Shailene Woodley and Ernest Harden Jr. Win Creative Arts Emmys for Guest Drama Roles

Shailene Woodley won the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy for guest actress in a drama series for her role in Paradise, while Ernest Harden Jr. took guest actor in a drama series for The Pitt — both awards handed out on the second night of the two-day Creative Arts Emmys in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, 7 September. The wins were reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

For Woodley, the prize carried an extra weight: it was the first Emmy Award for Paradise, the series in which she appears. The show is not done yet at this year's Emmys. Paradise is nominated for best drama series at the 78th Primetime Emmy ceremony on 14 September, with Sterling K. Brown up for lead actor and Julianne Nicholson for supporting actress. Those awards will air live on NBC, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.

Harden Jr. was visibly moved. He took the stage in tears and received a loud cheer from the audience, then referred to his Pitt co-star Noah Wyle as "his brother from another mother," per The Hollywood Reporter. His nomination was for the episode "7:00 A.M." Wyle was among the presenters announced for the second night of Creative Arts ceremonies.

Woodley, accepting in a white mini-dress, called out to her mother in the crowd and said it was "cool" that she had won. The night's ceremony was not televised live. Both nights of the Creative Arts Emmys — the first covering categories like variety, reality and daytime-adjacent programming, the second covering guest roles and several relocated categories — were scheduled to air together in a combined broadcast on Saturday, 12 September.

The Creative Arts Emmys are held a week ahead of the Primetime show and cover categories that do not make the main telecast. This year, five categories previously given out during the Primetime ceremony were moved to the Creative Arts nights, including best supporting actor and actress in a limited or anthology series. Night One, held on 6 September, was led by the Bad Bunny Halftime Show, The Traitors, and Late Show with Stephen Colbert, according to a Television Academy announcement dated 5 September.

For fans of Paradise, Woodley's win lands as a signal that the series has registered with Emmy voters ahead of the main ceremony. For The Pitt, Harden Jr.'s victory puts a spotlight on a show whose ensemble — Wyle included — has been a presence throughout the Creative Arts weekend.

The 78th Emmy Awards are scheduled to air live on NBC and Peacock on 14 September.