Mona Mina Leon: First Belgian Actress Up for an Emmy
Belgian actress Mona Mina Leon has become the first Belgian actress ever nominated for an acting prize at the International Emmy Awards, earning a nod for her lead role as Yasmine De Laet in the Streamz Original series “Holy Sh!t.” The nomination was announced on 23 September 2026 by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, placing the 32-year-old from Sint-Martens-Bodegem among four finalists in the category “Best Performance by an Actress” (VRT NWS).
Leon reacts to the news with characteristic candour. “For once, I don’t know what to say. This is insane. I’m so fucking proud and so fucking grateful,” she wrote on social media (The Brussels Times).
A Belgian First
The nomination is a genuine milestone: no Belgian actress had previously been shortlisted for an acting award at the International Emmys, which recognise television produced outside the United States. As the Streamz press release put it, she “writes history as the first Belgian actress to be nominated for an acting performance” (TVvisie).
Belgium has enjoyed prior success at the International Emmys—but never in an acting category. “Restaurant misverstand” won in 2024, “Hoe zal ik het zeggen” in 2018 and “Sorry voor alles” in 2017, all in Non-Scripted Entertainment, while “Wat als” (2014) and “Benidorm bastards” (2011) took the comedy prize. Belgium is represented twice on this year’s list: alongside Leon, the short-form series “De klas van 2000” (De Mensen / DPG Media) is nominated in the Short-Form Series category, an achievement the series’ makers have celebrated.
The Role Behind the Nomination
“Holy Sh!t” is a Flemish coming-of-age tragicomedy about Yasmine, a young woman with a rare and severe form of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome who dreams of becoming a physics teacher. Her path is derailed when a video of her tics goes viral, yet she perseveres as an interim teacher while confronting classroom mockery—and a newly discovered Moroccan family, including a terminally ill father who left 25 years earlier and now seeks forgiveness.
The eight-part, 30-minute series was co-created and produced by Mariano Vanhoof, written by Nore Maatala, directed by Geoffrey Enthoven and produced by Fobic Films for Streamz. Filming began in Antwerp in October 2024; the series premiered at the Canneseries festival in April 2025 and became available on Streamz on 28 May 2025, later airing on Dutch NPO Start. It was made in collaboration with Iktic-Jetique, the Belgian Tourette association, which hoped the show would break taboos and make tics more discussable.
For Leon personally, the Emmy nod is a second recognition for the same role. Earlier in 2026 she received an Ensor nomination—Flanders’ most prestigious screen award—for her performance, ultimately losing to Liesa Van Der Aa for “Putain.”
A Competitive Field
The competition is formidable. Leon is up against Bárbara Mori in “Lucca’s World” (Woo Films / Netflix, Mexico), Park Ji-hyun in “You and Everything Else” (Kakao Entertainment / Netflix, South Korea) and Sheridan Smith in “I Fought the Law” (Hera Pictures / ITV1, United Kingdom), per the International Academy.
The 2026 edition features 64 nominees across 16 categories, spanning 22 countries. “The International Emmy Awards are as competitive as ever, with an outstanding range of entries from around the world vying for a coveted nomination,” said Academy President and CEO Bruce L. Paisner. “We look forward to bringing the global television community together to celebrate these exceptional programs and performances.”
The depth of the field is notable. The United Kingdom, Argentina and India each landed nominations in both the marquee Drama Series and Comedy races, where the drama contenders include the UK’s “A Thousand Blows,” France’s “Carême,” Argentina’s “Menem” and India’s “Real Kashmir Football Club” (Deadline).
Why It Matters
The nomination signals a widening international footprint for Belgian screen talent and for Streamz, the Flemish streaming service that co-produced “Holy Sh!t.” For a small-language industry—Flemish Dutch—to produce an acting nominee at a global awards body is rare, and it comes as streaming platforms increasingly export local-language drama beyond national borders. Leon’s work also carries a representational dimension, placing a character with Tourette syndrome at the centre of a mainstream series made in partnership with an advocacy organisation.
What’s Next
Nominees will convene in New York for the International Emmy World Television Festival from 20 to 22 November. The winner will be announced at the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City on Monday, 23 November 2026.
For now, Leon’s own words may say it best. Belgian viewers, and a growing international audience, will find out in November whether the milestone ends with a nomination—or an Emmy.