The actress broke down how she endured Molly’s battle with Issa this season and her Emmy morning celebration call with Issa Rae.
Between Unsafe Eight Emmy nominations on Tuesday was a first-time recognition for Yvonne Orji, recognized in the supporting comedy actress category for her role as Molly Carter. This season of HBO’s success, which also garnered nominations for star Issa Rae and best comedy series, saw best friends Molly and Issa in a dispute where the Internet sided with Issa, before the two finally they seem to sort it out in Season Four finale.
Orji spoke to Hollywood reporter After her nomination to ride out Molly’s criticism, call Rae after the Emmy announcement and vow not to let the pandemic derail her red carpet plans.
Where were you when you found out about the nomination?
A couple of my co-stars and I were texting, so of course when Issa was nominated, it was a series of voice memos like “You did it!” And then when the show was nominated, we said “Yes!” just a lot of screaming and then it went off and I thought, oh that’s fine. And so [her rep] Sam called and said, “Congratulations,” and I said, “I know this is so great for us, this is great for us.” And she said “No, for you”, and I said: “I know, just being part of the set is great” and she said: “Yvonne, they nominated you!” and I said, “Did you see my name?” So it was like it was a moment of comedy in a moment of comedy. And then I had to see for myself, as if I believed her word, but I said “I want to see my name”, so I connected and saw and then there was more screaming. I don’t know what happened, I just passed out.
How does it feel to have Issa and the show nominated too?
Oh man, it feels great. Issa called me and I kept saying, “This is your vision, your vision did this.” And then I thanked him, I said, “Thank you for seeing something in me like five years ago to get to this point.” And she said, “Girl, you’re not about to cry,” and I said, “I’m about to cry!” And then I said, “I think everything Molly hates this season was really worth it.”
How do you specifically recognize yourself for this part of Molly’s story?
I think it is not an isolated part, I feel that for Molly to come here it took her all four seasons: she took the accumulation, she had to see each side of her. If this was Molly’s first season, I think people would just be like “She’s a villain, she’s a horrible person”, but she isn’t and I think having the balance of seasons one to three and then seeing a different side from her in season four: I think the writers, I think Prentice, our showrunner, Issa, really told a story that so many people experience with their group of friends in their own lives that I think it was related to a lot of people. I feel like this is a collective celebration because it’s like, real life was portrayed on television and we all got to see it and we all got to experience it and we all had to feel it the way we feel it in the past and get shot
We don’t know what the Emmy show will look like this year, other than Kimmel will be the host … If you have to film your Emmy appearance from home, what room are you going to choose and why?
I would probably say my living room, but now I don’t know, now I have to make it like a whole new room and have it special for the Emmys. I’ll call a decorator and say, “We need us to do it in September, get this over with!” So it may seem completely different, I can redecorate my house just for this moment.
What’s the best part of not having to worry about the red carpet?
I’m sad about it, I’m really sad about it because this is the year you want to do stunts, when you get your first nomination you want to be like “This is my best Emmy nominated outfit, do you all see it?” sad that we don’t have that moment; again, I can have a red carpet, I am Nigerian, we are queens and kings of extra-dom. So I may get dressed and bring me a red carpet and that might be what I do. No one can be mad at that. I could have a whole glamor team get ready and take pictures at my house. It’s a little sad but a little bit popping at the same time.
