Bronx actress Liza Colón-Zayas looks back on the success of “The Bear” and her first Emmy nomination

NEW YORK — She has spent more than 30 years on the screen, but this weekend Liza Colón-Zayas could take home a big award at the 76th Emmy Awards.

The awards ceremony will take place in a few days. In the drama category, “Shogun” leads the list with 25 nominations, and in the comedy category, “The Bear” broke a season record with 23 nominations.

Bronx-born actress Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina in the hit series, has been nominated for her first Emmy.

For many of us, The Bear is must-see television, but for Colón-Zayas, the role is more than just a performance – it’s a chance to represent her community and inspire others.

In an age when there seems to be too much television to keep up, The Bear has proven to be a standout. The show's secret ingredient is a mix of quick wit, bite and humor – as well as an authentic portrayal of kitchen life and its complex characters.

FULL LIST: Here are the nominees for the 76th Emmy Awards

One of them is Tina – the heart and soul of the kitchen crew. But long before Colón-Zayas caused drama in “The Bear,” she was a little girl from the Bronx with big dreams.

“It was when the Bronx was burning,” she said. “It was hard, but we made it through, if only just.”

Colón-Zayas says she is so happy that she did not give up on the child. The same resilience has carried her throughout her career.

She has been in the business for over 30 years and now has a dream role and an Emmy nomination to go with it.

“It's slowly sinking in. Part of the survival mechanism is that we are here, we are now,” she said. “We have a track record of this kind of struggle. So it's hard to just let that go and accept: Yes, it could happen. Why wouldn't it happen?”

Colón-Zayas said her path to this moment hasn't been easy, working as a waitress and in other odd jobs, but she said she's learned something from her character Tina.

“I learned how similar we are. I learned that you have to believe in yourself as much as others believe in you. Try to adopt that,” Colón-Zayas said.

She said Tina was much more than a role – she was an opportunity to represent her community and inspire others.

“I just want to convey dignity and humanity, that goes for every character,” said Colón-Zayas. “It's about lifting up the people who are ignored. It's not about a restaurant, it's about the people who keep it running every day, this community.”

The actress said it was quite profound being a middle-aged actress of color and a character actress who had to struggle for decades to break through.

“And I'm not just talking about fame, I'm talking about powerful, brilliant diversity that shines a light on a community that is ignored,” she said. “I just want to say to all of those women and young girls who grew up like me and look like me: Please, you are gold. Even if they tell you otherwise, you are pure gold. You come from warriors.”

The 76th Emmy Awards will air live from LA Live in Los Angeles on ABC on Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony will also stream on Hulu the next day.

Live coverage of “On The Red Carpet” begins at 6 p.m. ET on ABC and will be streamed at On DemRotenTafel.com.