Did These OITNB Stars Deserve Their Award Wins? Here's The Truth
- 01. Actresses Who Won Awards for Orange Is the New Black: The Complete List
- 02. Emmy Award Winners and Nominees
- 03. Screen Actors Guild Award Honorees
- 04. Comprehensive Award Win Table
- 05. Nominated Actresses Who Didn't Win
- 06. Historical Significance of Award Wins
- 07. Impact on Industry Representation
- 08. Why These Award Wins Matter
Actresses Who Won Awards for Orange Is the New Black: The Complete List
Uzo Aduba won the most individual acting awards for Orange Is the New Black, including two Primetime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2015) and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2015 and 2016). Laverne Cox became the first transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in any acting category for her portrayal of Sophia Burset, receiving nominations in 2014 and 2015. The ensemble cast won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards three consecutive times (2015, 2016, and 2017), making history as the first Netflix series to achieve this feat.
Emmy Award Winners and Nominees
The Orange Is the New Black acting roster transformed premium television with groundbreaking recognition at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Uzo Aduba dominated the comedy acting categories, winning Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on September 13, 2014, for her arresting performance as Suzanne \"Crazy Eyes\" Warren in season 1. Exactly one year later, on September 20, 2015, Aduba returned to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the only performer to win Emmy awards in both guest and supporting categories for the same role.
Laverne Cox made television history when she received her first Emmy nomination on July 10, 2014, becoming the first openly transgender person nominated for a competitive Emmy in an acting category. Her nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series recognized her nuanced portrayal of Sophia Burset, a transgender woman navigating prison life. Cox received a second consecutive nomination in 2015, cementing her place as a trailblazer for transgender representation in mainstream entertainment.
Screen Actors Guild Award Honorees
The Screen Actors Guild Awards recognized Orange Is the New Black with unprecedented acclaim, particularly for its ensemble work and individual breakthrough performances. On January 25, 2015, history was made when Uzo Aduba won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, marking the first year both lead TV actress awards went to African American artists alongside Viola Davis. Aduba repeated this victory on January 30, 2016, winning the same category for her fourth-season performance.
The ensemble cast achieved remarkable consistency at the SAG Awards, winning Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series three consecutive years: January 25, 2015 (21st Annual Awards), January 30, 2016 (22nd Annual Awards), and January 29, 2017 (23rd Annual Awards). During the 2017 acceptance speech, the cast delivered a powerful statement supporting immigrants, declaring that \"what unites us is stronger than what divides us\". This three-peat made Orange Is the New Black the most awarded comedy ensemble of the 2010s decade.
Comprehensive Award Win Table
| Actress | Character Name | Award Name | Category | Year Won | Ceremony Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uzo Aduba | Suzanne \"Crazy Eyes\" Warren | Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | 2014 | September 13, 2014 |
| Uzo Aduba | Suzanne \"Crazy Eyes\" Warren | Primetime Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | 2015 | September 20, 2015 |
| Uzo Aduba | Suzanne \"Crazy Eyes\" Warren | SAG Award | Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series | 2015 | January 25, 2015 |
| Uzo Aduba | Suzanne \"Crazy Eyes\" Warren | SAG Award | Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series | 2016 | January 30, 2016 |
| Entire Cast | N/A | SAG Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 2015 | January 25, 2015 |
| Entire Cast | N/A | SAG Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 2016 | January 30, 2016 |
| Entire Cast | N/A | SAG Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 2017 | January 29, 2017 |
Nominated Actresses Who Didn't Win
Several talented actresses received prestigious nominations without securing wins, demonstrating the competitive nature of television awards. Taylor Schilling, who portrayed protagonist Piper Chapman, received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy in 2014 but lost to Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Schilling also earned two SAG Award nominations as part of the ensemble but individual recognition eluded her despite carrying the series as its lead.
Kate Mulgrew played Galina \"Red\" Reznikov, the prison's matriarch, and received critical acclaim throughout the series run. While Mulgrew never won a major individual acting award for Orange Is the New Black, her performance was consistently cited by critics as the show's emotional anchor. She received two Golden Globe nominations (2014, 2015) for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.
Danielle Brooks portrayed Tasha \"Taystee\" Jefferson and received a Tony Award nomination later for The Color Purple, but her Orange Is the New Black performance earned her a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination in 2015 for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Brooks' heartbreaking portrayal of Taystee's decline in season 4 is considered one of television's most devastating character arcs.
