Maya Rudolph Wins Her First Two Emmys In Same Week

Maya Rudolph became a two-time Emmy winner this week, taking home two gold statues for her work on ‘SNL’ and ‘Big Mouth’

It is hard to believe that Maya Rudolph, bonafide movie star, comedian, and one of our favorite female performers on Saturday Night Live, has never won an Emmy… until now, that is. This week, Rudolph not only became an Emmy winner; she became a two-time Emmy winner, one for her SNL channeling of Kamala Harris and the other for voicing the role of Connie the Hormone Monstress in Big Mouth.

As part of the week-long Creative Arts Emmys virtual ceremony, Rudolph was honored with two trophies, the second on Saturday night. She beat out Bette Midler, Wanda Sykes, Angela Bassett, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and herself, as she was also nominated in the same category for her role as a judge inspired by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg in The Good Place.

Maya Rudolph won her second Emmy of the week tonight, but she also lost to herself. Here's what she had to say about the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg's influence on her nominated #TheGoodPlace performance. https://t.co/xvC6IGsbBJ pic.twitter.com/CdJeuAO9bF

— IndieWire (@IndieWire) September 20, 2020

“I was actually thinking about The Good Place a lot and about how we modeled her robe after Ruth Bader Ginsburg and how much of that was an homage to an iconic human being,” she explained in the virtual backstage press room about Ginsburg, who died on Friday at the age of 87. “When you think of a judge, when you think of all-knowing, when you think of powerful, when you think of all good, yeah, we modeled her robe after RBG, so that was pretty cool.”

Unlike some other Emmy winners, Rudolph opted against pre-recording an acceptance speech. “That feels a little presumptuous, and not to mention just physically, emotionally exhausting. If I’m going to experience defeat I’d rather not have gone through all the hair and makeup,” she said.

Rudolph added that she was super grateful for her win, especially considering the difficult times we’re going through.

The voters have decided: Double-nominee in the Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series category, @MayaRudolph, has won an #Emmy for her guest performance as @KamalaHarris on @nbcsnl! pic.twitter.com/JX52jWiQO4

— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 20, 2020

“It’s certainly put a smile on my face this week to be so acknowledged,” she said, “but I felt that way about the nominations to be honest…I’m not really looking a gift horse in the mouth these days. I’m really grateful for any moment when we can stop and reflect and honor and celebrate each other.”

She concluded her speech by classily honored the other women in her category. “To be fair I didn’t think I was going to win again tonight,” she confessed. “I thought the guest actress, this nomination, is usually flooded with incredible women who are legends and I saw a couple of legends in there… Bette Midler beats me in the legend department, and Angela Bassett beats me in the legend dept. I’m kind of still surprised and a little bit startled I won another Emmy. I don’t know about you but I haven’t felt that lucky lately, so this a very foreign feeling and I’m really embracing it.”

The winner for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series is Ron Cephas Jones! This #Emmy win is his second for his role on @NBCThisisUs! pic.twitter.com/LhX54jUxRM

— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 20, 2020

Rudolph’s win wasn’t the only first of the Emmys. For the first time ever, a father-daughter duo — Ron and Jasmine Cephas Jones — both brought home awards. Ron nabbed an Emmy for his Guest Actor in a Drama Series for This Is Us, while his daughter won her first Emmy for her role in the Quibi series #FreeRayshawn. Jasmine is likely best known, however, for her portrayal of Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds in Hamilton.

“As a parent, that’s the most fulfilling [thing] I could ever feel,” he said in the press room. “I mean, winning another Emmy is icing on the cake, but to see my daughter progress and move into this place where she’s earned an Emmy, it’s beyond words.”