Niecy Nash, an actress with a career spanning nearly three decades and a face recognized by people across the United States, achieved a significant milestone by winning her first major award at the 75th Emmys on Monday, January 16. At the age of 53, Nash, accompanied by her wife Jessica Betts, received a resounding standing ovation as she walked up to the stage, marking a momentous occasion in her accomplished career.
Nash’s noteworthy win came in the category of Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role as Glenda Cleveland, Jeffrey Dahmer’s neighbor, in Netflix’s “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” This victory marked her first Primetime Emmy win out of four nominations, showcasing the culmination of a prolific career with almost 100 credits to her name, according to IMDb.
In her emotionally charged acceptance speech, Nash exclaimed, “I’m a winner, baby!” before expressing her gratitude to various individuals. She thanked God, Dahmer creator Ryan Murphy, co-star Evan Peters, Netflix, TV Academy voters, and her wife, Jessica Betts, who played a crucial role in supporting her through the challenging work.
However, it was a particular segment of Nash’s speech that left a lasting impact. Taking a moment to recognize her own journey, she declared, “And you know who I wanna thank? I wanna thank me.” The audience responded with thunderous applause, laughter, and cheers as Nash celebrated her own belief in herself and overcoming challenges. She encouraged herself in front of the audience, saying, “Go on, girl, with your bad self. You did that!” It was a powerful moment of self-appreciation and empowerment.
Nash concluded her speech by dedicating her trophy to “every Black and Brown woman who has gone unheard yet overpoliced.” She specifically mentioned Glenda Cleveland, the real-life woman her winning performance was based on, who had tried to alert the police about Dahmer’s activities. Nash also honored the late Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor, highlighting the systemic issues faced by Black and Brown women.
Acknowledged by industry colleagues, including Issa Rae, Taraji P. Henson, and Colman Domingo, Nash emphasized her commitment as an artist to speak truth to power. She concluded with a spirited declaration, “As an artist, my job is to speak truth to power, and, baby, I’mma do it till the day I die,” ending her speech by joyfully shouting, “Momma, I won!” as her proud and tearful mother cheered from the seats of the Peacock Theater.
