The 2025 Emmy nominations have brought both progress and setbacks in terms of representation across race, gender, and identity. While there have been meaningful gains in some areas, there are also concerning declines in others.
A total of 94 actors were recognized in the main acting categories, including lead, supporting, and guest roles. Of these nominees, 24 are people of color, which marks a decline from the past five years. In 2024, there were 30 performers of color nominated, making up 31% of the total nominees. This decline is notable compared to previous years, such as 2022 when 39% of nominees were people of color, the highest in Emmys history. Looking at the last decade of data provides context for understanding this year’s numbers.
One standout from this year’s nominations is Quinta Brunson, the creator, executive producer, and star of “Abbott Elementary.” Brunson has made history with her Emmy nominations, becoming the first solo Black woman to win for comedy writing in 2022 and the second Black woman to win lead comedy actress in 2023. She now ties Stefani Robinson for the most writing nominations by a Black woman and is the first to achieve all three nominations for a single series.
In the lead comedy actress category, there is a majority of women of color, including Brunson, Uzo Aduba from “The Residence,” and Ayo Edebiri. Edebiri, at 29, has set records as the youngest Black woman to receive three Emmy acting nominations and is also nominated for directing, making her the first woman to be nominated for both acting and directing in the comedy categories in the same year.
Sterling K. Brown has also made history with his seventh different series nomination for lead drama actor for Hulu’s “Paradise.” This ties him with Don Cheadle for the most nominations among Black male performers. Additionally, Latino performers like Pedro Pascal and Selena Gomez have continued to make their mark at the Emmys.
Asian actors and creators have gained ground in recent years, with Bowen Yang becoming the most-nominated Asian male performer in history for his work on “Saturday Night Live.” However, there were some notable AAPI snubs in this year’s nominations.
Overall, the 2025 Emmy nominations reflect both progress and challenges in representation across various categories. The awards ceremony is set to take place on September 14th, with Nate Bargatze hosting the event. It will be broadcast live on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.
