Mj Rodriguez makes history as she becomes first trans woman nominated for lead actress Primetime Emmy
- The 30-year-old actress earned it for work starring as house mother and nurse Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in FX ballroom culture period drama series Pose
- She faces heavy-competition including: Uzo Aduba (In Treatment), Olivia Colman (The Crown), Emma Corrin (The Crown), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale), and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country)
- No doubt this is a massive moment when it comes to LGBTQIA+ representation as only two previous trans performers had been nominated
- Laverne Cox was nominated in the guest actress category for Orange Is The New Black in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2020
- Rain Valdez of Razor tongue who earned a short form comedy or drama actress nomination last year
- Obviously if she wins in September, Mj will be the first eve trans performer to take home an Emmy statue
- Rodriguez was not the only Pose star recognized by the Television Academy as Billy Porter earned a nomination for lead actor in a drama
Mj Rodriguez has made history as the first transwoman to be Primetime Emmy nominated for top category outstanding lead actress in a drama.
The 30-year-old actress - full name Michaela Antonia Jaé Rodriguez - earned the recognition for her work starring as house mother and nurse Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in FX ballroom culture period drama series Pose.
Ron Cephas Jones, 64, from the series This Is Us made the announcement during the livestream of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations on Tuesday morning while joined by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones, 31, of Hamilton fame.
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Trailblazing: Mj Rodriguez (seen in New York back in April) has made history as the first transwoman to be Primetime Emmy nominated for top category outstanding lead actress in a drama
Rodriguez was excited about the milestone as she told Variety: 'I do believe this is a pivotal moment. There’s never been a trans woman who has been nominated as a leading outstanding actress and I feel like that pushes the needle forward so much for now the door to be knocked down for so many people — whether they be male or trans female, gender nonconforming, LGBTQIA+, it does not matter.
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'A moment like this extends and opens and elongates the possibilities of what’s going to happen and I believe the Academy is definitely making it possible and their eyes are more than open.
'Yes, I do believe they’re going to continue, and I also feel like we’re going to keep speaking and encouraging and informing and educating people around the world. I think that’s the most important thing.'
Shining star: The 30-year-old actress earned the recognition for her work starring as house mother and nurse Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista in FX ballroom culture period drama series Pose
Big news: Ron Cephas Jones, 64, from the series This Is Us made the announcement during the livestream of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations on Tuesday morning
'I do believe this is a pivotal moment': Rodriguez (seen last month at the BET Awards in LA) was excited about the milestone as she chatted with Variety
She faces heavy-competition including: Uzo Aduba (In Treatment), Olivia Colman (The Crown), Emma Corrin (The Crown), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale), and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country).
No doubt this is a massive moment when it comes to LGBTQIA+ representation - especially for trans representation - at the Emmys which are considered to be the biggest night in television.
Only two previous trans performers had been previously recognized by the Television Academy: Laverne Cox who was nominated in the guest actress category for Orange Is The New Black in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2020 as well as Rain Valdez of Razor tongue who earned a short form comedy or drama actress nomination last year.
It is interesting to note, however, as cis-gender, heterosexual man Jeffrey Tambor received three Emmy nominations, and won in 2015 and 2016, for his performance of a transgender woman on Amazon Prime Video's Transparent.
Iconic: Only two previous trans performers had been previously recognized by the Television Academy including Laverne Cox who was nominated in the guest actress category for Orange Is The New Black in 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2020
Bold: It is interesting to note, however, as cis-gender, heterosexual man Jeffrey Tambor received three Emmy nominations, and won in 2015 and 2016, for his performance of a transgender woman on Amazon Prime Video's Transparent
Obviously if she wins in September, Mj will be the first eve trans performer to take home an Emmy statue.
Rodriguez was not the only Pose star recognized by the Television Academy as Billy Porter earned a nomination for lead actor in a drama.
The 51-year-old actor plays ballroom emcee and mentor Pray Tell and has previously won the honor for the show's first season in 2019.
Pose was also nominated for outstanding drama series along with The Boys (Amazon), Bridgerton (Netflix), The Crown (Netflix), The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO), The Mandalorian (Disney+), and This Is Us (NBC).
The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards will be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, September 19.
