On January 11, 2026, the Beverly Hilton was abuzz with anticipation, but few moments were as electrifying as when Rhea Seehorn’s name was announced as the winner of the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Drama. The honor, awarded for her performance as Carol Sturka in the Apple TV sci-fi sensation Pluribus, marked not only Seehorn’s first Golden Globe nomination, but also her first win—a long-awaited recognition for an actress whose talents have often outpaced her accolades.
As presenters Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah called her name, Seehorn took the stage visibly stunned. “I think my stomach is still over there,” she joked, drawing laughter from the crowd and setting the tone for a heartfelt and refreshingly candid acceptance speech. Looking down at her prepared remarks, Seehorn confessed, “My speech says, ‘Get a prescription for beta blockers,’ but I did not. Sorry! I’m going to do my best. I’m sorry, I am just a little shocked!” According to The Hollywood Reporter, she even took a moment to reminisce about meeting Queen Latifah two decades earlier while between jobs at a Koo Koo Roo, recalling, “You were so nice, so thanks!”
Seehorn’s gratitude extended well beyond the presenters. She paid tribute to her fellow nominees—Kathy Bates (Matlock), Britt Lower (Severance), Helen Mirren (MobLand), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), and Keri Russell (The Diplomat). “Getting your name read with Bella Ramsey and Britt Lower and Helen Mirren and Kathy Bates and Keri Russell, I’m astonished by all your performances. I appreciate being listed with you,” she said, as reported by Variety. She went on to acknowledge the broader community of women in the industry, noting, “I’ve been to a lot of these parties that get pretty scary for someone like me sometimes, and the women in this room have been incredible in the last couple of weeks. Thank you for that.”
For Seehorn, the win was more than just a personal milestone. It was a moment of validation after years of acclaimed performances that were frequently overlooked by major awards. Fans of Better Call Saul—where she played the formidable Kim Wexler—will remember the series’ notorious shutout at the Emmys, despite 54 nominations over six seasons. Seehorn herself had been nominated twice for Emmys in supporting roles for Better Call Saul and once for the short-form series Cooper’s Bar, but had never taken home the trophy. Her recent Critics Choice Award win for Pluribus signaled a shift, and the Golden Globe cemented her place as a frontrunner for the 2026 Emmy Awards, as noted by Gold Derby.
Central to Seehorn’s speech was her gratitude toward Pluribus creator Vince Gilligan, who previously helmed both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. “Thank you for writing me the role of a lifetime. And even more than that, thank you for having belief in me that is beyond. You make me wanna be better every day,” Seehorn said, as quoted by Vulture. She also extended thanks to the directors, writers, producers, her castmates, Apple TV, Sony, her family, and her partner Graham Larson. “It takes an entire village, so thank you to my beautiful village,” she shared, before concluding, “I’m still so grateful that I get to do this for a living, and this is incredible icing on that cake.”
Pluribus itself has quickly become a global phenomenon. Since its debut at the end of 2025, the series broke the record previously held by Severance Season 2 for the biggest global drama series launch across Apple TV’s more than 100 territories, including the U.S., UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Mexico, India, and France, according to Deadline. While Pluribus was also nominated for Best Drama Series at the Golden Globes, it lost that category to The Pitt. Still, the show’s impact is undeniable, and a second season is already in the works, with Apple TV having acquired the series as a two-season order back in 2022.
Backstage, Seehorn was asked about the status of season two. She responded with characteristic humility and humor: “They are in the writer’s room. I have no idea when we’re going back. I know [Vince Gilligan] wants us to go as soon as possible. Vince is not playing any kind of game to make people wait for this, but he wants to craft the show that he wants to craft with all the care for his fans and the people following this story that he can,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. She promised, “We’ll get back as fast as we can. I promise you that.”
This year’s Golden Globes, streaming live on Paramount+ Premium and hosted by Nikki Glaser for the second year running, saw many categories repeat last year’s Emmy winners, with the exception of Seehorn’s fresh victory. As Gold Derby observed, she was the only new winner in the TV drama categories, breaking the streak of repeat honorees and signaling the arrival of a new awards contender. With her back-to-back wins at the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards, Seehorn is now the clear favorite for the upcoming Emmys—an award that has thus far eluded her despite multiple nominations.
For Apple TV, Pluribus represents another high-profile success, joining the ranks of critically acclaimed series like Severance and The Pitt. The show’s genre-bending premise and Seehorn’s nuanced performance as Carol Sturka—a romantasy author thrust into world-saving heroics—have resonated with audiences and critics alike. The anticipation for season two is already building, even as Seehorn herself admits she’s in the dark about when production will resume.
It’s rare for an actor to strike gold with two iconic roles in consecutive collaborations with the same creator, but Seehorn’s journey from Kim Wexler to Carol Sturka demonstrates her remarkable range and resilience. Her Golden Globe win is not just a personal triumph but a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of roles that challenge and inspire. As awards season continues, all eyes will be on Seehorn and Pluribus as they make their mark on the Emmy stage for the first time.
With the momentum of a record-breaking series and the fresh shine of a Golden Globe, Rhea Seehorn’s star has never burned brighter. Awards may be the icing, but for Seehorn—and her growing legion of fans—it’s clear that the cake itself is something truly worth celebrating.
