Mj Rodriguez Makes Emmys History as the First Trans Nominee in a Lead Acting Category

Erica Gonzales
·2 min read
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The category is … history making.

Pose star Mj Rodriguez made history today as the first transgender performer to be nominated for a lead acting category at the Emmy Awards. She's currently in the running for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her final act as Blanca Evangelista on the FX show, which bowed with its third and final season in June.

Rodriguez isn't the first trans actress to receive an Emmy nomination, though. Laverne Cox was nominated in a guest category for her role in Orange Is the New Black, the Los Angeles Times pointed out. Still, both achievements are worth celebrating.

While Rodriguez has yet to address the milestone, Pose showrunner Steven Canals quickly celebrated the news on Twitter.

GLAAD also praised her nomination as "a breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood, and a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance over the past three seasons of Pose."

Rodriguez is in good company in the lead actress race. She's up against Uzo Aduba (In Treatment), Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country), Emma Corrin (The Crown), Olivia Colman (The Crown), and Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale).

Pose was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, and Rodriguez's costar Billy Porter received the third nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. (He took home the award in 2019.) The series is also up for the titles of Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup, and Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic).

With her historic achievement today, it's clear that Rodriguez has come a long way since the start of her journey on Pose. She previously recalled her audition experience to Harper's BAZAAR.

“I was at a crossroads in my career. I didn’t know if I wanted to keep pursuing acting because I had been receiving so many ‘no’s.’ Then two opportunities came to me. One was my first Broadway show; then I saw this breakdown for Pose in Backstage magazine. I saw the description of Blanca and what she represented, and I knew, I want this role.”

The Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 19, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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