Brittany Allen (All My Children, What Keeps You Alive) took a chance on herself, and it paid off. According to CNN, Allen earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in Drama Series for her performance as Roxie Hamler in Season Two of HBO’s The Pitt.
The recognition came after Allen submitted herself for Emmy consideration, even as HBO chose to prioritize other performances from the series. “This industry really doesn’t do you any favors. Nobody’s got your back but yourself,” Allen told CNN.
She went on to say, “When you put so much work into something, you want to give it the best shot to be recognized. It felt important to stand up and say, ‘Hey, take a look at what I did,’ and to fight for it and to be my own advocate.”
CNN notes Allen appeared in seven episodes as Roxie, a young mother with terminal cancer who decides to end her suffering rather than continue living in pain. Although her role was only part of the season, the character’s emotional journey resonated with audiences and ultimately with Emmy voters.
After learning HBO would not be submitting her performance, Allen paid the $225 entry fee herself and launched her own awards campaign through social media. She said there was never much doubt about the decision.
“When I saw that I wasn’t being submitted by HBO, there wasn’t really a question of whether or not I would try to submit myself,” Allen said. “This is a platform, and I am going to seize it.”
HBO and Max chairman and CEO Casey Bloys said the decision not to submit Allen was strategic rather than a reflection of the quality of her performance. Because The Pitt features such a large ensemble cast, he said the network could not realistically campaign every eligible actor.
Allen agreed with that explanation, saying she never viewed the decision personally and understood that awards campaigns often come down to politics. Looking ahead to the ceremony on Sept. 14, she said she is excited to celebrate the milestone with her family.