Emmys 2022: 9 Stars Who Won Their First Emmy Award & Made History

We’ve had some incredible and outstanding TV series this year and there’s no better way to discover new ones through this year’s Emmy Awards! The 74th annual Emmy Awards was held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and we got to see the stars rock the red carpet and gather together to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Of course, the award ceremony is more than just who is best dressed as it is also about making history. Many new and ongoing TV series have been nominated for multiple award categories and we’ve been looking forward to who will win their very first Emmy. We got the full list right now so let’s get right into it!

Sheryl Lee Ralph

• Category: Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series – “Abbot Elementary”
• Fun Fact: Not only is this her first Emmy win but her first Emmy nomination as well!
• Acceptance Speech: “To anyone who has ever had a dream and thought they’d never come true, I’m here to tell you that this is what believing looks like!”
• Memorable Moment: The actress was brought to tears when she was announced the winner and sung “Endangered Species” by Dianne Reeves during her acceptance speech.

Quinta Brunson

• Category: Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series – “Abbot Elementary”
• Fun Fact: The actress and writer is the third Black person, and second Black woman, to win Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
• Acceptance Speech: “In case I am not back here again, I have to thank my mom, dad, my brothers and sisters and my wonderful husband cause he’s the most supportive man I’ve ever known and to my incredible cast and crew! Thank you!”

Lizzo

• Category: Outstanding Competition Program – “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls”
• Fun Fact: Lizzo’s win was a shocked (but well-deserved) win since fan favourite “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was the toughest competitor and has won multiple Emmy awards over the years since 2016.
• Acceptance Speech: “When I was a little girl, all I wanted to see was me in the media; Fat like me, Black like me, Beautiful like me — this is for the big girls!”

Amanda Seyfried

• Category: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – “The Dropout”
• Fun Fact: This is the actress’s first time being nominated for an Emmy and also her first win.
• Acceptance Speech: “Thanks [to the] Television Academy for recognising me among all these amazing actors”

Lee Jung Jae (이정재) 

• Category: Lead Actor in a Drama Series – “Squid Games”
• Fun Fact: Lee Jung Jae (이정재) is the first Asian actor in history to win the award for the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
• Acceptance Speech: “To everyone watching from Korea, my dearest fans, friends and family who have always supported me, I want to share this joy with you. Thank you!”

Michael Keaton

• Category: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – “Dopesick”
• Fun Fact: With his first Emmy win, Michael Keaton is now the first male performer in history to sweep all 5 major TV awards in a single year: Emmy, Critics Choice Awards, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Television Critics Association Awards.
• Acceptance Speech: “Over the years, I’ve had some doubters and you know what, we’re cool. But I also have all these people for all these years who were the true believers, I f**king love you man”

Jennifer Coolidge

• Category: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie – “The White Lotus”
• Fun Fact: This is the actress’s first Emmy nomination and win after 29 years of working in the industry.
• Acceptance Speech: “I took a lavender bath tonight before the show and it made me swell up inside my dress so I’m having a hard time speaking but anyways this is so thrilling”.
• Memorable Moment: At the end of her hilarious acceptance speech, the actress started dancing when the music started playing much to audience’s amusement.

Matthew Macfadyen

• Category: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – “Succession”
• Fun Fact: The actor has been on “Succession” since the first season in 2018 but have only been nominated for an Emmy for the first time this year for his role as Tom Wambsgans.
• Acceptance Speech: “Thank you so much to the Television Academy, I’m deeply flattered. It really such a pleasure and a privilege to play this bonkers-gift of a role in this wonderful show.”

Bonus:

Zendaya 

• Category: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – “Euphoria”
• Fun Fact: While this is not her first win, Zendaya still made history by being the first black woman and the youngest to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice!
• Fun Fact 2: Her boyfriend, British actor Tom Holland was the first person she texted after winning her award.
• Acceptance Speech: “My greatest wish for “Euphoria” is that it can help heal people and thank you to everyone for sharing your stories with me. I’m so grateful for your stories and I carry them with me and with [Rue], thank you so much”.