Maya Rudolph has made history Sunday during the Creative Emmys, becoming the third Black woman to win back-to-back Emmys. She also became the first person in 20 years to win in twice consecutively in the same category two-times over.
As Deadline reports, Rudolph one her second consecutive Creative Emmy as a voice actor for Netflix’s Big Mouth. She also won for the second year in a row in the comedy guest actress category for her work on Saturday Night Live.
Rudolph said she felt “amazing” after she was informed of the history her wins made that night.
“I feel honored to be part of something like that,” she said. “I feel like this Emmy is very fitting in that it’s for something that feels like such a personal achievement. It’s for hosting my childhood love and dream and at a palce in my life I finally realized it’s what I do best, and what makes me happiest when I perform. I feel really honored that I’m part of a legacy as the third woman of color to achieve that.”
Rudolph now joins fellow actors Uzo Aduba and Regina King. Aduba won twice for her work on Orange is the New Black, and King won twice for her role in American Crime.
Other Emmys stats include the 2020 Primetime and Creative Emmys featuring the most wins awarded to Black actors. Seven actors were awarded in the main categories, topping 2016’s record of six Black actors winning. Actors making up the illustrious list in 2020 include Zendaya, King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Aduba, Rudolph, Eddie Murphy, and Ron Cephas Jones.
Many Black actors are also nominated this year for Primetime Emmys, including Regé-Jean Page, Sterling K. Brown, Billy Porter, Jonathan Majors, Aduba, Jurnee Smollett, Mj Rodriguez, and Michael K. Williams, among others.
The Primetime Emmys will air Sept. 19 on NBC with Cedric the Entertainer as host.