Even though Selena didn’t have to die for us to love her, that’s the hand the Emmys dealt.

Selena Gomez, the well-known star of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” was regrettably left out of the lead actress in a comedy category, but the 29-year-old executive producer is on the squad for outstanding comedy series, along with her co-stars Martin Short and Steve Martin.

Only three Latinas have ever been among the producers of comedy programs nominated for an Emmy in the 74-year history of the award. Her nomination in the category is significant for this. Salma Hayek, a Mexican actress, and producer, won the first one for Fox’s “Ugly Betty” back in 2007. Marlis Pujol, a Cuban producer, won the second one for Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method” in 2020 and 2021, which received nominations in both years.

Additionally, only one Latina woman—Celia D. Costas for “Angels in America” in 2004—has received a victory as a producer in any of the most prestigious series categories in history.

Only two Latinas have been nominated for acting awards: Rita Moreno for “9 to 5” in 1983 and America Ferrera, who won for “Ugly Betty” in 2007 and was nominated again in 2008. Her exclusion from the acting competition is extremely disappointing. However, it is hoped that Gomez’s contributions from the second season will be discussed during the 2023 Emmys season.

Since her father is Mexican and her paternal grandparents were born in Monterrey, Gomez proudly identifies as a third-generation American-Mexican. Her presence is a breath of fresh air for Latin representation in Hollywood. She plays Mabel Mora, a teenage inhabitant of the upscale Arconia building on the Upper West Side, in “Only Murders in the Building,” which garnered a sizable number of nominations. She collaborates with semi-retired actor Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin) and struggling Broadway director Charles Putnam (Martin Short) to produce a podcast to help solve the death of Tim Kono, one of the inmates.

Source: variety