Liza Colón-Zayas Shares Powerful Election Year Message After Historic Emmy Win

Liza Colón-Zayas admitted she didn’t prepare a speech when she became the first Latina to win the Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series on Sunday.

“To all the Latinas watching, keep believing and vote. Vote for your rights,” she said upon receiving her award.

Colon-Zayas, a Bronx native who grew up in a Puerto Rican family, was honored for her role as cook Tina Marrero in “The Bear,” which received 23 nominations at this year’s Emmy Awards.

She said she refused to follow her husband David Zayas’ advice to write remarks in advance because she “didn’t think it would be possible” to win in the category, which pitted her against Meryl Streep, Carol Burnett, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Hannah Einbinder.

“No matter what, I love you all. I worship you from the bottom of my heart,” Colón-Zayas told his fellow nominees, before thanking his mother, grandchildren and everyone involved with “The Bear” for giving him a “new life” with the series.

Colón-Zayas previously told Variety that the Emmy nomination, her first at the awards show, let her know that at least she would “have a good run.”

“And that all the fights have been seen and recognized. That I have a gift. Because I have doubted it my whole life,” she continued.

“Let the world say, ‘We see you,’ and I dare say, ‘Here are my peers.’ Carol Burnett raised me. Meryl Streep is a queen. Sheryl Lee Ralph is a queen. To be in the company of these women is incredible.”

You can check out his reaction to his Emmy win and his speech below.