Sandra Oh has made history as the first Asian woman to receive an Emmy nomination for lead actress in a drama, thanks to her groundbreaking performance in Killing Eve. The thriller series just debuted on BBC America this year, starring Oh as Eve Polastri, an M15 security officer chasing down a dangerous hit woman.
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The new hit drama, which features a cast of complex female characters, launched to rave reviews in April. Showrunner and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge also earned a nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.
Oh expressed her shock over the nomination this afternoon with an excited Twitter selfie. She captioned the shot: “Omg wtf?? This is me hearing about Emmy nom w/ fellow sister @michellekrusiec – my expression is kinda ..what?”
Omg wtf?? This is me hearing about Emmy nom w/ fellow sister @michellekrusiec – my expression is kinda ..what? pic.twitter.com/1Mwlj2FETc
— Sandra Oh (@IamSandraOh) July 12, 2018
Congratulations Phoebe Waller Bridge!! Oh crap I can’t figure out how to get your face on here!! Adore you
— Sandra Oh (@IamSandraOh) July 12, 2018
While speaking to the New York Times, the actress acknowledged the historic nature of her nomination, and hoped that her achievement would only lead to more diversity and representation.
“It’s like, we’ve got to start somewhere, we’ve got to start somewhere. And I’m happy to get that ball rolling, because what I hope happens is that next year and the next year and the next year, we will have presence,” she told the publication.
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in Killing Eve. BBC America
“And the presence will grow not only to Asian-Americans, you know, from yellow to brown, but to all our other sisters and brothers, you know, our First Nations sisters and brothers. Our sisters and brothers of different sizes and different shapes,” Oh added to NYT. “If I can be a part of that change, like [expletive] yeah, let’s celebrate it.”
Oh faces some serious competition for the Lead Actress in a Drama award. Claire Foy (The Crown), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Keri Russell (The Americans), and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) are also nominated in her category.
Oh previously earned Emmy nominations in the supporting actress category on Grey’s Anatomy. She also won a Golden Globe for the role in 2006.
The 2018 Emmy Awards air on September 17 on NBC.
From: Harper’s BAZAAR US
