Zendaya Makes History as the Youngest Lead Actress Winner at the 2020 Emmys

Zendaya has won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Euphoria at the 2020 Emmys on Sunday, September 20.

In her acceptance speech, she thanked the TV Academy and all the other “incredible women” in the category. She said she admires them so much and says it is all crazy. The actress further adds, “To the incredible cast and crew of Euphoria, I’m so lucky to go to work with you every day, and I’m inspired by everything you do. I know this feels like a really weird time to be celebrating, but I just want to say that there is hope in young people.”

She added that her TV show might not be the best example of that but she presses that there is hope for young people. The actress also thanked her peers who are working on the streets. She said, “I see you, I admire you, I thank you.”

Zendaya has broken a record which was set by Jodie Comer back in 2019 as the youngest star to take home the top honor in the drama category. Jodie had won for her role in Killing Eve. She was 26 when she accepted the award over her co-star, Sandra Oh. Both the co-stars were nominated yet again alongside Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show); Olivia Coleman (The Crown) and Laura Linney (Ozark).

Zendaya did not just break the record for being the youngest lead actress to win an Emmy. But she also broke the record by being the first Black actor to take this trophy since How To Get Away With Murder’s Viola Davis in 2015.

Zendaya Breaks Record Set By Jodie Comer

Zendaya seemed speechless back when she found out that she was nominated for her role in Euphoria. The actress plays Rue Bennett on the HBO hit series. Her character is a high schooler who struggles with addiction. This is the first time that Zendaya was recognized for her acting in her first-ever major awards.

She said at the time that her heart is “overflowing” with joy and gratitude. The actress expressed how honored she feels to work besides the talented people that she can call her family. “I am a small piece of a big beautiful puzzle and I’m so proud of all of you,” the Disney alum wrote at the time via Instagram. 

She went on the thank the fans who watched her show. Zendaya wrote, “Thank you @samlev00 @hbo @a24 for everything and @televisionacad for this beautiful acknowledgment, thank you, thank you, thank you. We out here Emmy nominated y’all!!”

Euphoria was nominated for six Emmys this year including Outstanding Contemporary Costume, Outstanding Music Composition for a Series, and Outstanding Music Supervision. The show has already won its award for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Euphoria had to delay its production back in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the cast which also includes Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Sydney Sweeney; Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, and Eric Dane, returned to work earlier this month.

The 72nd Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, are airing live on ABC from 8-11 p.m. ET.