FX’s “The Bear” broke yet another Emmy record with 11 awards this past weekend, topping its own record of 10 from last year.
And though throughout the awards casting many questioned why it was even in the comedy category — also the subject of Eugene & Dan Levy’s presenting — no one had any problems with actress Liza Colón-Zayas taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Colón-Zayas has played tough but caring chef Tina in the past three seasons of the TV show, making the journey from sandwich shop cook to high-end restaurant chef as main character Carmy tries to find his food business footing in Chicago.
In her acceptance speech Colón-Zayas was touched and humble, sharing that her husband told her to prepare a speech but she didn’t because she “didn’t think this would be possible.” She shouted-out her fellow nominees in the audience like Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Hannah Einbinder. And she ended with, “and to all the Latinas who are looking at me: keep believing, and vote. Vote for your rights. Thank you. Thank you. Gracias.”
Colón-Zayas was born and raised right here in NYC, in the borough of the Bronx. She even started her acting career with Off Broadway shows, mainly a one-woman show called “Sistah” which is partly based on her own life about coming of age as a Latina woman during the ’70s and ’80s in NY.
In a New York Times interview last month, Colón-Zayas spoke about her grandmother’s apartment in the Bronx where she used to ride her bike between rooms — a way of patient communication between the two as her grandma didn’t speak English and Colón-Zayas didn’t speak Spanish. She still carries her grandmother’s Catholic medallion that was given to her when her grandparents moved back to Puerto Rico.
“The Bear” just finished its third season this past summer, and season 4 is predicted to begin filming in 2025. Other notable Emmy wins for the cast included Jeremy Allen White for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Ebon Moss-Bachrach.