Emmy winner Julia Garner says Ozark 'changed my life'

Virgin Radio

13 Sep 2022, 13:08

Having once again triumphed at the Emmy Awards, actor Julia Garner has paid tribute to the character that she played in Ozark.

At last night’s award ceremony in Los Angeles, Julia won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Ruth in the fourth and final season of the tense Netflix series.

This triumph sees her complete a hattrick, after she had previously won Emmys for her work in Ozark back in 2019 and in 2020. 

Last night, she saw off some tough competition to win the award, including Rhea Seehorn, who was incredible as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul, and Sarah Snook, who plays Shiv from Succession. Also up for the prize were Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Jung Ho-yeon (Squid Game), Patricia Arquette (Severance) and J. Smith-Cameron (Succession). That’s a pretty strong line-up of nominees! 

Upon accepting the award, Julia said: “I want to thank our showrunner, Chris Mundy, and all the writers in the writer’s room. Thank you for writing Ruth, she’s changed my life.”

She continued: “I want to thank Jason Bateman for taking a chance on me, and Laura Linney, you’ve been such a guiding light to me. And I just feel really grateful, I feel really grateful to be here…” 

Noticing the allotted time for her acceptance speech was ticking down, the star added: “I have eight seconds left… and to play Ruth and to be with such amazing, beautiful artists, and I love you all, and now I gotta go! Thank you all so much, I love you all.”

Ozark was nominated for 13 Emmys at the 2022 awards, but Julia was the only winner. Overall, the show, which followed a family trying to navigate their way through the criminal world in which they got themselves embroiled - was nominated 44 times over its four seasons. Alongside Julia Garner’s three wins, Jason Bateman picked up a gong for Outstanding Direction for a Drama Series in 2019, for season two. Bateman also starred in the show, alongside his screen wife Laura Linney.

Elsewhere at the ceremony last night (12th September), HBO had a good night, with The White Lotus picking up five awards, while Succession scored four.

Ted Lasso also triumphed, with British actor Brett Goldstein and Jason Sudeikis winning, as well as director MJ Delaney. And it won Outstanding Comedy Series too. A great result for Richmond FC! And they didn't even need to use Nate's false nine system to get it.