'Orange Is the New Black' News 2016: Laura Gomez Responds To Shocking Emmy Snubs [VIDEO]
One of the many cast members on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black has responded to the Emmys failing to nominate the show for any major awards.
Many Orange Is the New Black fans were shocked to see just one Emmy nomination for the show this year: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. Not even last year's Drama Supporting Actress winner Uzo Aduba was able to score a nomination this year.
Now, Laura Gomez, who plays Blanca on the series, is responding to this lack of recognition.
"You know, as wonderful as nominations are, I just think that it doesn't matter," Gomez admitted in a new interview with International Business Times. "[It] doesn't take away the merits that the show has. Doesn't take away from everything that we bring to the table. There's so many - so much politics behind the nominations and what not. I just - I try to ignore anything that has to do with awards. If you get the nomination, great, but that doesn't make the show better or worse."
The prison dramedy has not had great luck at the Emmys even though it started big in season 1 with 12 nominations in the comedy categories. The following year, the Academy voted that Orange Is the New Black was in fact a drama and forced it to compete in those categories. The show's second season only received four nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, a nomination for Aduba, a nomination for guest actor Pablo Schreiber (Pornstache) and a nomination for casting. And now, for season 3, there's just one measly nomination.
"It's great to get a nomination and merit form your peers and the industry," Gómez admitted, "but the show is [still] amazing if it [doesn't]. And I think the audience and the critics are the real answer to that."
The series has had far better luck at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. Aduba has won the Comedy Female Actor trophy two years running, as has the cast itself, winning for Best Ensemble.
The Primetime Emmys will air Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.
