> At a Glance
> – Rhea Seehorn won Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards for Pluribus
> – She accepted the role without reading the script, trusting creator Vince Gilligan
> – Pluribus premiered November 7, 2025, and is streaming on Apple TV+
> – Why it matters: The win highlights the enduring creative partnership between Seehorn and Gilligan after Better Call Saul
Rhea Seehorn took home the Critics Choice trophy on January 4, 2026, then revealed she said yes to Pluribus before ever seeing a page.
The Trust Fall
Backstage at the ceremony, Seehorn told reporters she agreed to star in Gilligan’s sci-fi drama the moment he called. “Honestly, I’ll go wherever Vince wants me to go,” she said. The actress added that when Gilligan admitted he wasn’t ready to share the script, she replied, “It doesn’t matter, just yes.”
Inside Pluribus
The Apple TV+ series casts Seehorn as Carol Sturka, a romance novelist who is one of only 13 humans immune to an alien virus that turns everyone else into a blissful hive mind. Apple pitched the show as “the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.”
- Series debuted November 7, 2025
- Marks second collaboration between Seehorn and Gilligan after Better Call Saul
- Gilligan wrote the role specifically for Seehorn
A Decade in the Making
During their first day on set, Gilligan noted they had been working together for 10 years. Seehorn did the math and realized he was right. She called Gilligan “one of the best writers… probably just writers of all time in our generation” and said she is “still working on taking in” the fact that he created a role for her.
Key Takeaways
- Seehorn won Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards
- She committed to Pluribus without reading a script
- The role was tailor-made for her by Vince Gilligan
- Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV+
The win cements Seehorn’s status as a leading dramatic force and underscores the creative trust built over a decade-long partnership.
