Zendaya Emmy has made history again.
The mononymous actress and singer won her second Emmy for her role as Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria on Monday night, becoming the first black woman to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award twice. The win also made Zendaya, who recently turned 26, the youngest two-time Emmy winner in history.
Laura Linney (Ozark), Melanie Lynskey (Yellow jackets), Reese Witherspoon (The morning show), Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh (kill eve) were also at this year’s prize.
Zendaya’s lead actress wins in 2020 for the first season of Euphoria was also a first: At the time, she was the youngest woman to ever earn that accolade.
Zendaya was also up for the coveted Outstanding Drama as an executive producer on Euphoriasecond season, but the show ended up losing to fellow provocative HBO drama succession.
Zendaya shares her “greatest wish” for Euphoria Impact of the role
Zendaya’s portrayal of drug-addicted teenager Rue Bennett is rough and sometimes difficult to watch. After taking drugs to cope with the tragic loss of her father and mismanaged mental illness, Rue struggles to stay sober and manage relationships with her loved ones. While the teen relapses not long after leaving rehab, Zendaya stuns with her performance and shows the awkward, ugly sides of addiction, especially as it all comes to a head in the fifth episode of Season 2.
The actress said she hopes at the end of the day that her work on the show will help bring healing to those who feel they can relate to Rue (or her loved ones, watching almost helplessly as she self-destructs).
“My greatest wish for Euphoria was that it could help heal people,” she said, insinuating that this was not a role she takes lightly and thanked the cast and crew for creating “a safe place to make” [a] very difficult performance.”
“I want to thank everyone who has loved Rue or feels they are a Rue, I want you to know I am so grateful for your stories,” she added. “I carry them with me and I carry them with her.”
Also starring Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira and Maude Apatow, Euphoria Season 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max.