Burbank actress Patrika Darbo receives Emmy nomination for Web work

Acting is all Burbank resident Patrika Darbo has wanted to do her entire life.

No matter if it was a small role in a movie or decent screen time on a television show, Darbo, 68, just wanted to put her training to good use.

Her hard work paid off in 2000, when she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role on “Days of Our Lives.”

Darbo’s dedication to the craft has paid off yet again this year, landing her her first Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a short-form comedy or drama for her character as Margot Mullen on the independent Web series “Acting Dead.”

It is the first year that the Television Academy is recognizing short-form, online shows, such as “Childrens Hospital” on Adult Swim, “Fear of the Walking Dead: Flight 462” on AMC and “Hack into Broad City” on Comedy Central.

“To get the nomination truly feels like being a winner,” Darbo said. “Look at all the television that’s out there and how much people have to watch. Somewhere along the line, people will appreciate what you’ve done and what you’re doing.”

Designer Pol Atteu, left, wants to keep the dress design for Emmy-nominated actress Patrika Darbo, right, a secret, at his design boutique in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.

(Raul Roa / Burbank Leader)

Before getting roles on movie or television projects, Darbo earned a living working as a credit manager.

“I primarily became a credit manager because I couldn’t wait tables,” she said. “I was either dumping something on somebody or I couldn’t get the orders right. I just wasn’t cut out for that.

During her 20-year career working in an office, Darbo would act on the side during her spare time. However, in 1984, she started consistently landing acting roles and switched to acting full time.

Performing has a special place in Darbo’s heart. She thinks that art programs in schools should be maintained not only to cultivate a new group of aspiring actors, but to give those who do not feel like they fit in a place to be themselves.

“Every kid is not a jock,” she said. “The most important thing we can think about is making sure we keep the arts and music and all those things in schools because every kid can’t get on the football field or be a cheerleader. You are so accepted in theater, and you can be anything that you want to be.”

Darbo’s goal in acting is not to win numerous awards or earn lots of money. All she wants to do is give it her all in whatever role she plays and put out a good product.

“I’ve been around a long time, and these kind of things are just icing on the cake,” she said.