Mj Rodriguez makes history as first trans actress to score lead Emmy nomination

By Alma Fabiani

Published Jul 14, 2021 at 11:42 AM

Reading time: 2 minutes

20524

Pose star Mj Rodriguez broke new ground in Tuesday’s Emmy nominations, becoming the first transgender performer to be nominated for a lead acting role in a primetime series. Rodriguez was nominated for playing Blanca Rodriguez in the third and final season of Pose, which wrapped on FX in early June 2021.

She is just the third transgender actor to receive an Emmy nomination: Laverne Cox scored four supporting actress nominations for Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black between 2014 and 2020, and Rain Valdez earned a nod last year for lead actress in a short-form series for Razor Tongue. Should Rodriguez win, she would be the first transgender person to take home an acting Emmy.

“I can’t even believe it,” a beaming Rodriguez said in an Instagram live reaction to the news, adding that she wants the award to be for “every intersectionality of my community,” including the black, Latinx, and trans communities.

Rodriguez has served as the show’s emotional centre in her role as Blanca since the very first season. “Even from the pilot episode, when Blanca confronts Helena St. Rogers (Charlayne Woodard) with a breathtaking monologue about motherhood and losing one’s sense of self-worth, Rodriguez has demonstrated remarkable skill and emotional depth,” writes them.

Seeing the actress finally get the recognition that she’s due after three seasons of performing alongside fellow trailblazers like Indya Moore, Angelica Ross, and Billy Porter, who won a 2019 Lead Actor Emmy for his portrayal of Pray Tell in Pose is inspiring and moving to say the least.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Michaela Jaé (@mjrodriguez7)

“Rodriguez’s Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is a breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood, and a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance over the past three seasons of Pose,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis on Twitter.

GLAAD, along with dozens of other LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, had urged the Television Academy, the voting body which awards the Emmys, to recognize Pose’s contributions in a June open letter. In that letter, the groups highlighted the “undeniable emotional and cultural chord” struck by the show “that will not soon be forgotten.”

Rodriguez’s historic nomination marks one step closer to an entertainment landscape that rewards and respects trans artists and the real stories they want to tell, leaving cisgender film executives’ misconceptions and stereotypes behind. The series also earned a nod for best drama and nominations for directing (Steven Canals) and writing (Canals, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Janet Mock and Our Lady J) on the series finale.

The Emmy Awards 2021 are set to air on 19 September on CBS, with Cedric the Entertainer serving as host.

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

Are Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler feuding? Rumours swirl following Oscars 2025

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What’s Dior bags got to do with the Delta plane crash? Unpacking the wildest conspiracy theories about the Toronto flight

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Woah Vicky fake her kidnapping? Exploring her most viral and controversial moments

By Malavika Pradeep

What is a Labubu? Unboxing the monster plushie capturing hearts, wallets and belt loops

By Charlie Sawyer

The Girl’s Spot London female-only gym faces backlash after CEO reveals it will exclude trans women

By Charlie Sawyer

What is Make America Healthy Again? Inside Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s plan to cure America’s health system

By Abby Amoakuh

Who is Lauren Handy, the woman who kept the remains of five foetuses in her refrigerator?

By Abby Amoakuh

Planned Parenthood goes viral for Wicked meme remix that leaves netizens speechless

By Abby Amoakuh

Jacob Elordi divides the internet with new beard and long hair, setting off different theories

By Abby Amoakuh

MrBeast faces new backlash as fans demand refunds for disastrous Las Vegas immersive experience

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Who is Onijah Robinson, the 33-year-old woman who’s refusing to leave Pakistan after failed teen romance?

By Abby Amoakuh

Meta now allows content calling women property and household items on its social platforms

By Abby Amoakuh

Man behind Glasgow Willy Wonka experience put on sex offenders list for abusive behaviour

By Charlie Sawyer

Can Drake actually sue Kendrick Lamar for his Super Bowl performance diss?

By Charlie Sawyer

Why I never considered reporting the man who flashed me to the police

By Julie Huynh

Hockey fan edits are taking over TikTok, and it’s all thanks to Gen Z girlies

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Everything you need to know about Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans’ love triangle in Materialists

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Celebrities call out Blue Origin for sending Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez to space

By Abby Amoakuh

Is Telegram the biggest threat to women’s safety? Chats for rape advice and sharing nudes suggest so

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Is Benson Boone Mormon? The singer opens up about how religion has shaped his life