Barack Obama Wins Third Emmy for ‘Our Oceans’ Narration, Joins Elite Narrator Ranks
Former President Barack Obama has added another prestigious award to his post-presidency accolades, winning his third Emmy for Outstanding Narrator at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The 64-year-old was honored for his captivating work in Netflix’s groundbreaking docuseries, Our Oceans, during the ceremony held on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. Although Obama was not present to accept the award, comedian Jordan Klepper graciously stepped in on his behalf.
Obama’s victory underscores his successful transition into a prominent voice in documentary storytelling. His involvement with Our Oceans was first announced in September 2024, with the five-episode series making its debut just two months later, in November 2024. The project, described as offering ‘gateways to the unknown,’ plunges viewers into the mysteries of the world’s five major oceans. Obama’s narration guided audiences through diverse marine narratives, from the majestic migration of humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean to the critical challenges faced by walruses in the Arctic due, in part, to climate change. His Emmy recognition this year stemmed specifically from his compelling narration in the ‘Indian Ocean’ segment.
Our Oceans was produced by the acclaimed filmmakers behind the Emmy-winning series Our Great National Parks and utilized newly developed underwater filming technology to capture breathtaking visuals. This win marks Obama’s third consecutive Emmy, following his triumph in 2022 for Our Great National Parks and in 2023 for Working: What We Do All Day, solidifying his reputation as a formidable presence in factual entertainment.
Distinguished Nominees in the Outstanding Narrator Category
The Outstanding Narrator category at this year’s Creative Arts Emmys featured an exceptionally distinguished roster of nominees, highlighting the high caliber of Obama’s achievement. He competed against:
- Sir David Attenborough, the venerable 99-year-old biologist and host, a three-time Emmy winner with an astounding 12 nominations since 1985. Attenborough was recognized for his work on Planet Earth: Asia, a BBC Earth series filmed over nearly four years, focusing on the continent’s diverse wildlife, particularly the ‘The Frozen North’ episode. Despite his age, Attenborough continues his impactful work, reportedly because ‘people I like working with keep asking me to.’
- Idris Elba, a seven-time Emmy nominee, for National Geographic’s powerful Erased: WW2’s Heroes Of Color. Elba’s nomination was for the ‘D-Day’ episode, which shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black soldiers, such as the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, during World War II. As an executive producer for the series, Elba spoke candidly about the trauma Black soldiers faced returning to a segregated society after fighting for their country.
- Tom Hanks, an 18-time Emmy nominee and seven-time winner, for his narration in NBC’s epic 10-part series, The Americas. Filmed over five years with 180 expeditions, the series explored ‘the wonders, secrets, and fragilities of the world’s only supercontinent.’ Hanks’ nomination was for the episode focusing on the Andes, the Earth’s longest mountain range. His long history of Emmy success dates back to 1998, with wins for projects like HBO’s Band of Brothers and Olive Kitteridge.
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge, an eight-time Emmy nominee and three-time winner for Fleabag in 2019, received her first nomination since 2020 for the Amazon Prime series Octopus!. Premiering on May 8, the documentary explores the captivating intelligence and mysteries of octopuses, featuring unexpected insights and Tracy Morgan among its subjects.
The 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards were presented over two days, Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, 2025. The full broadcast of the ceremony is scheduled to air on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on FXX, allowing viewers to witness the celebration of these remarkable achievements in television.
