Michaela Coel spoke directly to screenplay writers while accepting the 2021 Emmy for Best Writing for the critically-acclaimed BBC/HBO limited series I May Destroy You.
Besides writing, co-directing and starring in I May Destroy You, Coel was also executive producer for the show, which is loosely based on her own experiences.
I May Destroy You follows a young British writer (played by Coel) grappling with questions of identity and consent, in the aftermath of her rape.
In a 48-second speech, Coel encouraged writers to wade through murky waters in search of their truth, and sit comfortably with discomfort.