Colleen Hayes/NBCAll those tears we cried over Kristina Braverman led to something good because Monica Potter is a Golden Globe nominee! The Parenthood actress received her first nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie.
"I'm so excited," Potter told E! "I'm very thrilled. I think I'm in shock because I get to go to this big awards show and it's completely out of the blue. I just thought we — the show — missed the boat on a few things and it was sort of like for us to get recognition is amazing."
Twitter was abuzz over the news of Potter's nomination —especially since the Emmys snubbed her and have pretty routinely overlooked the show—but Potter said she hasn't really checked to see all the accolades and congratulatory messages. In fact, she said she wasn't even really aware of what happened this morning.
"I sent a few things out, but I actually went down to the flower mart this morning because I had to do some stuff. I'm working on my home line and I'm doing a bunch of photography for Christmas centerpieces and how to make one," Potter said. "I got this text from Billy Bush this morning saying ‘Congratulations' and I was ready to leave at like 6:30 to go downtown to get my flowers and I was like, ‘What the hell is happening? What the hell is going on?' I literally just got back from getting all the flowers and my equipment and stuff, and now it's sort of hitting me. ‘This is really happening and it's really fun—Oh my god!' I'm super excited."
It's pretty easy to pinpoint why Potter finally got the nod. Her cancer storyline made headlines, broke hearts and delivered the goods during a very emotional season of Parenthood. Still, Potter said she never expected her storyline to resonate as much as it did.
"I know a lot of people struggle with this and go through this as families and individuals. These women that I have met on this journey have been so strong and inspired me so much, in so many ways," she said. "During filming last year, I actually lost a couple of friends to this disease. It wakes you up. It makes you take notice and it makes you say this is something that is happening. I was just so grateful that I was able to do this for that reason."
This year has been a lighter one for Kristina and her family, with the character running for mayor.
"I will say though, this year I'm way more nervous. It's harder in a sense because I'm not a good speech-giver. I had to come out of my shell a little bit and talk, get on stage—that was challenging for me, for Monica, but Kristina is sort of more ballsy than I am. It's been a fun year for sure."
Sadly, Kristina lost — "Damn that Bob Little!" — but that won't be the end of Kristina's journey this season. Look for the character to continue to battle for Max's (Max Burkholder) education and team up with her husband, Adam (Peter Krause), on something big. "She's going to do something with Adam in the sense that they're going to become a team and they're going to work together in doing something pretty amazing," Potter said.
The cancer drama won't be far behind, either. "[W]e also touch back in what happens last season. There's a little bit of a scare again," she said. "We just filmed that this week. Peter just does beautiful work. I'm excited to see how it turns out."
With the big day now in sight, Potter said she's going to have to prepare a speech, it's just her personality. And it's Potter giving the speech, not Kristina. A speech in front of millions.
"Oh god! I just started sweating immediately when you said that."
Parenthood airs Thursdays, 10 p.m. on NBC. The Golden Globes air Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014 on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBC Universal family.)