Sandra Oh marks history as the first ever Asian actress to be nominated in a lead actress category at the 2018 Emmys.
Star of the BBC series “Killing Eve,” Oh is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
In a statement provided to Entertainment Tonight, Oh commented about her nomination, “I feel tremendous gratitude and joy with this nomination. I am thrilled for [writer and creator] Phoebe Waller Bridge’s nomination and for the entire cast/crew of ‘Killing Eve.’ I share this moment with my community.”
Oh added, “PS. I think my mother at this moment may actually be satisfied.”
The Canadian-Asian actress has expressed the importance of Asian representation in the media, who are often depicted as sidekicks, demeaning stereotypes, or played by non-Asians entirely.
About the color-blind roles portrayed in “Killing Eve,” Oh stated, “Definitely understanding deeply that it’s not enough and to encourage our own community to find its own voice in its own way, that’s one thing that I feel we have not found our own footing yet because it has to be from us, uniquely in us, and there’s a lot to explore in that because Asians are very, very diverse.”
With tears in her eyes, Oh posted a photo of her reaction to the nomination on Twitter.
“Omg wtf?? This is me hearing about Emmy nom w/ fellow sister @michellekrusiec – my expression is kinda ..what?” Oh said.
Fans quickly took to Twitter to express their joy and celebration about the nomination.
