Salla Richardson-Whitfield’s mid-career change of favor has paid off.

The actress-turned-producer/director earned her first Emmy nomination this yr for her work on the critically acclaimed HBO series, making history as the primary black woman nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Ironically, it was for her work on the series that was prematurely canceled, .

But before she dominated the director’s chair, Richardson-Whitfield was a star of film and tv within the ’90s, starring out and in of The Jamie Foxx Show, ROC and even lending her voice to a classic animated drama.

We caught up with Richardson-Whitfield just after news of her historic nomination broke to seek out out what led to her going from in front of the camera to behind it, finding success in underappreciated spaces and ultimately getting invited to the party of a lifetime after a three-decade Hollywood profession.

ESSENCE: Despite a profession spanning nearly 35 years, 65 acting credits, and 37 directing credits, these two Emmy nominations are your first. How did you are feeling once you heard you were nominated in not only one, but multiple categories?

Richardson-Whitfield: Completely absent! I used to be on set and I used to be more focused because I knew HBO was promoting the show, so I used to be hoping they’d get a nod, and after they did, I used to be like, “Great, I can go to the party.” But nothing in my wildest dreams said I’d get multiple nominations, let alone be nominated for guiding. So I used to be very, very surprised.

This was surprising, especially to many fans, for the reason that show was, unfortunately, canceled last September.

Part of me was very surprised since the show was canceled. Really, out of all of the shows I’ve done in my profession up to now, I used to be really blissful that it was this show and this particular episode because I used to be very pleased with it.

Unfortunately, I believe it just got here out on the flawed time. Some of the players had issues with not being a component of it, after which we had COVID, after which we had the strike – it was just the flawed time. But I believe it should be certainly one of those shows where people look back and say, “We really missed the opportunity.” It’s a extremely cool show. Great characters, and visually something different than what’s been on TV before.

For those that are unfamiliar with the topic, and particularly ’90s kids who know you all too well, especially as an actress, explain the way you ended up making a profession as a director.

I’d say it has been about eight years since directing took over for me. I used to be shooting Ava Duvernay’s first feature, . During that process, probably because I used to be talking a bit an excessive amount of, Ava said to me, “I think you’re a director, but you don’t know it.” And only for her to breathe those words from God into me made me say, “Hmm… that’s how I think.”

Then I used to be on a show where I talked to them about perhaps giving me a probability to direct. And in fact I did my due diligence, I did a bit little bit of shadowing and I read books, and Ava gave me some tapes on blocking. They trusted me and gave me a probability. And after that first episode I knew that eventually this was going to be something that I used to be going to enter. It’s almost like all those 20, 25, 30 years of acting were my training ground to develop into a director.

How do you’re thinking that this Emmy shall be different from others you’ve got attended previously and now that you just’re nominated?

Well, I’ve never been to an Emmy! So I’m super excited.

Really?? That’s shocking.

Again, that is why I used to be so excited once I got nominated. I assumed, “Okay, I produced this show. At least I can go.” So the proven fact that I’m nominated for 2 Emmys for the primary time makes it that a lot better. Win or lose, at the least I’m there.

What are your immediate plans beyond the Emmys?

Well, I even have a brand new show that I’m shooting for HBO called , and it stars Mark Ruffalo. It’s produced by the identical showrunner, Brad Inglesby, who was behind So that is one other show that I’m really enthusiastic about, a unique type of crime. I’ve done a bit little bit of that, but this time I can really delve into that genre more. And the forged is amazing. And I hope I’ll be there next yr when the following Emmy nomination comes out.