Niecy Nash-Betts felt as if others did not believe in her before her Emmy win.
The actor scooped her first Primetime Emmy for her role as Glenda Cleveland in the hit Netflix drama series “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” despite having been known for comedic roles in the past. After thanking herself in the speech, she feels “affirmed” by her industry peers.
“A lot of times, people don’t [believe in you]. And that’s why it’s not called mama-esteem and us-esteem and them-esteem, it’s called self-esteem because don’t nobody gotta believe it but you. And I believed in myself,” she told “Entertainment Tonight.” They were like ‘This is not your lane’ and I’m like ‘Oh yes it is, you wanna tell me? No, I’ll tell you!’ I feel so affirmed by my peer group because I feel fully-esteemed at the moment, I really do.”
During her speech, the former “Claws” star — who had been nominated for an Emmy three times before — explained that the award served as a reminder that she had accomplished something others told her was not possible.
“I want to thank me. For believing in me and doing what they said I could not do. And I want to say to myself in front of all you beautiful people … go on, girl, with your bad self! You did that! I’m going to do it until the day I die,” she said.
Nash-Betts finished her speech by dedicating it to “unheard and overpoliced” women of color.
“Finally I accept this award on behalf of every Black and Brown woman who has gone unheard and overpoliced. Like Glenda Cleveland, like Sandra Bland, like Breonna Taylor. As an artist, my job is to speak truth to power and I’m gonna do it until the day I die. Mamma, I won,” she said.
