Young Black sensation Zendaya etched her name in the history books at the 2022 Emmy Awards, becoming the first Black woman to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series prize twice for her widely acclaimed performance in HBO’s Euphoria.
Youngest Ever 2-Time Winner
The emotional actress took home the same award in 2020 for her gut-wrenching portrayal of teenage drug addict Rue in the hit teen drama. Her second Emmy win cemented her status as the youngest-ever performer to achieve two wins in the Lead Actress category.
Zendaya triumphed over fellow nominees Jodie Comer, Laura Linney, Melanie Lynskey, Sandra Oh and Reese Witherspoon to claim the honor.
Groundbreaking Representation
As only the second African American actress to earn the Lead Actress Emmy after Viola Davis, Zendaya’s back-to-back wins carried groundbreaking significance for Black women in Hollywood.
Her vulnerability and relatability as Rue resonated profoundly with viewers facing their own battles with addiction and trauma.
Emotional Speech Spotlights Healing
In an emotional acceptance speech, the history-making actress thanked Euphoria fans for sharing their personal stories of grappling with addiction on their road to recovery.
“My greatest wish for Euphoria was that it could help heal people, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their story with me,” she said. “I want you to know that anyone who has loved a Rue or feels like you are a Rue, I’m so grateful for your stories and I carry them with me and carry them with her.”
For giving visibility and hope to marginalized communities through her art, Zendaya continues to inspire well beyond her years. Her triumph will resonate for generations to come.
