Colón-Zayas, who plays cook Tina Marrero on the hit show, got emotional after winning the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. The 52-year-old Puerto Rican actress is the first Latina woman to win in this category, a milestone she acknowledged in a short but powerful speech.
"Thank you to my husband, David Zayas," she said, adding that she hadn't prepared a speech despite her husband encouraging her to do so.
"He told me to write a speech and I didn't, because I didn't think it would be possible. How could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle (James) and Sheryl Lee Ralph and Hannah (Einbinder)?"
Liza Colón-Zayas accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in ‘The Bear’ at the 76th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Colón-Zayas was up against Hollywood veterans Meryl Streep ("Only Murders in the Building") and Carol Burnett ("Palm Royale") in the category. Hannah Einbinder ("Hacks") was nominated, too.
The actress told the other nominees she reveres them before thanking her family and her co-stars on "The Bear," which follows the staff of a restaurant in Chicago. She closed with a message about voting in the 2024 presidential election.
"Thank you for giving me a new life with this show, and to all the Latinas who are looking at me, keep believing and vote," she concluded. "Vote for your rights."
Liza Colon-Zayas calls first Emmy win for 'The Bear' 'surreal'
In the press room, Colón-Zayas called her win "an epic honor."
"People can see this and see that it is possible," she continued. "Who would dream that that could be possible? These legends, all of them, and so it was surreal … There's so many other people I also wanted to thank."
Ultimately, she wanted to express how in "awe" she is of her support system. "Of the people supporting me this whole time and that we feel seen as Brown and Black women, that we do not have an expiration date and that we all vote. If I could have a microphone just once, that's what I want to get across."
It was the first Emmy win and first nomination for Colón-Zayas, who did not receive a nod for the first season of "The Bear."
Her victory came shortly after her co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach won for best supporting actor in a comedy series for the show, which is being recognized for its acclaimed second season.
"I'm so grateful for this show, and to work with these beautiful people," Moss-Bachrach said, adding that doing so is "such a privilege." He also thanked his parents, who are "taking such nice care of my cat."
In the press room Sunday, Jeremy Allen White called witnessing Colón-Zayas receiving her first Emmy "just the greatest."
"Everybody does such beautiful work on this show and to see them recognized, it just makes me so happy and so proud," the actor said. "I just love them and I love the show."
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