12, where longtime character actor Reg E. Cathey also won as Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series for his role on House of Cards.

EMMY WINNERS:
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Allison Janney, “Mom,” CBS.
Writing, Comedy Series: Simon Blackwell, Amando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “Veep,” HBO.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Hale, “Veep,” HBO.
Directing, Comedy Series: Jill Soloway, “Transparent,” Amazon Instant Video.
Actor, Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent,” Amazon Instant Video.
Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep,” HBO.
Reality-Competition Program: “The Voice,” NBC.
Writing, Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special: Jane Anderson, “Olive Kitteridge,” HBO.
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Regina King, “American Crime,” ABC.
Directing, Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special: Lisa Cholodenko, “Olive Kitteridge,” HBO.
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Bill Murray, “Olive Kitteridge,” HBO.
Actress, Limited Series or Movie: Frances McDormand, “Olive Kitteridge,” HBO.
Actor, Limited Series or Movie: Richard Jenkins, “Olive Kitteridge,” HBO.