The 2024 Emmy nominations have been revealed, showcasing a remarkable increase in diversity and representation across the acting categories. This year’s slate of nominees features a strong presence of Asian American, Latino, Indigenous, and LGBTQ actors, marking a significant step towards inclusivity in the entertainment industry.
With 96 acting slots available, the number of people of color nominated has risen to 30 across all acting categories, compared to 25 in the previous year. In 2022, 42 people of color received nominations, with 30 in main categories and 12 in guest roles. The 2021 nominations included 25 people of color, 19 in main categories and six in guest roles.
Indigenous actors and creators have particularly shone in this year’s nominations. Lily Gladstone from ‘Under the Bridge’ and Kali Reis from ‘True Detective: Night Country’ made history as the first Indigenous women to be nominated for acting Emmys in the supporting actress (limited) category. FX’s ‘Reservation Dogs’ received a well-deserved nomination for outstanding comedy series, earning D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai his first acting nomination and marking the first lead acting mention for any Indigenous actor in TV Academy history.
Renowned executive producer Taika Waititi, associated with ‘Reservation Dogs’ and ‘What We Do in the Shadows,’ received double nominations, a first for an Indigenous individual. The acting ballots for this year included 1,957 actors across all Emmy performer categories, encompassing lead and supporting roles in drama and comedy, guest appearances, and short form content.
Latinos, constituting less than 6% of the submitted candidates, secured four nominations this year. The nominees include Sofia Vergara for lead actress limited in ‘Griselda,’ Liza Colón-Zayas for supporting comedy actress in ‘The Bear,’ Nava Mau for supporting actress limited in ‘Baby Reindeer,’ and Néstor Carbonell for guest drama actor in ‘Shōgun.’ Vergara is the second Latina to receive a nod in her category, following Anya Taylor-Joy of Argentinian descent for ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ in 2021. Colón-Zayas and Mau mark the third in their respective categories, while Carbonell is the third ever nominated after Jimmy Smits and 2022 winner Colman Domingo.
Additionally, Selena Gomez, executive producer of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ achieved a historic milestone as the most Emmy-nominated Latina producer with her third nomination for Hulu’s popular series. The 2024 Emmy nominations truly reflect a diverse and inclusive representation of talent in the entertainment industry, setting a positive precedent for future awards seasons.
