The Empire and How to Get Away With Murder stars made history in July when the Television Academy nominated two black women in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. Davis made history again when she became the first black woman to win the award, and Henson was one of the first people to give her peer a standing ovation. Still, Henson is human, and she would have liked to win.
"It was bittersweet, you know what I mean, because we all want to make history and be important to society and everything," Henson said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, airing Tuesday. "But then I thought about it. I was like, 'It's 2015 and we have a black president and no black woman has ever won in this category. Like, this is weird.' So, when I went into it and I knew I was being nominated alongside of Viola, I just thought to myself, 'God, just please give it to one of us so we will never have to say that again. You know, let's just break this barrier down and keep on pushing.' I think the universe is happy. Viola deserved that award. And, honestly, I would have felt weird if I had gotten it over her. You know what I mean? She's been doing it longer. You've just got to give respect and know when your time is."
"Had I won it wouldn't have been that message. I mean it would've been good. Don't ya know!" said Henson, who earned her first Emmy nomination in 2011. "It woulda been great! I just think the universe orders up what it needs when it needs it. And I think the world needed to hear what she had to say last night."
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