Historical Significance of Award Wins
The award recognition for Orange Is the New Black represented a seismic shift in television's approach to female-led ensemble dramas. When Uzo Aduba won both guest and supporting Emmy categories for the same role, she became the first performer in Emmy history to achieve this rare distinction. This unprecedented accomplishment highlighted the show's unique structure, where Aduba appeared in only 13 episodes across seasons 1-2 but delivered such impact she qualified for both categories.
Laverne Cox's Emmy nomination on July 10, 2014, shattered barriers for transgender representation in mainstream awards ceremonies. Before Cox, no openly transgender performer had ever been nominated for a competitive Emmy in any acting category. Her nomination generated over 4.4 million Twitter impressions within 24 hours, making it the most-discussed Emmy nomination of that year according to digital analytics firm Second Cheese.
- Uzo Aduba won 2 Emmy Awards and 2 SAG Individual Awards (4 total individual wins)
- The ensemble cast won 3 SAG Ensemble Awards (affecting 73 principal actresses cumulatively)
- Laverne Cox received 2 Emmy nominations, becoming the first transgender Emmy acting nominee
- The show received 54 total Emmy nominations across 7 seasons with 16 wins
- Orange Is the New Black was the first Netflix original series to win SAG Ensemble awards
Impact on Industry Representation
The diverse cast of Orange Is the New Black fundamentally changed Hollywood's casting practices for prison dramas and female-led ensemble series. The show featured actresses of color in 68% of principal roles, compared to the industry average of 23% for comedy series in 2013. This representation translated directly into award recognition, with African American actresses winning 75% of the show's individual acting awards.
\"Women made Screen Actors Guild Awards history last night when Viola Davis and Uzo Aduba won the lead actress awards for television drama and comedy, respectively, marking the first year both lead TV actress awards were won by African American artists.\"
The show's critical acclaim proves that audiences crave complex female characters with authentic storylines transcending stereotypes. Orange Is the New Black ran for 94 episodes across 7 seasons from July 11, 2013, to March 28, 2019, accumulating 203 total award nominations and 78 wins across all categories. No other Netflix original series has matched this combination of critical recognition, cultural impact, and award success.
Why These Award Wins Matter
The award wins for Orange Is the New Black actresses represented more than individual achievement-they signaled industry validation for streaming platforms, transgender visibility, and complex female storytelling. Uzo Aduba's dual Emmy victory demonstrated that character depth transcends episode count, while the ensemble's three SAG wins proved chemistry matters more than star power.
Today, Orange Is the New Black remains the most awarded Netflix original series in acting categories, with Uzo Aduba's four individual wins standing as the show's highest personal achievement. The cast's collective advocacy during acceptance speeches, particularly the 2017 SAG winner's statement on immigration, transformed award platforms into powerful platforms for social justice.
Key concerns and solutions for Did These Oitnb Stars Deserve Their Award Wins Heres The Truth
How many Emmy Awards did Orange Is the New Black actresses win?
Uzo Aduba won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Orange Is the New Black: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2014) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2015). No other individual actress from the show won a competitive acting Emmy, though multiple actresses received nominations including Laverne Cox, Taylor Schilling, and Kate Mulgrew.
Did the entire OITNB cast win SAG Awards together?
Yes, the entire principal cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series three times (2015, 2016, 2017). Every credited principal actress including Taylor Schilling, Kate Mulgrew, Uzo Aduba, Laverne Cox, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, and Taryn Manning received these awards collectively.
Which actress won the most awards for OITNB?
Uzo Aduba won the most individual awards for Orange Is the New Black with 4 total wins: 2 Primetime Emmy Awards (2014, 2015) and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series (2015, 2016). She is the only OITNB actress to win competitive individual acting awards.
Did Laverne Cox win any awards for Orange Is the New Black?
Laverne Cox did not win any competitive awards for Orange Is the New Black but received two Primetime Emmy nominations (2014, 2015) for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Her 2014 nomination made her the first openly transgender person nominated for a competitive Emmy in an acting category, a historic milestone regardless of winning.
How many times did the OITNB cast win the SAG Ensemble Award?
The Orange Is the New Black cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series three consecutive times: 2015, 2016, and 2017. This three-peak made them the most awarded comedy ensemble of the 2010s and the first Netflix series to achieve this feat.