Sawai created history by becoming the first Asian woman to win the Best Lead Actress award at the Emmy Awards.
On September 15, 2024, Anna Sawai received a major honor at the Emmy Awards. She became the first woman of Asian descent to be awarded Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Anna became emotional and had tears in her eyes even before the award was announced.
“I started crying even before I heard my name. Today I am completely emotional,” Sawai said in her speech. She thanked all the people who helped her career, especially the producers of her show Shōgun, and gave a special thanks to her mother. “Mom, I love you so much. You are the one who brought me here today. You taught me to be strong, and that is what I showed in my role, Mariko.”
In the show Shōgun, Sawai played the role of Toda Mariko, who works as a translator for a powerful man. Her character is calm and strong, and Sawai’s performance impressed everyone.
Before the Emmy Awards, Sawai spoke about how difficult it was to let go of the character after filming ended. She even got emotional at times during interviews because she felt so attached to the role.
Sawai bought her mother a special Cartier ring to express her gratitude. “I didn’t buy it for myself because it was expensive, but I wanted to give my mother something special,” she said.
Sawai’s win was even more special because she was up against talented actresses like Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), and Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show).
Carrie Coon joked about the difficulty of wearing fancy costumes for long periods of time. Imelda Staunton felt a deep connection to the role of Queen Elizabeth. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have formed a strong friendship. Maya Erskine played a spy in a fun and adventurous show.
But the star of the night was Anna Sawai. Her win was a huge achievement and a new chapter for representation at the Emmy Awards. Her emotional speech and love for her mother made the night even more special.
News Source: PEOPLE
