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Emmys 2020: Zendaya takes home the Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for 'Euphoria'

With some of the most talented actresses being nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress Award this year, the competition was tight

Zendaya wins the 72nd Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for her role of Rue on HBO's 'Euphoria'. The award was presented by Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the entire show.

With some of the most talented actresses being nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress Award this year, the competition was tight - winning the award aside, being nominated in itself was an honor. 

In what is her first Primetime nomination ever, Zendaya was up for the award for her performance as Rue in HBO's 'Euphoria'. This also makes her the youngest contender in the category at the age of 24-years-old. Her work as Rue garnered critical praise as well as a nomination for a Critics' Choice Award.

When accepting the award, she said, "Thank you to all of the other incredible women in this category. I admire you so much." She also took time to thank her family fellow cast members, team and the creator Sam Levinson, who based the series on his own battle with drug addiction. "I appreciate you so much; you're my family. I'm so grateful for Rue. I'm so grateful that you trusted me with your story."

"I just want to say that there is hope in the young people out there," she continued with her speech."And I just want to say to all our peers out there doing the work in the streets: I see you, I admire you, I thank you." What makes Zendaya's victory even more groundbreaking is the fact that she became the second-ever Black woman to win the category, following Viola Davis, who won the award in 2015 for her work in 'How To Get Away With Murder'.

British actress Olivia Colman was nominated for her work as Queen Elizabeth II on 'The Crown'. Sandra Oh, best known for her work on 'Grey's Anatomy', was nominated for her role of Eve Polastri in 'Killing Eve'. The show also had its other protagonist nominated for the same award: Jodie Comer's Villanelle. Among the many nominations from Netflix's 'Ozark' this year, one of them was also Laura Linney's Wendy Byrde. 

Other contenders for the award include Jennifer Aniston's performance in Apple TV+'s 'The Morning Show'.