Actresses of Nigerian descent, Ayo Edebiri and Joy Sunday, have earned nominations at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, marking another milestone for Nigerian representation in global entertainment.
Edebiri received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sydney Adamu in The Bear, adding to her growing list of accolades. The Nigerian-American actress, whose father is from Edo State, previously won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the same role.
The recognition further cements Edebiri’s position as one of the most celebrated young talents in television, following her earlier achievements as an actress and director on The Bear.
Meanwhile, Joy Sunday secured her first Primetime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for her performance as Detective Jodie Plumb in HBO’s DTF St. Louis.
Born in New York to Nigerian parents, Sunday gained wider recognition for her role as Bianca Barclay in Netflix’s Wednesday. She has also credited Nollywood films as an influence on her decision to pursue acting.
The nominations make Edebiri and Sunday the only performers with confirmed Nigerian heritage to receive acting nominations at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards.
Their achievements continue a growing wave of Nigerian talent gaining international recognition, following milestones such as filmmaker Kachi Benson becoming the first Nigerian to win an Emmy in 2025 for the documentary Madu.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will hold on September 14, 2026, celebrating outstanding television productions and performances.
