Rising Star Storm Reid Reaches New Heights
19-year-old actress Storm Reid has quickly become one to watch in Hollywood. After breakout roles in “A Wrinkle in Time,” HBO’s hit teen drama “Euphoria,” and more, Reid added a major accomplishment to her resume last night: an Emmy award.
At the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on a Saturday, Reid won the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Riley on HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The Last of Us.” Her emotional performance in the episode “Left Behind” clearly made an impression on voters.
In her acceptance speech, a tearful Reid said “I’m just so grateful…to be able to tell meaningful stories and to be a representation for young women, young Black women, young queer Black women.”
Making Emmy History
In addition to marking Reid’s first Emmy win, her victory also made history. At 19 years old, Reid is now the youngest winner ever in a guest acting category at the Emmys.
The previous record was held by Lee You-mi, who won Guest Actress in a Drama last year at age 28 for “Squid Game.”
In her speech, Reid reflected on her path to this triumphant moment: “I’m just a young girl from Atlanta, Georgia. This is proof you can do anything.”
Reid Credits “The Last of Us”
While already on the rise, Reid’s appearance in “The Last of Us” provided a real career boost. Reid played Riley Abel, the best friend and love interest of Bella Ramsey’s Ellie in the critically praised episode “Left Behind.”
The emotional flashback episode depicts Riley and Ellie sharing a tender kiss before the tragic turn of events that change Ellie’s life. Reid and Ramsey’s performances both earned great acclaim.
In interviews after her win, Reid emphasized how meaningful her time on “The Last of Us” was, saying her role “really reinforced my love and passion for storytelling.” Given Reid’s obvious talent and drive, this Emmy win likely marks just the beginning of a bright future.
With season two of the hit HBO series on the way, we can likely expect more powerful moments from Storm Reid when she returns to the post-apocalyptic world of “The Last of Us.” And at just 19, she has all the time in the world to rack up more unprecedented accolades along the way.
