Zendaya just made history — again — at the 2022 Emmy Awards. In 2020, she won outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her dramatic role as Rue in Euphoria, becoming the youngest ever winner in the category. She was only the second Black woman to snag the trophy in the category, after Viola Davis. This year, at 26, she broke records again as the youngest person of color to be nominated twice in the category.
“This means so much. Thank you, thank you so much. Wow. To all the incredible actresses in this category, I’m so honored to be beside you,” Zendaya said in her acceptance speech. “Thank you to the incredible, incredible cast and crew of Euphoria. Thank you for making such a safe space to make this very difficult show. I love you all so much. Thank you to the Academy. Thank you to my friends and family, some of which are here tonight.”
The actress continued, “Thank you to Sam [Levinson] for sharing Rue with me. Thank you for believing in me, even in moments where I didn’t believe in myself. And then, lastly, I just want to say, my greatest wish for Euphoria was that it could help heal people, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me. I want you to know, that anyone who has loved a Rue, or feels like they are a Rue, I want you to know that I’m so grateful for your stories, and I carry them with me, and I carry them with her, so thank you so much.”
Zendaya scored another historic nomination this year too. After serving as an executive producer in the second season, she was also up for the best drama series category, becoming the youngest female producer nominated for producing. Additionally, she was nominated twice in the original music and lyrics category for songs on the episodes, “All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name” and “I’m Tired.”
Dressed by her longtime stylist Law Roach, Zendaya chose a strapless black Valentino peplum ballgown and a black satin headband. Adding some shine to her classic ensemble, Zendaya adorned Bulgari diamond stud earrings and a shimmering choker necklace.
After nominations were announced in July, Zendaya express her gratitude on Instagram. “Making this show with this cast and crew of the most incredibly talented people that I get the privilege of learning from everyday has been a highlight of my life,” she wrote. “I’m so proud to work beside you and CONGRATULATIONS! I don’t have the words to express the love and gratitude I feel right now, all I can do is say thank you with all my heart! Thanks to everyone who connected with our show, it is an honor to share it with you.”
She continued, “Thank you @samlev00 for everything you do, this show is what it is because of your heart, and thank you to @labrinth @marcellrev @hbo @a24 for being the best creative collaborators. Lastly thank you to the @televisionacademy for this incredible acknowledgment. We out here Emmy nominated again y’all!!!”
Zendaya was hailed for her poignant portrayal of addiction in Euphoria‘s second season, specifically the intense episode 5, “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird.”
In the post-episode featurette Enter Euphoria, Zendaya proclaims her love and empathy for her character, but says watching her pick apart all of her loved ones takes its toll. “Episode 5 has always been just a really difficult episode to tackle,” she said. “And it shows, I think, the devastation addiction can cause. Not only to the person who’s dealing with it, but also the family that has to get them help.”
