Uzo Aduba's acceptance speech after winning the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" for playing Crazy Eyes on Season 1 of Orange Is the New Black. The Creative Arts ceremony was on August 16, 2014.
That’s a bold claim. I’ll admit she’s an incredible actress but lots of actors and actresses have played people with mental illnesses just was well. Look at Toni Collette in US of Tara.
She so totally deserved this. I don't know why, but "Crazy Eyes" really struck a chord with me that no other character in the series did. I love this character so much.
It was no doubt an emotional time - newbie - first nomination - first award. I'm not sure I would have the ability to speak let alone speak so eloquently.
I didn’t appreciate her acting genius the first time I watched orange. I’m a little older and wiser now, and just rewatched it this year. She is absolutely amazing. Just absolutely AMAZING.
One of the reasons I really liked OITNB was the acting from most of them was incredible, but Uzo was INSANE. I was the same as you, I didn't appreciate the level of acting required to pull off a character like this is a whole new level.
I always fucking cry when I watch this. I feel so deeply connected with the cast and characters they're so talented. Best show I've seen in my whole life
She so deserved this That one time she asked Chapman "Why does everyone call me Crazy Eyes" broke my heart😭😭😭 Amazin actress and hope for more opportunities after OITNB😘😘
Wow, that was one of the most heartfelt acceptance speeches I've seen. This is what genuine appreciation and gratitude look like. She deserves all the accolades she receives. She portrays the character brilliantly.
I love Uzo, I love how she plays Crazy Eyes, I love her speech, and can I just point out how beast her arms are. She's packing some guns there, holy crap.
Queen B She was just goin all PTSD on that lil guard and poor Poussey got accidently choked by the guy. Yep, indirectly it is Suzanne's fault though. 😥
Same here...every single time I replay the moment referenced followed by the theme song I continue to tear up...such an incredible actor in that role both in comedy and drama
This is the most beautiful, humble and passionate acceptance speech I personally have ever heard. Thank you for being such an inspiring person - this gives me so much hope for the future...
This always makes me cry. The fact that Laverne Cox is the only one who stands up applauding in the end is so, so powerful. She's probably the only one outside of Aduba's family who is able to understand what Aduba went through.
She is absolutely STUNNING! This award is definitely deserved, she's an AMAZING actress 💕💕💕 and to the people that clicked thumbs down, there is something seriously wrong with you...
I had the pleasure of knowing Uzo in high school, and that the world's caught up with what we in Medfield knew a long time ago -- how outrageously talented she is -- gives me such joy. She hasn't changed a bit; still sweet, humble and lovely. Congrats, girl. We're so proud of you.
Differently Wired She’s honestly one of the classiest, kindest, humblest people I’ve ever met. I was a new kid to a very, very small town, and she came right up to me and said, “You must be Elizabeth. I’m Uzo, it’s so nice to meet you.” I’ve had several strokes and my memory is absolutely shot, but I still remember being in absolute awe I was of how genuinely happy each teacher she took me to meet was to see her. That character never wavered, even as she started working toward this; we actually tried to do a short film shoot after graduation and she asked me to be her production coordinator. She ended up heading to New York instead, but she’s still exactly who she was when I met her two decades ago.
Lovely speech but for some reason when she said "my sister I don't know a better human being" I thought she was gonna say "my sister I don't know her" XD
I kind of teared up when she said "Why do they call me Crazy Eyes?" and my heart just fucking bROKE and seeing her standing with that award HELL SHE DESERVES IT AWESOME ACTRESS, SAME WITH LAVERNE AND NATASHA THEY ARE ALL GREAT ACTRESSES FOR A GREAT SHOW BRAVO
Uzo won for "Guest Actress"because in the first season (for which she won this award), she was billed--along with all of the others, except Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, and Kate Mulgrew--as "guest starring" because it wasn't clear to the writers who would be a regular and who wouldn't. For season two, Uzo became a regular supporting character and thus, like many of the others on the show, will be eligible for the "Supporting Actress in a Comedy" Emmy, for which we all probably agree she should be nominated AND should win! She's phenomenal and gives the show so much depth. This show is some of the best writing and acting for a primetime series.
I'm rewatching Orange is the New Black for the second time here in 2024 and I had no idea she even won an emmy. I'm just watching it thinking like damn she is acting her ass off surely she won something at some point. She's amazing.
I figured her character would just be the occasional stress point and comic relief, but she was so much more, and Uzo's portrayal made her stand out wonderfully.
I don't even watch the show but this was so emotional - was right there with her! aww!.. and shout out to her mum, rocking her Nigerian clothes proudly!
GOD, THIS WOMAN....Her comedic portrayal of Crazy Eyes Suzanne packed some really really serious underlying issue. The writing of her character will hit you good. Also, she gotta be in more shows/movies...I've never seen her talent until Orange Is The New Black