Arab American Rami Malek Wins Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
First time’s the charm!
At the 68th annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday, Rami Malek won the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Elliot on USA Network’s Mr. Robot.
“Please tell me you’re seeing this too,” said Malek, visibly shocked after winning. “I’m honored to stand here and represent my family and every single person who has helped me to get this far. I’m honored to work with a pure visionary in [showrunner] Sam Esmail. I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Malek captured audience’s imaginations in Mr. Robot’s first season with his electrifying and paranoid performance that drew fans into Elliot’s unreliable mind. And his performance remains just as alluring in the show’s second season, which wraps up Wednesday. The role also scored Malek a Golden Globe nod this year.
“I play a young man who I think, like so many of us, is profoundly alienated,” said Malek in his Emmy acceptance speech Sunday. “Unfortunately, I’m not so sure how many of us would want to hang out with a guy like Elliot, but I want to honor all the Elliots, because there’s a little bit of Elliot in all of us.”
Backstage, Malek told reporters this will be a “moment that obviously will be etched in my memory.”
“For me to stand here as not the typical leading man, and to have come home with this I think speaks a lot about where we’re headed,” the 35-year-old said, “and I think we can just keep going further in that direction — obviously not just limited to entertainment, but socially and politically to continue and strive to be as progressive as possible.”
Malek faced stiff competition, beating Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), Matthew Rhys (The Americans), Kyle Chandler (Bloodline), and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards).