Cruel Summer was a major hit for Freeform when it premiered this spring. The dark, twisty thriller told the story of a missing teen from two female perspectives, and was renewed for a second season in June. Now, there’s another reason the show’s making headlines – actress Chiara Aurelia was nominated for a Critics Choice Award. Get details on her nomination, plus another series accolade, below.
Chiara Aurelia Nominated for Critics Choice Award
Named the “breakout” star of the series, Chiara Aurelia’s performance generated a lot of noteworthy buzz over season 1. Recently, her performance was nominated for a Critics Choice award for “Best Actress in a Drama Series.” Chiara posted about it on her Instagram story, and the show’s official Instagram account posted congratulations too.
They said: “All the proof you need of @ChiaraAurelia’s talent. Congratulations on her @criticschoice Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series nomination. #CruelSummer”
Her season 1 arc as Jeanette Turner was quite remarkable. Jeanette went from a believable protagonist to an unreliable narrator in the midst of an episode at times. Chiara’s acting chops shined in various scenes, both individual and group, alongside co-stars like Olivia Holt, Harley Quinn Smith, Michael Landes, and Sarah Drew. From dealing with her parent’s split, to facing off against Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt) in a show stopping courtroom finale, Jeanette Turner dealt with a lot, and Chiara’s portrayal showed emotional depth, allowing viewers to follow Jeanette’s story as it played out onscreen.
Chiara is one of six nominees in the Critics Choice award category for “Best Actress in a Drama Series.” According to GMA, the other nominees are: Uzo Aduba (In Treatment), Christine Baranski (The Good Fight), Katja Herbers (Evil), Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), and MJ Rodriguez (Pose).
This isn’t the only accolade the series has received. Cruel Summer made the list of New York Times “Best TV Episodes of 2021” for the tenth episode of season 1, titled “Hostile Witness.” It served as the first season’s finale; the Times wrote it “managed the trick of both a happy ending and a thrilling, dark twist.” The show ranked alongside other popular television series, including In the Dark, WandaVision, and Snowfall.
Photo Credit: Cruel Summer IG Story.
The Critics Choice Awards take place on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 live on the CW and TBS. In the meantime, you can follow Chiara’s everyday activities on Instagram @chiaraaurelia or Twitter @chiara_aurelia.
Kari Highman is a Beauty and Fashion Blogger at Feeling the Vibe Magazine. Otterbein Alum (2017) – English & Psychology. Always learning & creating. Avid fan of mid 2000’s TV & pop music. Comments or tips, email kari@feelingthevibe.com
