Charles Melton scored his first Emmy nomination Wednesday, getting a nod in the best supporting actor in a limited series category for his work in season two of Netflix’s Beef.
The 35-year-old actor is, of course, over the moon, but it’s far from the only big thing happening in his life today. “I just got my daughter to sleep, which I’m very, very excited about. We’re in this phase where there’s a sleep regression,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter on a call from Paris shortly after his nomination.
Between his daughter adjusting to the time difference and his Emmy nomination, he’s already feeling like a winner for the day. He adds, “Alls to say is holy shit, how exciting.”
Melton, who plays Austin in the hit series, went into the day feeling hopeful about the prospect of being nominated. “Anyone that says they don’t think about the possibility of some sort of recognition as close to the announcements of recognition, when you’re in this arena where you’re being talked about…” he says. “It’s hard to not be hopeful and thoughtful and the possibility of what could be.”
Beef had a great showing at Wednesday’s Emmy nominations. However, one of the biggest snubs of the year was Cailee Spaeny, who plays Ashley in the show. The actor has nothing but incredible things to say about his costar and on screen fiancée. He calls her his family and his rock — she was the first person to text him this morning after his nomination was announced.
Melton, who was an executive producer on the project and therefore earned a nomination for the show’s best limited series or anthology nomination, has no shortage of gratitude for the show’s creator, writer and director Lee Sung Jin, his fellow cast members and the crew. “I just keep thinking about my Teamster right now, Baker, who would drive me to and from work every day,” Melton admits. “I love that guy. Thank you, Baker.”
Lee actually wrote the part of Austin with Melton in mind, and he used a Gold House dinner celebration to pitch the actor the part. “It’s amazing to be a part of the genesis of something, [to be] part of the early stages of something being created and developed and written. Sonny told me in the beginning where he saw the season ending,” Melton explains.
“From there, it was just these endless conversations of such sensitive, vulnerable, heartfelt, soulful questions about our existentialism, our existence in life, our identity under the umbrella of capitalism and different suicidal norms through the diaspora of just the show,” he continues.
Melton says every scene he had with Spaeny ranks among his favorite scenes. “The work was so alive and we put so much into it. We were in a waking dream together with our characters and life and just with our work,” he says.
Lee has spoken about how he feels about Austin and Ashley end up in the show. But Melton has a bit of a hot take in that regard. “I think they’re happily in love,” Melton says of the couple. Most of the internet might not agree with that one.
“We just saw one moment, when they’re both at work tired and Austin is being asked to read the book that night to the kids. We just assume and project,” he says.
Melton thinks how the audience reads the interaction provides an insight into them as a person. He finds beauty in not always going down the worst path. “It’s good to be hopeful and optimistic. Sometimes it’s more of a struggle to do that, which is the complete reflection of who Austin is,” he says. “Struggling to always be optimistic and do the right thing.”
