Julianne Nicholson has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her performance in HBO Max’s hit series “Hacks.” This marks Nicholson’s second Emmy win, adding to her previous award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for HBO’s “Mare of Easttown.”
Nicholson, who received two nominations this year, impressed voters with her comedic role as Mary Alice, also known as “Dance Mom,” in “Hacks.” Her other nomination was for her dramatic performance in Hulu’s post-apocalyptic political thriller “Paradise.”
Reflecting on her role in “Hacks,” Nicholson said she joined the show as a devoted fan. “It’s a bit surreal to suddenly be sort of under Jimmy and Kayla,” she remarked. The role required significant physicality, and Nicholson worked closely with choreographer Corey Baker to develop her character’s unique dance style. “I worked my ass off to learn these dances. I had to work really hard to look that bad,” she added, describing the intentionally clumsy yet earnest performances that made her character memorable.
Also nominated in the guest actress in comedy category were well-known stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Olivia Colman, Robby Hoffman, Zoe Kravitz, and Cynthia Erivo, highlighting the competitive field Nicholson triumphed over.
The Creative Arts Emmys, held over two nights at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, celebrate outstanding technical, performance, and creative achievements in television. The event showcases categories like animation, costume design, editing, and motion design alongside acting awards.
This year, HBO Max’s “Severance” received 27 nominations, including recognition for production design and editing. Production designer Jeremy Hindle was praised for his work on the episode “Woe’s Hollow,” which involved complex on-location exterior shoots.
In other categories, Julie Andrews earned a nomination for character voiceover in Netflix’s “Bridgerton” as Lady Penelope, while last year’s winner, Maya Rudolph, received a nomination again for her voice work as Connie the Hormone Monstress in “Big Mouth.” Music superstar Beyoncé also secured nominations, including Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for “Beyoncé Bowl,” which received four Creative Arts Emmy nominations in total, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live).
Recent juried categories at the 77th Emmy Awards honored exceptional achievements in animation, costume design, emerging media programming, and motion design. Beyoncé took home the Emmy for Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming, sharing the honor with Shiona Turini and the creative team behind her visually striking performances.
Netflix’s animated series “Arcane” received two Creative Arts Emmys, recognizing Bruno Couchinho for background design in the episode “The Dirt Under Your Nails” and Faustine Dumontier for her color artistry in “The Message Hidden Within the Pattern.”
The 77th Emmy Awards will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze and broadcast live on Sunday, September 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS. Viewers can also stream the event live and on demand through select Paramount+ packages.
Nicholson’s win for “Hacks” reflects her versatility across both dramatic and comedic roles, cementing her reputation as one of television’s most talented performers. Her ability to transition from a haunting performance in “Paradise” to a hilarious, physically demanding role in “Hacks” highlights the range that continues to earn her acclaim in the industry.
