Uzo Aduba got Emmy-nominated for The Residence, but this 90% RT Netflix show proves her range

Uzo Aduba is one of the most standout actors of recent times, and the Emmys agree. She has stepped into some unforgettable roles. She has made us laugh, cry, and even wonder how effortlessly she brings each character to life.

Orange Is the New Black is one of those shows where she shone the brightest. The show gave us memorable characters, brilliant writing, and some unexpected emotional moments. The cast was one of the most eclectic that TV had seen in years. But among all its breakout stars, Uzo Aduba received a lot of love and critical acclaim for her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren.

In the beginning, it seemed like her character was comic relief. But episode by episode, Uzo proved that our perception of her character was wrong. And by the time the series wrapped, it was clear that this woman was out to do something greater than what we’d imagined at first.

Before The Residence and its recent Emmy nod, Uzo was busy making Suzanne one of the most layered, unpredictable, and realistic human characters in the entire show.

Uzo Aduba in Orange Is the New Black: Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" was never really a side character

The critics may have praised Orange Is the New Black for its diverse storytelling, and probably that’s why the show holds a strong 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But fans know that a huge part of its emotional core came straight from Uzo’s stunning, unique, and fearless performance.

Uzo Aduba in Orange Is the New Black is impossible to ignore. One minute, she had us laughing at her poetic one-liners and awkward advances, and the next, she had us crying during a heartbreaking breakdown.

Her portrayal of Suzanne wasn’t a one-note depiction of mental illness or an eccentric supporting role. It was a very real, messy, and brilliant study of a woman trying to find her place in a world that didn’t know what to do with her.

The flashback episodes in Orange Is the New Black revealed Suzanne’s past. When we saw her upbringing, her struggles in the outside world, and her desperate attempts to make friends, everything started making sense. And Uzo Aduba delivered those scenes with such vulnerability and realism that it felt almost invasive to watch.

And that’s where her real strength lies. Uzo Aduba didn’t have to rely on big speeches or overly dramatic moments to prove she had acting chops. She let the little things do the talking. It was her sudden change in tone and the way her eyes darted when she got overwhelmed. She built a character that was unpredictable but also heartbreakingly consistent in her need to be loved.

The Residence is another exciting addition to the TV achievements of Uzo Aduba. But when people ask about her best TV role, the answer is still Orange Is the New Black.

So, the Emmys may be catching on now, but the fans have always known. We saw it years ago, in a maximum-security prison where a woman with “crazy eyes” became one of the most real, unforgettable faces on television.

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