Judith Light achieved a significant milestone in her career by securing her first Primetime Emmy at the 75th annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The renowned American actor won the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Competing against notable figures like Becky Ann Baker, Sarah Niles, Harriet Walter, Quinta Brunson, and Taraji P. Henson, Light expressed her joy during her brief acceptance speech, exclaiming, “What a way to start a new year!”
Acknowledging her fellow nominees, Light, who had previously won two Daytime Emmys in 1980 and 1981 for her outstanding lead actress role in the ABC soap opera ‘One Life to Live,’ commended the creators of ‘Poker Face’ for crafting the memorable character of Irene Smothers. Irene, a resident of a retirement home and part of a duo with S. Epatha Merkerson, was characterized by a penchant for murder.
In her post-win statements, Light conveyed her gratitude, emphasizing the significance of the recognition from the Academy after being in the industry for a considerable time. She stated, “This win is everything. It’s about this Academy, which has acknowledged me in this way. I’ve been in the business a long time, so this is quite a gift. … For so many areas of my life, it means so many different things.”
This victory marked Light’s fifth Primetime Emmy nomination. Previous nominations included three for outstanding supporting actress in ‘Transparent’ and one for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series in 2007 for ‘Ugly Betty,’ as reported by People.