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Los Angeles - Taraji P Henson thinks it's "bittersweet" she may be the first African-American woman to win Best Actress at the Emmy Awards.
The Empire star admits that she "prays to God" that either she or How to Get Away with Murder actress Viola Davis win the Outstanding Actress in a Drama award next week, because she feels it's long overdue for African-Americans to be considered worthy of the prize.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Taraji admitted the potential superlative is ''sort of bittersweet''.
She explained: "Here we are in 2015, and we're still saying things like, 'First African-American', 'First woman this.'
"I just pray to God ... and it's not even about me. I hope Viola wins. I hope I win. Just so we can get past this and we don't have to say in 2020 or 2030 or 3000, 'The first' - I mean, come on, really?"
While no African-American actresses have won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, The Jeffersons actress Isabel Sanford won the comedy equivalent in 1981.
Meanwhile, the 45-year-old actress revealed she can't wait to work with Vivica A. Fox - who has joined the Empire cast as her sister - on the second series of the musical drama.
She said: "I'm very excited about that. I mean, I watched Vivica before I even got into the business. And she's always been one that I've looked up to, like, 'God, I want to be able to do what she does.' So, to be able to work with the person who you've admired for so long, it's just mind-blowing."
