Linda Cardellini won her first Emmy Award at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, September 6, taking Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role as Carol Love-Smernitch in HBO’s DTF St. Louis.
Linda Cardellini Breaks Through With First Career Emmy Win
The 51-year-old actress triumphed in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for her performance in the HBO dark comedy DTF St. Louis. She can be seen kissing her husband, Steve Rodriguez, after her win.
Taking the stage on Sunday evening, September 6, she reflected on the milestone.
“I’m overcome, I’m sorry it’s a little embarrassing, but this has just been an unbelievable journey,” Cardellini said on stage.
She added, Thank you to everybody along this way, all these years, who helped me get to this moment. A real dream come true, and I appreciate it very much.
Backstage, she elaborated further on the experience of hearing her name called. My heart was beating so fast and I just wanted to be able to feel it and look out and see people and to be able to look out and see so many of my castmates nominated,
she said. One of my friends once told me it’s a long life in this business if they’re lucky, and I feel very lucky to be here right now holding this Emmy.
Overcoming a Crowded Field in DTF St. Louis
Cardellini claimed the category over a competitive group of nominees that included Dakota Fanning, Laurie Metcalf, Youn Yuh-jung, Constance Zimmer, and her own co-star Joy Sunday. Sunday earned her first-ever Emmy nomination for playing Detective Jodie Plumb in the same HBO series. Fanning was recognized for playing Jenny Kaminski in Peacock’s All Her Fault, while Metcalf earned her 14th Emmy nomination for playing Augusta Gein in Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
In DTF St. Louis, Cardellini stars alongside David Harbour as onscreen couple Carol and Floyd Smernitch. The series follows a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise that leads to one of them ending up dead. Cardellini previously told PEOPLE that the role was very different from everybody else she has played, noting that Carol does not wear her heart on her sleeve at all.
She described it as really fun to play such an opaque character because in the beginning, you think something about her, and at the end, you know more about her, and you might change your mind.
David Harbour and DTF St. Louis Sweep Creative Arts Categories
Cardellini was joined in the winner’s circle by her onscreen husband. David Harbour also picked up his first Emmy win, taking Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Harbour triumphed over fellow category nominees Jason Bateman and Richard Jenkins. Harbour previously earned two Emmy nominations for his work on Netflix’s Stranger Things in both 2017 and 2018.
In a departure from past years, the supporting acting awards in the limited series category were handed out during Emmys Night 2 (formerly referred to as the Creative Arts Emmys) ahead of the primetime ceremony and telecast on September 14. Cardellini’s speech was not televised.
The HBO dark comedy dominated the Sunday evening ceremony, securing six wins out of nine total nominations. Beyond the acting trophies for Cardellini and Harbour, DTF St. Louis also won awards for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. The three nominations the show lost out on during the night were Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Primetime Emmy Outlook and Future Contests
While the Creative Arts Emmys handed out supporting awards during the September 6 ceremony at the Peacock Theater, DTF St. Louis carries 13 total nominations into the upcoming 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The series is up for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, with that winner set to be announced during the live ceremony hosted by Mariska Hargitay on Monday, September 14, airing live on NBC and Peacock.
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