Michaela Coel Makes History At the 2021 Emmy Awards

Michaela Coel on the red carpet for the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards.
Michaela Coel on the red carpet for the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards. Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock (12452329ag)

Michaela Coel, the creator, writer, and star of the acclaimed HBO series I May Destroy You made history this Sunday at the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards. Coel won her first Emmy for best writing in a limited series or anthology and she is the first-ever black woman to win this writing award at the Emmys. Also up for the award were Mare of Eastown, The Queen’s Gambit, and three episodes of WandaVision.

I May Destroy You premiered on HBO during the summer of 2020. The show follows Arabella, a young writer struggling with the aftermath of a sexual assault and is inspired by Coel’s own experiences. Her acceptance speech was brief yet powerful: “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable. I dare you.” She ended her speech by dedicating I May Destroy You to “every single survivor of sexual assault.”

The writer-director-actress was also nominated in the best directing and acting categories for limited series but only won the writing category. I May Destroy You is currently streaming on HBO Max.