Kate O'Flynn, nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in "Widow's Bay," revealed at the 2026 Emmy Awards that her close friend Jonathan Bailey has been a source of career advice as her profile has grown.
"One step at a time," O'Flynn exclusively told Justin Sylvester during "Live from E!: 2026 Emmys," describing the "Wicked" star's best tip for success in the spotlight. "Your best friends are there for you, back yourself, and we love you."
Jonathan Bailey, known for "Bridgerton" and the film "Wicked," has become a prominent figure on the awards circuit in recent years. O'Flynn's nomination marked her first-ever Emmy nod.
The 40-year-old actress said she considered whatever happened at the Sept. 14 ceremony, win or lose, "all gravy."
O'Flynn's Emmys Night
O'Flynn made the most of her first Emmys red carpet as a nominee, walking alongside stars including Zendaya, Alan Cumming and Jamie Lee Curtis. She called the experience "surreal" and said she was "really grateful" for it.
Reflecting on television's biggest night also brought to mind a late Hollywood icon O'Flynn said she would have loved to invite to a dinner party, much like her "Widow's Bay" character Patricia is known for doing among fans of the Apple series.
"She's not here anymore, but I'd say Tina Turner," O'Flynn said.
19 Nominations For Widow's Bay
The ceremony was hosted by Mariska Hargitay, and "Widow's Bay" entered the night with 19 Emmy nominations, including a nod for O'Flynn's co-star Matthew Rhys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rhys previously won an Emmy for his role in "The Americans."
What's Next For Season Two
Given the show's success since its debut, fans have been eager for details on a second season. Rhys told E! News in an exclusive interview in August that the writers had only been working for about two weeks at that point, calling it the "blue sky period," when ideas get thrown around freely.
"They've only been in the writers' room about two weeks, and they call it the blue sky period, where they all throw in their ideas," the 51-year-old said. "And we're like, 'What are the ideas?' And they wouldn't tell us. And I'm usually the last to know because I do have a kind of a loudmouth."
Showrunner Katie Dippold On The Writers' Room
Series creator Katie Dippold, who serves as showrunner, said she was thrilled with the writing team she assembled for the new season. She spoke during a panel hosted by Collider at Comic-Con 2026 in July.
"The writers' room just started this week, and it's a great room," the 46-year-old said. "Then we're going to be writing for the next 20 weeks."
Watching The 2026 Emmys
The 2026 Emmy Awards aired live on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streamed on Peacock. E!'s red carpet coverage began at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
