The Television Academy's Board of Governors shared the news that they have approved the gender-neutral option for nominees and winners.
They confirmed nominees in the Best Actress or Best Actor honours can choose to be called a "performer" rather than an actor or an actress when the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards take place in September this year, reports aceshowbiz.com.
They said in a statement on their website: "No performer category titled 'Actor' or 'Actress' has ever had a gender requirement for submissions. Now, nominees and (or) winners in any performer category titled 'Actor' or 'Actress' may request that their nomination certificate and Emmy statuette carry the term 'Performer' in place of Actor or Actress."
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The decision comes into effect after a years-long debate over how to accommodate gender-neutral performers at awards ceremonies.
In a statement, the co-heads of the festival, Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian, said 'not separating the awards in the acting field according to gender comprises a signal for a more gender-sensitive awareness in the film industry.'
In other changes to The Emmys, The Television Academy also announced any documentary placed on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences viewing platform will not be allowed to compete in the show, reported Daily Mail.
The new rule, which will begin in 2022, is listed on the website as: 'Any film placed on the AMPAS viewing platform will be deemed a theatrical motion picture and thus ineligible for the Emmy competition.'