Cristin Milioti Nabs First Emmy Nomination for ‘The Penguin’: ‘I’m Down for the Ride’

After a Critics Choice win and dozens of other nominations, the antihero of HBO's "The Penguin" couldn't be more thrilled.

Cristin Milioti is no new face in television.

Whether she caught your eye in “Black Mirror,” “How I Met Your Mother,” way back on “The Sopranos” in her first TV role, or during that killer “30 Rock” cameo, her work always stands out in already impressive projects, right down to her Emmy-nominated turn in “The Penguin.”

Milioti’s performance earned her a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, alongside Cate Blanchett for “Disclaimer,” Michelle Williams for “Dying for Sex,” Rashida Jones for “Black Mirror,” and Meghann Fahy for “Sirens.” On the heels of Tuesday’s nomination announcement, IndieWire caught up with the artist formerly known as Sofia Falcone (it’s Gigante now!) about the recognition, revisiting the character, and suiting back up for “Black Mirror” Season 7.

The following interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

IndieWire: We spoke to you in December about “The Penguin,” and it is difficult for a show to keep that kind of momentum going into the new year and then to an Emmy season. What was your reaction to being nominated?

Cristin Milioti: I was very, very touched and overwhelmed and grateful. I am so thrilled for our show and the amount of nominations that we got, and for our incredible crew, my incredible fellow cast. It’s been really, really thrilling. And then on top of that, to also see “Black Mirror” get recognized — I’m really thrilled today!

You’ve received considerable recognition so far for this role. I can’t imagine that ever gets old. But what is it like for this to come up further along in the process? It’s now been a year since you were promoting the first season.

It’s so nice, because so often you make things that you love and they disappear or no one sees them, or they don’t turn out in the way that you wish. And this was something that I really loved making, and to be able to continue the conversation about it really is incredible, because that just so rarely happens.

And you did mention “Black Mirror.” What is it like to come back with that series for “USS Callister: Into Infinity”? Not many people get to return to that show.

No, we’re the first! It’s fabulous. I don’t know if you’ve interviewed Charlie (Brooker) at all, or our director Toby (Haynes) or any of the cast, but it’s an incredible group of people, and such a legendary show to be a part of. It was very, very cool.

What was it like after having something like “Penguin” under your belt?

Some of it was trippy. It’s just by way of putting on old costumes and being back on a set you were on, like the exact replica of one from seven years before. It feels like a kind of live-action deja vu, a little bit, and it really makes you think about what you’ve been up to and “What is time?” and all this stuff. But it was also really, really great, because it kind of felt like picking up where we left off. We were back to making the same kind of jokes and doing the same kind of bits.

What felt the most different this time?

God. You know, what felt most different? Maybe I’ll regret saying this. I feel like I felt that in the seven years that have passed, by the time we finished, I was so exhausted. I was like, oh, yeah, right. This is a slightly different body than the one seven years ago who could take endless tumbles and be thrown around. This one, I needed to really lay down afterward — although I did “Black Mirror” right after “Penguin,” so I think it was maybe the one-two punch of both of those things back-to-back. And then I really needed to just take a knee for a second.

Yes, I remember you mentioning how physical “Penguin” was and that you were icing your body between scenes.

And “Black Mirror” was, too. Especially in the sort of black marine gear that we wear, those are so heavy, and we were running around in the heat, but I really love physical jobs. Anyway, then I got to take a break, and it was great.

You also get to share this nomination in this category with Rashida Jones for “Black Mirror.” It’s a very interesting category, and it’s fun when it’s actually exciting, to be quite frank.

It’s very exciting. It’s a great group of women.

Can you tell us anything about Season 2 or “The Batman 2” now that the script is done. Has anyone reached out to you?

No one’s reached out. I say the same thing when I’m asked about this, which is really true, which is that I would love nothing more. It remains to be absolutely true that I would really love to revisit her and revisit that world, because I had such a blast.

Last time we spoke, you talked about wanting to revisit theater. Is there a petition we can start?

I’m trying! I am out here actively looking, and I’m really jonesing to get back onstage. I just saw “Sunset Boulevard” the other night for the second time, and I was watching it, and I was so in awe and just feeling the itch again.

If there’s anything that’s going to make you want to just work period, it’s “Sunset Boulevard.”

Oh my God. What a fabulous show.

What’s on your mind as we go into these last couple of months of pitching this show out in the world?

I haven’t done this before, so I’m sort of down for the ride. These things can be so strange, and yet what I love is that I get to be reunited with Lauren [LeFranc] and Colin [Farrell] and Didi [Deirdre O’Connell] and Helen [Shaver], and so I really hope that we get to see each other a bunch in the next couple weeks and raise a couple of glasses.

What are some of the other shows that you have checked out and are excited for on the Emmys circuit?

Obviously, “White Lotus,” so fabulous. I love Kathy Bates and Keri Russell, and really am rooting for Kathy. It’s so wonderful to get to see all these people whose work I admire and who I enjoy so much as people, so I’m looking forward to more of that.

I know the awards are not the point of any of this. You are such an amazing performer. I’ve been watching your work for years, but it is cool to just see this specific kind of acclaim happen all at once.

It’s been a really fun ride, and I feel profoundly grateful. It’s been intense and wonderful and meaningful. Certainly lovely icing on the cake, because to your point, it’s not about this stuff, but it of course feels so nice to be recognized and is great. I actually just love being in those rooms and getting to meet the people whose work I love. That’s been the best part.

Looking at the rest of the nominations and all these amazing shows, any dream collaborators on there?

I mean, I loved “The Studio.” And you know who else is on here? Brian Tyree Henry is one of my favorite actors, and I’d love to work with him. He’s astonishing.

“The Penguin” is now streaming on HBO Max. The 77th Annual Emmy Awards will air September 14 on CBS.