Me and My Emmy: Girls5eva's Paula Pell

EMMY TALLY: One

HOW SHE GOT THE GOLD: For Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 2002, for Saturday Night Live.

NOW FOR THE NOMS: Pell has been nominated 12 times, 10 as a writer and two as an actress.

WONDER WOMAN: “I love how heavy the statuette is. The excitement of having that lady has never waned. It does inspire me to be so grateful for what I get to do for a living. It’s a shimmering beacon when I am feeling insecure, and a great place to dry my bras … just kidding, I don’t wear bras anymore.”

SWEET TREAT: “I never thought at my age I would be acting so much and doing so many gloriously fun projects. To be recognized for them is a giant cherry on the showbiz sundae.”

SURPRISE!: “The SNL writers were so sure we weren’t going to win in 2002 that the collective scream when we won is audible when you watch it back on video. It still makes me smile to hear our disbelief and delight. It was an explosion of underdog joy.”

HAPPY HARMONY: “[Girls5eva] is the perfect combination of brilliant writing handed to me, a cast I am deeply in love with and the opportunity to harmonize (one of my all-time favorite soul-filling activities). It’s all I ever wished for in one project.”

This article originally appeared in emmy magazine issue #8, 2024.