‘Feels Really Good to Hold This in My Hands’

Angela Bassett just won her first Emmy!

The 66-year-old actress — who has earned a total of nine career Emmy nominations — took home the award for best narrator at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys on Friday, Sept. 7, for her work on Queens, a National Geographic docuseries about matriarchies in nature.

While accepting the milestone honor, Bassett became emotional. “Oh my God. Wow,” she said after approaching the microphone. “My first Emmy!”

Following a round of applause from the audience, the Black Panther star continued, “It feels good … really, really good.”

She went on to thank “National Geographic, Wildstar Films and all the directors — all women! — who brought this incredible story, this incredible docuseries centered on the ferocious and magnificent things in the animal kingdom.”

“I couldn’t be more thrilled and more grateful,” Bassett added. “Thank you, each and every one of you.”

The American Horror Story actress also reacted to the career milestone — which comes months after she accepted her first Academy Award, an honorary Oscar for her contributions to the film industry — in the press room, as well as on social media.

When asked by a reporter why she appeared surprised to win the award when it is so “clearly well-deserved,” Bassett said, “This is one of the really, really big ones, you know what I mean? And so that … that doesn’t usually happen.”

“But also, whenever you’re acknowledged … I’m just a girl who just wanted to act and, and my mentors were way out ahead of me,” she continued. “And I just looked to them and got inspiration and hope and and I just put my focus and my energy and my love to try to make it happen in my life, or for my life.”

“So each and every day I try to remember that first love,” she continued, adding that when things like “this” — her Emmy win — happen, “I appreciate it. I really appreciate it.”

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In an Instagram post that Bassett posted on Sept. 7 after her win, she once again expressed her shock and gratitude — and praised Queens’ directors.

“My very first #Emmy. It feels really good to hold this in my hands,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “Thank you to the @televisionacad for recognizing me and the extraordinary story that the #Queens docuseries tells.”

Speaking to the docuseries’ content, the actress continued, “So much of my life is spent on camera telling stories, that when I have the opportunity to step back and allow these majestic, powerful creatures to be the center of our attention, I am honored to be their voice.”

“Thank you to @natgeotv, @Wildstarfilms, and the incredible directors, ALL WOMEN, who lent their brilliant talent to bring QUEENS to the screen,” she added. “I share this award with you.”