Dynamic duo: Rodriguez was not the only Pose star recognized by the Television Academy as Billy Porter earned a nomination for lead actor in a drama
THE 73RD ANNUAL EMMY NOMINATIONS FOR 2021
Drama Series
The Boys (Amazon)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Pose (FX)
This Is Us (NBC)
Bridgerton was nominated for Best Drama Series
Comedy Series
Black-ish (ABC)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Hacks (HBO Max)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Pen15 (Hulu)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
The Kominsky Method was on the list for Best Comedy Series
Variety Talk Series
Conan (TBS)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Competition Series
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Nailed It! (Netflix)
RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)
Jean Smart was recognized for Hacks
Lead Actress, Comedy
Aidy Bryant (Shrill)
Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)
Allison Janney (Mom)
Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish)
Jean Smart (Hacks)
Lead Actor, Comedy
Anthony Anderson (Black-ish)
Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method)
William H. Macy (Shameless)
Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Kenan Thompson (Kenan)
Lead Actor, Limited Series, Movie or Anthology
Paul Bettany (WandaVision)
Hugh Grant (The Undoing)
Ewan McGregor (Halston)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton)
Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton)
Kate Winslet was recognized for her work in Mare Of Easttown
Lead Actress, Limited Series, Movie or Anthology
Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You)
Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha)
Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision)
Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit)
Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)
Limited Series
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mare of Easttown (HBO)
The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)
The Underground Railroad (Amazon)
WandaVision (Disney+)
WandaVision landed in Limited Series
Lead Actress, Drama
Uzo Aduba (In Treatment)
Olivia Colman (The Crown)
Emma Corrin (The Crown)
Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale)
Mj Rodriguez (Pose)
Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country)
Lead Actor, Drama
Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)
Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country)
Josh O'Connor (The Crown)
Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton)
Billy Porter (Pose)
Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason)
Sterling K. Brown was nominated for Lead Actor in a Drama
Television Movie
Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square
Oslo
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Sylvie's Love
Uncle Frank
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian)
O-T Fagbenie (The Handmaid's Tale)
John Lithgow (Perry Mason)
Tobias Menzies (The Crown)
Max Minghella (The Handmaid's Tale)
Chris Sullivan (This Is Us)
Bradley Whitford (The Handmaid's Tale)
Michael K. Williams (Lovecraft Country)
Gillian Anderson in The Crown for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gillian Anderson (The Crown)
Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown)
Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid's Tale)
Ann Dowd (The Handmaid's Tale)
Aunjanue Ellis (Lovecraft Country)
Emerald Fennell (The Crown)
Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid's Tale)
Samira Wiley (The Handmaid's Tale)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Hacks)
Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso)
Brendan Hunt (Ted Lasso)
Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso)
Paul Reiser (The Kominsky Method)
Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso)
Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live)
Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)
Aidy Bryant was given nods for Shrill and Saturday Night Live
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live)
Rosie Perez (The Flight Attendant)
Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live)
Juno Temple (Ted Lasso)
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Thomas Brodie Sangster (The Queen's Gambit)
Daveed Diggs (Hamilton)
Paapa Essiedu (May Destroy You)
Jonathan Groff (Hamilton)
Evan Peters (Mare Of Easttown)
Anthony Ramos (Hamilton)
Kate McKinnon was on the list for her work on Saturday Night Live
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton)
Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision)
Moses Ingram (The Queen's Gambit)
Julianne Nicholson (Mare Of Easttown)
Jean Smart (Mare Of Easttown)
Phillipa Soo (Hamilton)
Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Don Cheadle ('The Falcon and the Winter Soldier')
Charles Dance ('The Crown')
Timothy Olyphant ('The Mandalorian')
Courtney B. Vance ('Lovecraft Country')
Carl Weathers ('The Mandalorian')
Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Alexis Bledel ('The Handmaid's Tale')
Claire Foy ('The Crown')
McKenna Grace ('The Handmaid's Tale')
Sophie Okonedo ('Ratched')
Phylicia Rashad ('This Is Us')
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin ('Saturday Night Live')
Dave Chappelle ('Saturday Night Live')
Morgan Freeman ('The Kominsky Method')
Daniel Kaluuya ('Saturday Night Live')
Daniel Levy ('Saturday Night Live')
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Adams ('Hacks')
Yvette Nicole Brown ('A Black Lady Sketch Show')
Bernadette Peters ('Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist')
Issa Rae ('A Black Lady Sketch Show')
Maya Rudolph ('Saturday Night Live')
Kristen Wiig ('Saturday Night Live')
Alec Baldwin was nominated for his role on Saturday Night Live
Variety Sketch Series
'A Black Lady Sketch Show'
'Saturday Night Live'
Variety Special (Live)
Celebrating America – An Inauguration Night Special (Multiple Platforms)
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
The Oscars (ABC)
The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd (CBS)
Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 (Showtime)
Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
David Byrne's American Utopia (HBO)
8:46 – Dave Chappelle (Netflix)
Friends: The Reunion (HBO Max)
Hamilton (Disney Plus)
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (HBO Max)
Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)
Oprah with Megan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special (CBS)
Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy (CNN)
United Shades Of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN)
VICE (Showtime)
Host For a Reality or Competition Program
Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness ('Queer Eye')
Nicole Byer ('Nailed It!')
Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary ('Shark Tank')
Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons ('Top Chef')
RuPaul ('RuPaul's Drag Race')
The Oscars was singled out for their 2020 show
Animated Program
'Big Mouth' (Netflix)
'Bob's Burgers' (Fox)
'Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal' (Adult Swim)
'The Simpsons' (Fox)
'South Park: The Pandemic Special' (Comedy Central)
Short Form Animated Program
'Love, Death + Robots' (Netflix)
'Maggie Simpson In: The Force Awakens From Its Nap' (Disney)
'Once Upon a Snowman' (Disney Plus)
'Robot Chicken' (Adult Swim)
