American actress, Zendaya Maree Stoerman Coleman, became the youngest lead actress drama winner in history on Sunday as she broke the record set by Jodie Comer last year.
Zendaya picked up the prestigious award for her role in ‘Euphoria’. She delivered a haunting, unsettling performance as high-schooler Rue Bennett struggling with substance abuse in HBO’s dark drama. Zendaya has been praised for carrying the uneven series with style and sensitivity.
Zendaya beat other stars in the TV academy category which include previous year winner, Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Colman, and Laura Linney to pick up the award for the ‘Lead Actress In Drama‘ at age 24.
In her speech, the actress said “I want to say thank you to the TV Academy, to all the other incredible women in this category,” Zendaya said while accepting her Emmy from home. “I admire you all so much. This is pretty crazy. I don’t really cry. Thank you, HBO, and A24 for all your support. Thank you to my family and my team … I’m really grateful to have you here.
“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. And to [creator] Sam Levinson, I appreciate you so much … I’m so grateful for [my character] Rue. I’m so grateful that you trust me with your story. And I hope I can continue to do you proud.”
Last year, at age 26, Comer set the category’s age record as the youngest woman to ever win the drama actress prize. And a 25-year-old Julia Garner (“Ozark”) was the youngest winner in the supporting actress in a drama category since “Family” star Kristy McNichol last won as a teenager in 1979.
Zendaya; a singer, dancer and model took time to appreciate and send a message of hope to young people around the world trying their best to make things happen.
She said, “I know this feels like a really, really weird time to be celebrating but I just want to say that there is hope in the young people out there. I know that our TV show doesn’t always feel like a great example of that, but there is hope in the young people.
“And I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets — I see you. I admire you. I thank you, and yeah, thank you so, so much. This is — whoa. OK. Thank you.” she added.
Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle in ‘Spider-Man: Home Coming’ (2017). She was also ranked as one of the best-dressed women in 2018 by Fashion website, Net-a-Porter.
Congratulations to the youngest ever winner of ‘Emmy’s Lead Actress in Drama’ category, Zendaya Coleman.
