If one thing in our chaotic world is certain, it’s that TV is so good right now. That much is clear from the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, where Oprah joined a who’s who of television stars to present the award for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie to Michael Keaton for Dopesick.
This year, Oprah’s decision to present was partially in support of her newest collaborator, Reginald Hudlin. Just days before the Emmys, Oprah premiered her newest documentary, Sidney, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Hudlin is Sidney’s director and also a producer of this year’s Emmys.
Oprah brought down the house outfitted in a white floor-length Ralph Lauren tuxedo suit—which she actually pulled from her own closet. She paired that with the lowest heel possible—“’cause I’m done with high heels and hurting feet,” Oprah revealed to us. “The day finally comes when you realize you don’t have to suffer foot torture to look good. That comes with maturity, folks.” The look was topped off with a lengthy, sparkling braid. “You heard of diamonds on the soles of your shoes?” Oprah said of the hairstyle. “I like this, little diamonds in your hair.”
As she presented the award—walking out to a standing ovation, no less—Oprah used the moment to share how rare it is to win an Emmy Award. Prior to the ceremony, Oprah reflected on the speech, sharing: “I was happy to open. The writers came up with some meaningful words that I thought gave a lovely perspective about the odds of actually winning an Emmy.”
Oprah’s words emphasized how special this honor truly is: “There are eight billion people on this planet, but only 25 Emmys to be given out tonight,” she began. “Your chances of winning? 300 million to one.” What Oprah said next is something she’s certainly familiar with. “How do you win one? It starts with a dream. A dream strong enough to endure the knockdowns and rejections.” She then recognized that all the nominees had been through that process—but what sets them apart is they “got back up.” Her words of wisdom before announcing the winner: “There is one thing you can never lose, and that’s the belief in yourself.”
The six nominees in the category Oprah announced represent some of the best: Colin Firth for The Staircase, Andrew Garfield for Under the Banner of Heaven, Oscar Isaac for Scenes From a Marriage, Michael Keaton for Dopesick, Himesh Patel for Station Eleven, and Sebastian Stan for Pam & Tommy. After winning, Michael Keaton asked Oprah, “You’ve got about 90 of these, don’t you?” before sharing his gratitude for his family’s support.
Before Oprah headed home, she told us how fleeting of a moment it was. “You spend hours and hours—three hours in traffic, hours in makeup, hours and hours, and it’s, what, 45 seconds on stage? And then it’s done.” But it’s truly a valuable experience in the end: “When Sheryl Lee Ralph won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Abbott Elementary, she reminded us to never stop believing. That makes it all worth it. Thanks, Sheryl!”
Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an associate editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).
