Woman&Home September 2021 cover star, powerhouse and local legend, Kim Engelbrecht is hot on Hollywood’s heels.
As recently announced, Engelbrecht has been nominated for an international Emmy thanks to her role in Reyka – a locally produced drama series that has had both South Africans and global watchers glued to the screen for its outstanding production, performances and plot.
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Moreover, the show itself has also welcomed Hollywood’s call in being announced for an Emmy itself for ‘Best Drama Series.’
Scooping in the Awards
Engebrecht already sits on the local throne as ‘Best Actress’ for the role of Reyka, and we have no doubt that her SAFTA will enjoy the company of an Emmy (fingers crossed).
More notably, Engebrecht is one of a handful of locals nominated for ‘Best Actress’ as Now In SA recalls – earmarking the rise of African creativity in the predominantly American televised landscape.
Why it matters
At a glance, it’s still newsworthy to see inclusivity at the Emmys. This subscribes to various demographics both in the United States and internationally, and a series of highs and lows for those of us rooting for those beyond the traditional sphere.
Just think about how excited we all were to hear that Thuso Mbedu (who largely led SA’s move onto global screens after she landed the lead role in The Underground Railroad) had earned her two Emmy nominations (and the snub of all snubs).
In challenging America’s conventionality, Zendaya’s second ‘Best Actress’ win for Euphoria last month made history. She was the first black woman to win the award twice in the decades-long history of the awards – which speaks volumes considering all the talent black women have injected into Hollywood’s glittering screens.
In the breath of the same awards show, Lee Jung-Jae, Squid Game star, also made history by becoming the first Asian actor to win a drama lead Emmy.
Seeing POCs, more women, and Global South creatives have their shot at awards like the Emmys inspires hope – in all aspects – for future creatives to come.
Beyond this, it also shows the global stage that we’re not subpar simply because television hasn’t always told our stories or recognised them as valid enough to earn gold-glazed trophies.
We’re incredibly proud of Kim E, and SA will be rooting for her and Reyka with the conviction of the proudest soccer moms.
As for SA’s golden child Thuso, if we don’t hear of an Oscar nomination for her role in The Woman King, the Oscars will have us and the rest of South African Twitter to answer to – which might earn an Oscar nomination itself for ‘Best Action Film.’
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Feature Image: @josieborain/Instagram
