In a featured night for HBO’s “Euphoria” at the Creative Arts Emmy on September 4, it was especially joyous for actor Colman Domingo, who scored his first major industry win for his poignant role as Ali, the patient sponsor of the teenager Rue (Zendaya). about the controversial drama.
The ubiquitous actor, recently seen on television in “Fear the Walking Dead” and “The Twilight Zone” among his many credits, is a fan favorite on “Euphoria,” crediting his Emmy-nominated co-star, Zendaya, for creating such a great vibe to work on the HBO drama.
“We have such a connection, which is very deep and complex,” Domingo said backstage after his win for Best Guest Actor in a Drama. “He feels like we’ve known each other for many, many, many years. Sam [Levinson, ‘Euphoria’ creator] creates a job for the two of us that feels very natural. She is an amazing scene partner. She’s probably one of my favorite scene partners I’ve ever had in my career.”
Domingo also acknowledged in the press room his gratitude for being an actor who has been working for a long time.
“I’ve been working like a lot of other artists who never get much praise, who are just the workhorses of the industry,” he said. “So, I think this is for them as well. I think it’s like saying, ‘Hey, go ahead and stay there. So, I think it’s not just about changing my life, [it] it’s about changing others and making sure people stay with it. Stay committed to the craft, keep an open heart and find opportunities. Pray for yourself, pray for other people. I think that’s what I’ve stood for in this industry, and I’m very grateful for that.”
Domingo was recently nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Zola”) and is also a 2011 Tony nominee (for the musical “The Scottsboro Boys”). He has two promising projects with a lot of hype that could lead him down the road to an Oscar nomination in 2023: the lead role in Netflix’s gay rights biopic “Rustin” and a terrific role as Mister in the long-awaited adaptation. musical of “The Color purple.”
