Winning an Emmy is no small feat, whether it be for acting, writing or directing. Professionals are nominated for their work and performances annually, and this year has been as surprising as the last. There were many first time winners, but none were as surprising to me as Tatiana Maslany.
As an avid fan of “Orphan Black”, it is no surprise that I have constantly wished for the leading actress, Tatiana Maslany, to win. Every actress that is nominated is undoubtedly good at what they do and the character they play. But in the case of Maslany, it is several characters and often in one scene.
This means she has to work insane hours and maintain character for an impressive amount of time.
The only real surprise is how long it took for her to actually win an Emmy.
No one debates her talent, but with heavy hitters like Claire Danes and Viola Davis (who Maslany previously lost to), the odds of her winning were never that high to start. The Best Actress category has always been stacked with immense talent, but she is a Hollywood outsider, doing most of her work in Toronto. Her name, or show, is not as widely known as all the other Best Actress nominees’ respective shows are.
Tatiana has portrayed 12 clones throughout the course of the show, with one in a non-speaking role, and there is no guarantee that the clone amount will not rise with the coming of the final season.
I tell you this to say that I may have screamed at my TV in joy as I watched Tatiana accept her award in a surprised manner because it was about time that she won an Emmy. Since the first season, the “Clone Club” has been avid in their support of the cast and crew, most notably the leading lady. This year, the hashtag #EmmyforMaslany was popular across certain social media sites.
Not only is Maslany one of the hardest working actresses, but she is acutely aware of the political and social aspects of her show. When asked, she is always quick to bring up the themes that the show explores. As she accepted her award, she praised the show’s focus on women.
When Maslany was nominated for a Golden Globe, the fans stood behind her good or bad. We fussed and complained on social to draw the attention of everyone and it down.
This year is different in comparison. Now we can celebrate her and the accomplishments she has achieved in the years she has portrayed the clone sisterhood. “Orphan Black” is a show that focuses on women in various roles who find out that they are the result of a scientific experiment. They must navigate the waters of living their lives with being considered nothing more than property by groups who seek to claim them. The show is a metaphor for the struggles that women face in real life, but on a smaller scale.
The fourth season, while fast paced and action packed, is one of the best acted seasons of television I have ever watched, and I watch several shows. As the sisters grow closer to finding out the truth of their existence, they discover that there is so much that do not know. Tatiana handles everything from Rachel’s pursuit of power to the tragic story of Beth Childs with ease. While both are not my favorite of character, they are easily the best characters of the season.
If you want to know what the fuss is about, catch up on “Orphan Black” and decide for yourself.
