After Hailing From Humble Beginnings, She Just Became The First Black Woman To Win An Emmy For “Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy” In 40 Years
Quinta Brunson is one of the most talked about actresses, writers, and producers in Hollywood right now. Her television show, “Abbott Elementary,” has captured the hearts of millions of viewers and made so many people laugh.
If you haven’t watched her show, you’ve likely seen Quinta’s name in the headlines, as her soaring career has achieved amazing milestones in the entertainment industry. During the recent Primetime Emmy Awards, Quinta became the first Black woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy in 40 years.
One of the most fascinating parts about Quinta’s career is her humble upbringing and courage to take chances to achieve what she wants. Here is a bit more of her story.
Quinta was born in West Philadelphia in 1989. Her mother was a kindergarten teacher, and she was one of five children.
Growing up, Quinta loved comedy and performing as a child. She briefly attended Temple University in Philadelphia but ultimately dropped out to take improv and acting classes at the famous Second City in Chicago.
Around 2014, Quinta began generating some buzz when she went viral for the creative and funny videos she would post on social media. Longtime fans of Quinta will remember the “Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date” video that is still used as a meme today.
Later, Quinta gained more recognition when she began working as a video producer for BuzzFeed Video in California after guest-appearing in a few of her friend’s videos for the company. Quinta was a star at BuzzFeed, writing, producing, and starring in online content that generated thousands of views.
Quinta created and sold two web series to BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, including a scripted comedy titled “Broke,” for which she won a Streamy Award in 2017.
Eventually, Quinta’s ambitions and dreams began to expand past the realm of a 9-to-5 job, and she wanted to start writing for television and create new worlds and characters. She left in 2018 and began taking on small television roles while writing pilots and collaborating with others on new series.
In 2019, Quinta appeared on the popular HBO sketch comedy series “A Black Lady Sketch Show” but left during the second season. Then, in 2021, she had a major breakthrough when the pilot for “Abbott Elementary” was picked up by ABC in 2021.
mustapha – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Quinta writes, co-produces, and stars in Abbott Elementary alongside an excellent cast, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, and Tyler James Williams. The show takes place at a public school in Philadelphia and is a mockumentary-style sitcom that follows the staff’s antics as they try to keep themselves and their students afloat at an underfunded school.
The show was named after one of Quinta’s former middle school teachers, Mrs. Abbott. The show received much praise after premiering in December 2021 and is about to run its third season. Since the show aired, Quinta and her fellow castmates and creators have won many prestigious awards.
Many of Quinta’s awards have been milestones for a Black woman in the industry.
In 2022, Quinta became the first solo Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series and was named Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022. She’s receiving many congratulations after her 2023 Emmy Award win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy.
Quinta is a very exciting creator in the entertainment industry, as she’s opened a door for more diverse casting, created a show beloved by so many people, and showed others that dreams can come true with a lot of hard work, ambition, and creativity.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Chicks We Love