Shailene Woodley celebrated a career milestone, securing her first Emmy Award at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The actress was honored for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her compelling performance in the television series Paradise. Woodley, 34, graced the event in a striking white mini dress that showcased her legs, a memorable moment on the second night of the glitzy awards show.
Shailene Woodley’s Emmy Triumph
The actress’s winning role was as Annie, a character she described as “very calculated” and “very patient.” Woodley shared insights into her portrayal, noting that she learned from and incorporated Annie’s internal resilience into her own life. “I also really admire her resiliency, and that her resiliency comes from an internal place, not from a place of needing gratification, from an external perspective, and I think that’s a very rare and beautiful quality to have as a person,” Woodley stated during her acceptance speech.
Woodley’s fashion choice for the evening was a sleeveless, low-cut white mini dress from Brandon Maxwell’s pre-spring 2027 collection, styled by Karla Welch. The ensemble was completed with open-toe black heels. Her hair, styled by Rena Calhoun, flowed in waves. “Mom, this is so cool,” Woodley exclaimed during her acceptance speech, expressing gratitude for her profession and her peers, calling them “amazing traveling storytelling clowns.”
This Emmy win marks a significant achievement for Woodley, who was previously nominated in 2017 for an Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series or Movie Emmy for her role in Big Little Lies. On that occasion, the award went to her co-star Laura Dern. In this year’s competition, Woodley triumphed over fellow nominees Brittany Allen, Tal Anderson, Tina Ivlev, Miriam Shor, and Merritt Wever.
Reflecting on her win backstage, Woodley expressed excitement about contributing to the broader mission of the show. “I just feel very excited to be on board their bigger mission and to have my little slice of the pie and contribute what I was able to contribute,” she said. The series Paradise, which stars Sterling K. Brown, garnered a total of seven nominations for the year.
Stars Shine at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards weekend serves as a prelude to the main Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled for September 14. The event celebrated achievements across various television categories, drawing a constellation of stars.
DTF St. Louis Triumphs
The cast and crew of the dark comedy DTF St. Louis were among the evening’s notable winners. Jason Bateman attended the ceremony with his wife, Amanda Anka. His co-stars Linda Cardellini and Richard Jenkins were also present.
Linda Cardellini, 51, earned the award for Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her family, friends, fiancé Steve Rodriguez, and daughter Lyra Rose. She also extended her gratitude to the show’s creator, Steve Conrad, for the opportunity. “Thank you for your beautiful heart and your beautiful mind. Thank you for this part and giving me this chance,” Cardellini remarked.
David Harbour, 51, received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series. Harbour, known for his role in Stranger Things, expressed his surprise and appreciation for the show’s reception. “I’m really moved, I cannot believe you have embraced our show so much. In terms of my of my fellow nominees, it was not a fair fight,” he quipped. He also humorously acknowledged HBO’s contributions, stating, “I want to thank HBO for all your tons of notes. They honestly helped the show so much.” This marked Harbour’s fourth nomination and first win.
The series DTF St. Louis also secured an award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series, with Director of Photography James Whitaker being recognized.
Other Notable Wins and Appearances
Connor Storrie, 26, made an appearance with his mother, Linda Storrie. Storrie, who debuted a new buzzed haircut, was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting Saturday Night Live in February. He described the SNL hosting gig as a “pinch me” moment and expressed surreal gratitude for the Academy’s recognition.
Actress Julia Stiles, 45, attended the event in a royal purple gown. This appearance comes 15 years after her own Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Dexter. Stiles is currently preparing to compete in season 35 of Dancing With The Stars.
Betty Gilpin, 40, was recognized with an award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her work in Widow’s Bay. She was photographed holding her trophy, looking radiant in a red gown featuring a thigh-high slit.
Mikaela Hoover, 42, garnered attention in a floor-length gold halter neck gown.
Veteran actor Ernest Harden Jr., 73, achieved his first Emmy win for his portrayal of Louie Cloverfield, an alcoholic patient, in the series The Pitt. Harden Jr. expressed his elation backstage, calling the experience “unreal.” During his acceptance speech, he wished his parents could witness his achievement and thanked the executive producers and lead actor Noah Wyle for their belief in his talent. He shared anecdotes from his extensive career, which began in 1974 with a role in the film Three Days of the Condor.
Conclusion
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards provided a platform for celebrating diverse talent across the television landscape. Shailene Woodley’s first Emmy win, alongside accolades for the cast of DTF St. Louis and other notable performers, underscored a night of significant recognition and memorable moments in the television industry.
