‘A—— Version of Myself’ (Exclusive)

Ron Howard is “getting a kick out of” accomplishing a career-first.

The acclaimed director, 71, earned an acting nomination for the 2025 Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role in Apple TV+’s satirical comedy series The Studio.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the three-time Emmy winner revealed his reaction to learning he had landed his first nod for acting.

“I play an a—— version of myself,” Howard says. “Apparently, it went over. I have many noms and even some wins on the producing and directing side, but first nom as an actor, which is kind of funny.”

”I’m getting a kick out of it,” he adds of his 14th Primetime Emmys nod.

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Howard has won three of his previous 13 nominations for Jim Henson Idea Man in 2024 (Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program), Arrested Development in 2004 (Outstanding Comedy Series) and From The Earth to the Moon in 1998 (Outstanding Miniseries).

In The Studio, Howard is among several A-list stars who play fictionalized versions of themselves. In his Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category, Howard’s fellow guest actors from The Studio will vie for the Emmy: Dave Franco, Martin Scorsese, Bryan Cranston and Anthony Mackie.

The Studio stars Seth Rogen as Matt Remick, the new head of Continental Studios, an embattled movie studio.

The series’ logline reads, “As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films.”

“With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe,” the logline continues.

In episode 3, which came out in April, Howard’s character cries when Rogen’s studio head character gives him a difficult piece of feedback, resulting in Howard angrily throwing his signature baseball cap at him.

After his Emmy nomination, Howard tells PEOPLE, “Maybe I should be talking to the acting department at CAA … maybe I should be talking to the acting branch.”

The Studio earned 23 nominations this year. The series is available to stream on Apple TV+.