Jodie Foster in “True Detective: Night Country”

Courtesy of Lilja Jons / HBO

Matthew McConaughey couldn’t do it. Woody Harrelson couldn’t do it. Even Mahershala Ali — a two-time Oscar winner himself — couldn’t win an Emmy for “True Detective.” But Jodie Foster has put an end to the franchise’s losing streak, winning the Best Actress in a Limited Series Emmy Award for her lead performance in “True Detective: Night Country.” This marks Foster’s first Emmy win, as well as the first time an actor has won for their work in “True Detective.”

Foster is also a two-time Oscar winner, but Sunday night’s victory also put an end to her (very minor) personal losing streak at the Emmys. In 1999, she earned her first nomination as a producer of “The Baby Dance,” which was nominated for Best TV Movie and lost to “A Lesson Before Dying.” Fifteen years later, Foster was nominated for Best Director of a Comedy Series for “Orange Is the New Black,” but Gail Mancuso won for “Modern Family.” “True Detective: Night Country” served as the first time she was recognized for acting by the TV Academy, and she’s also nominated for Best Limited Series as an executive producer of “Night Country.”

While considered the frontrunner by most experts, the competition for Best Actress in a Limited Series was considerable. Brie Larson brought her movie star might to the category, and her role in “Lessons in Chemistry” was already nominated for a Critics Choice Award, SAG Award, and Golden Globe. Juno Temple earned high marks for her serious turn in “Fargo,” cementing a new TV Academy favorite after three consecutive nominations for “Ted Lasso.” Sofia Vergara saw similar success by pivoting to a new genre, landing a nomination for the crime drama “Griselda” after four nominations for “Modern Family.” Naomi Watts, a two-time Oscar nominee with a buzzy new indie film set for the fall awards circuit, was somehow pulling up the rear in this category, which only speaks to its strength.

Foster’s credible presence helped revive HBO’s reimagined franchise, and her performance was an instant hit with critics. “Foster is magnetic, and ‘True Detective’ allows the Oscar winner ample room to flex her charisma,” IndieWire wrote in its initial review. Rolling Stone said, “[Foster’s] raspy growl is a perfect fit for an antisocial, my-way-or-the-highway veteran cop,” Variety praised “her meatiest role in years,” and The Boston Globe called her “remarkable.”

 

“True Detective: Night Country” became the most-watched season of the franchise yet (per HBO), and it also earned the series’ most Emmy nominations (with 19). HBO renewed “True Detective” for Season 5 with writer-director Issa Lopez set to return, but there has been no announcement about whether Foster will be back, and there’s typically a full cast turnover from season to season.

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The full telecast will be available to stream Monday on Hulu.