British actress Jessica Gunning, one of the stars of the popular TV series Baby Reindeer, has won one of the most prestigious TV awards: an Emmy Award.

Gunning, who played the role of stalker Martha, was named Best Supporting Actress in a Short Series at the ceremony.

“Oh my god, what idiots,” she said as she accepted the award.

“Thank you so much. Honestly, I feel like I could wake up any minute.”

Her co-star and series creator, Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, won the award for Best Writing for a Short Series, while the series is also nominated for several other awards at the ceremony, which takes place in Los Angeles.

“Ten years ago, I was in the pit,” Gadd told the audience.

“I never thought I would get my life back on track. I never thought I would be able to right myself for what happened to me and get myself back on my feet.

“And now, more than ten years later, I win one of the biggest writing awards for television.

“I don’t mean that arrogantly. I mean it as encouragement for everyone who is having a hard time right now to keep going.”

Baby Reindeer, Gadd’s story of how he was stalked for years by a woman and sexually abused by a male figure in the TV industry, is the most talked about series of the year.

However, it’s also controversial, and the real-life woman who reportedly inspired Gunning’s character is currently suing Netflix for defamation, negligence, and invasion of privacy.

The Bear won three acting awards in the comedy categories, including Best Comedy Actor for Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy, for the second year in a row.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie) and Liza Colon-Zayas (Tina) took home the awards for best supporting roles, with the latter seemingly overwhelmed to have beaten out legends like Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett.

“To all the Latinas watching me, keep the faith and vote — vote for your rights,” she said in her acceptance speech.

The show, set in the kitchen of a busy restaurant, caused a stir after it was again nominated for the Comedy category instead of Drama.

Veteran actress Jean Smart prevented a clean sweep for The Bear and won the Emmy for Best Comedy Actress for Hacks, her sixth career Emmy.

In the drama categories, Australian Elizabeth Debicki won her first Emmy for Outstanding Drama Actress for her role as Princess Diana in the final season of Netflix’s The Crown.

“It was a great privilege and a gift to be able to play this role, based on this unparalleled, incredible human being,” she said.

Billy Crudup won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Morning Show.