‘Palm Royale’s Carol Burnett Makes History As Oldest Female Comedy Acting Nominee

Carol Burnett has become the oldest female nominated for an acting Emmy Award at the age of 91. For her portrayal of Norma Dellacorte in the Apple TV+ period dramedy Palm Royale , Burnett competes in the category of “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.”

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Former record holders include Cecily Tyson, who at 93 was recognized by the TV Academy under the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her work in ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder ; and Ernest Borgnine, 92 in 2009, was recognized for his work in NBC’s ER under the “Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series” category.

Before this latest distinction, the legendary Burnett received 24 Primetime Emmy nominations which includes 7 wins. Notable recognitions include Outstanding Variety Series-Musical for her eponymous series in 1972, 1973 and 1975; “Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series” in 1997 for Mad About You ; and “Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love last year.

Burnett, also a Grammy and Tony winner, portrayed Norma in Apple’s Palm Royale , the grande dame of Palm Beach high society and keeper of secrets with more than a few of her own.

Written by Abe Sylvia and directed by Tate Taylor, Palm Royale is a story about gorgeously impossible people. Set during the powderkeg era of the early 1970s, it follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) and her attempt to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach High Society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, the series asks the same questions that baffle us today: Who gets a seat at the table, how do you get a seat at the table, and what will you sacrifice to get there?

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Burnett was a standout even as she lay comatose for many of the early episodes while often interacting with Maxine and Ricky Martin’s Robert Diaz, two of the actors she was excited to work with.

“All I had to do was hear who was going to be in it: Kristen, Laura [Dern], Ricky—it’s just an incredible cast. I didn’t even read the script. I wanted to work with these people and get to know them. We had dinner and a lot of fun,” Burnett shared with Deadline at TCA’s in February . “Of course, in the first few episodes, I’m in a coma and I still got paid. So it was a slam dunk.”

In the category, Burnett will compete against Liza Colón-Zayas, Hannah Einbinder, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Meryl Streep.

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