Joanne Froggatt (Photo : Reuters)
The award for best actress in a supporting role was won by British actress Joanne Froggatt. She plays a rape victim in the popular mini- series "Downton Abbey". The actress plays the role of Lady Mary's maid Anna Bates in the series and this is her first ever award.
In the recent events in the show, Froggatt's character was brutally attacked and also raped by a valet. She did a brilliant job at portraying her part and really connected with the show's audience.
In her acceptance speech, the 34-year-old actress says that after the show, she received some letters from rape survivors and victims and she felt very touched that they trusted her. She went on saying that one of the women expressed that she did not know why she was writing to her and the only logical explanation was that she wanted to be heard in one way or another.
Froggatt expressed that she did hear that women and that she hopes that the world has also heard her now through her.
Although the rape scene in the show was not very graphic, the channel did receive some phone calls from bewildered fans and people. The show's writer Julian Fellowes defended the controversy, by saying that what was shown had to be shown and it was important to the storyline.
This is one of those rare awards that was handed over to a character playing a rape victim.
