Aja Naomi King Moved To Tears By Emmys Nomination For Lessons In Chemistry (AP)
Emmy Awards 2024: Aja Naomi King’s red carpet moment saw her palpable emotions. King, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for Lessons in Chemistry, during an interview revealed that she was doing her best not to cry at the event.
“I’m doing my best not to cry,” King shared with People and Entertainment Weekly. “It’s really magical. This whole experience so far has just been a beautiful day. Everyone I’m seeing on the carpet has me feeling so inspired. I’m really grateful to be here.”
King is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role in the Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry, adapted from Bonnie Garmus’ novel. King portrays Harriet Sloane, a friend of protagonist Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), who strives to prevent the Santa Monica Freeway from being constructed through the predominantly Black neighborhood of Sugar Hill in Los Angeles.
The significance of her nomination and presence at the ceremony deeply affects King. “To be able to work in this industry, to be able to make a living doing the thing that you love, is already such a blessing,” she said. “And then to do work that is so meaningful to people, so impactful, that it brings me here tonight, it’s the kind of thing that as an actor you are sometimes afraid to hope for, because you want it so much and you don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t happen, so it just makes me feel like dreams do come true.”
At this point, King was overcome with emotion and started to cry. Gomez kindly offered, “we’ll get you tissues if you need,” but King clarified that her tears were of joy, not sadness.
“I’m just so happy!” King exclaimed.
King isn’t alone in her emotional response; Brie Larson, also from Lessons in Chemistry, admitted in an earlier interview that she had to let out a big cry during some takes.
This marks King’s first Emmy nomination, though she was previously nominated for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for the same role.