Niecy Nash-Betts Wins First Emmy For Outstanding Supporting Actress
Niecy Nash-Betts snagged her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Nash-Betts used her time on stage to thank herself for never giving up on her dreams. The riveting speech also showed Black women some love — specifically Breonna Taylor and Sandra Bland.
“I’m a winner, baby!” the acclaimed entertainer expressed. “Thank you to the Most High for this divine moment. Thank you Ryan Murphy for seeing me. Evan Peters, I love you. Netflix. Every single person who voted for me, thank you. And my better half who picked me up when I was gutted from this work, thank you. And you know who I want to thank? I want to thank me — for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do. And I want to say to myself in front of all these beautiful people, ‘Go on girl with your bad self. You did that.'”
“Finally, I accept this award on behalf of every Black and Brown woman who has gone unheard yet overpoliced,” she continued. “Like Glenda Cleveland. Like Sandra Bland. Like Breonna Taylor. As an artist, my job is to speak truth to power, and baby, I’m a do it ’til the day I die. Mama, I won!”
The California native was asked about her comments backstage, Variety reports. Nash-Betts didn’t shy away from the question and elaborated on her love for self. She explained that she is the only one who knows how much success “cost me.”
“I’m the only one who knows how much it cost me. I’m the only one who knows how many nights I cried because I couldn’t be seen for a certain type of role,” she said. Fans can watch the actress’ additional comments on her speech in the video shared below.
This isn’t the first time that Niecy Nash-Betts was nominated for an Emmy. She was previously nominated for four Emmy Awards, including two in the Best Supporting Actress category. 2019’s When They See Us also found Nash-Betts was also nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or movie.
Watch Niecy Nash-Betts’ full acceptance speech above.
Niecy Nash-Betts on thanking herself at the Emmys: “I’m the only one who knows how much it cost me. I’m the only one who knows how many nights I cried because I couldn’t be seen for a certain type of role.” https://t.co/0BE4boLhVX pic.twitter.com/Km0g26FwNp
— Variety (@Variety) January 16, 2024
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