The Bear‘s Liza Colón-Zayas won the award for best supporting actress in a comedy series at the 2024 Emmys, making her the first Latina actress to win in the category.
“Thank you to my husband David Zayas, he told me to write a speech and I didn’t because I didn’t think it would be possible,” Colón-Zayas said as she accepted the Emmy award presented to her by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney. “How, how could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle [James] and Sheryl Lee Ralph and Hannah [Einbinder]. I love you all from the bottom of my heart, and all the women — my mommy, thank you.”
Colón-Zayas, who won for her role as Tina on The Bear, also acknowledged the cast of the FX comedy, saying “thank you for giving me new life with this show,” before adding, “And to all the Latinas who are looking at me, keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights.”
This is Colón-Zayas’s first Emmy nomination and first win. At the Emmy Performer Nominee Celebration Friday, The Bear star talked to The Hollywood Reporter about the prospect of her making history at the 2024 Emmys. “It’s epic,” she started. “The women who are in the same category with me, I love and admire them so much so either way I win to be considered their peers. And then if it happens, it’s epic for women and people who look like me. I’ve done something.”
The Bear kicked off the show with three actings wins in the first hour, also for Ebon Moss-Bachrach as best supporting actor in a comedy and Jeremy Allen White for best actor in a comedy, both for two consecutive years. When creator Christopher Storer later took the win for best directing a comedy, the series set a new record for most wins in a single season for a comedy with 11, besting its own tally from last year when it won 10.
The 76th annual Emmy Awards, co-hosted by father-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, are broadcasting live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET. See all the red carpet arrivals.