Tracee Ellis Ross is first black woman in 30 years to be nominated for the Best Comedy Actress Emmy

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Thursday, September 15, 2016
Tracee Ellis Ross is the first black woman in 30 years to be nominated for Best Comedy Actress Emmy
The last black actress to be nominated for the award was Phylicia Rashad in 1986 for 'The Bill Cosby Show.'

Known nationwide as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson in the hit ABC show black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross is the first black actress in 30 years to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy Series.

"At this age, at this point in my career, to be a first-time nominee is extraordinary. To be nominated on behalf of a show that I am so proud of," Ross told ABC. "I have not yet gotten married or had a baby, and this is pretty up there on the list."

Not since Phylicia Rashad's 1986 nomination for her role as Clair Huxtable in The Cosby Show has a black woman been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Comedy Series. Only five black actresses have ever been nominated in the category, including Diahann Carroll (Julia), Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons), Nell Carter (Gimme a Break!), Rashad and Ross for a total of 13 nominations between them all. Sanford's win in 1981 remains the only win.

Ross was much aware of the significance of her nomination when speaking with ABC, saying she was "thrilled" at the nomination.

"This whole other layer of the historical aspect is mind boggling to me," said Ross. "It adds a whole other layer to this that is extraordinary and wonderful."

Last year, Ross' co-star Anthony Anderson celebrated a similar historical nomination, being the 10th black actor nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Comedy Series. Black nominees in the category have been Bill Cosby (The Bill Cosby Show), Lloyd Haynes (Room 222), Red Foxx (Sanford and Son), Robert Guillaume (Benson), Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons), Tim Reid (Frank's Place), Bernie Mac (The Bernie Mac Show), Don Cheadle (House of Lies), and Anderson with 20 nominations between them all. Only Guillaume won in 1985.

Don't miss the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 18 at 7 p.m. ET| 4 p.m. PT LIVE on ABC.

Live red carpet coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. PT.