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Phoebe Waller-Bridge Just Won Best Actress at the Emmys for Fleabag
This almost makes up for Fleabag and Hot Priest not getting together... almost
As much as we love a history-making winning streak, there's just nothing as delectable during an awards ceremony as a shocking upset. That's exactly what happened during Sunday's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards when Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
"No! Oh my god, no! Thank you!" Waller-Bridge said while accepting the award. "I find acting really hard and really painful, but it's all about this. Thank you. To be nominated with these unbelievable actresses who I have just looked up to and watched and laughed at for so many years means so much -- I mean that in a nice way. This means a huge, huge amount to me."
Going into the ceremony, it was widely predicted that Emmys darling Julia Louis-Dreyfus would continue her winning streak for her celebrated performance in Veep. Louis-Dreyfus has been undefeated in the category for the entire run of the HBO comedy, breaking the record for most wins by a performer for the same role (six) and tying Cloris Leachman for most acting wins (eight) during the 2017 ceremony.
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However, the lead comedy actress race was particularly competitive this year. In addition to Waller-Bridge and Louis-Dreyfus, the nominees included Christina Applegate for Dead to Me, Rachel Brosnahan for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Natasha Lyonne for Russian Doll, and Catherine O'Hara for Schitt's Creek. But it seems there was no stopping Fleabag this year, which went from a cult hit in its first season to an undeniable sensation with its second and final season earlier this year. Created by and starring Waller-Bridge, the scathingly funny comedy racked up 11 much-deserved Emmy nominations going into Sunday's ceremony, including for Outstanding Comedy Series. Going into the lead actress category, Fleabag had already racked up two other statues, for best comedy directing (which Harry Bradbeer won) and best comedy writing (which Waller-Bridge also won).
This was the first year Fleabag scored any Emmy nods, but Waller-Bridge was previously nominated in 2018 for Outstanding Writing for a Drama for Killing Eve.
The lead actress win is an exciting moment for Waller-Bridge and for Fleabag fans. Will it be enough for Waller-Bridge to change her mind and do a third season after all? Who knows. But at least it gives us another excuse to talk about how incredibly expressive Waller-Bridge is.