Mj RodriguezmadeEmmyshistory on Tuesday.
Rodriguez, 30,was nominatedin the outstanding lead actress in a drama series category for her performance as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista onPose. She was recognized alongsideJurnee Smollett(Lovecraft Country),Uzo Aduba(In Treatment),Emma Corrin(The Crown),Olivia Colman(The Crown) andElisabeth Moss(The Handmaid’s Tale).
The nod makes Rodriguez the first openly transgender performer to be nominated in a lead acting category at the Emmys.
Orange Is the New BlackstarLaverne Coxin 2014 became the first transgender person to be nominated for an acting award. (She would later be nominated three more times in the outstanding guest actress in a drama series category.) Last year,Razor Tongue’s Rain Valdez was nominated for outstanding actress in a short form comedy or drama series.
Mj Rodriguez.Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Also on Tuesday, Rodriguez’s cisgender costarBilly Porterwas nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role as Pray Tell. Porter, 51, has been nominated twice before and won in 2019, making himthe first openly gay Black man to winthe category.
And last but not least,Posewas nominated for outstanding drama series following its third and final season, which concluded on June 6.
In a statement, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called Rodriguez’s nomination “a breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood, and a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance over the past three seasons ofPOSE.”
“Additionally, the show’s nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as Billy Porter’s third nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, mark a historic show that undoubtedly raised the bar for trans representation on television and changed the way viewers around the world understand the trans community,” Ellis continued. “As over 40 leading LGBTQ organizationspointed out in our open letteraboutPOSEto Emmy Award voters, representation matters. Congratulations, Michaela Jaé, Billy Porter, and the entirePOSEteam — the world is standing with you and applauding your talents.”
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Dominique Jackson(Elektra),Indya Moore(Angel), Hailie Sahar (Lulu),Dyllón Burnside(Ricky), Angel Bismark Curiel (Lil Papi), Ryan Jamaal Swain (Damon) andAngelica Ross(Candy) were also in the main cast.
MJ Rodriguez inPose.Eric Liebowitz/FX
“I couldn’t have imagined something like this in a million years and it happened. It’s very, very emotional,” she said in May. “I’m kind of at a loss of words as to what has been happening after finding outPoseis ending. It’s just been nothing but an avalanche of amazing, amazing opportunities.”
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Rodriguez stressed thatPosewould “leave a lasting legacy” on generation to come. “It will never disappear, it will go down in history,” she said. “I don’t think we’ll have the opportunity to do it again. I don’t think anyone will do it like us again. I’m saying that in all confidence.”
The 73rdEmmy Awardswill air live on Sep. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
source: people.com
