On Sunday, Cristin Milioti, the star of *The Penguin*, clinched the 2025 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. Stepping onto the stage, she reflected on her portrayal of Sofia Gigante with heartfelt emotion in her acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much. I’m profoundly grateful,” she began, revealing that she’d penned her speech on the back of a page from a recent therapy session. “I adored making this show and playing Sofia—it meant the world to me.”
This Emmy marked Milioti’s first-ever win, as well as her inaugural nomination. She triumphed over formidable contenders, including Cate Blanchett from *Disclaimer*, Meghann Fahy of *Sirens*, Rashida Jones in *Black Mirror*, and Michelle Williams from *Dying for Sex*. “Right now, it feels incredibly hard to find meaning in being alive in this world,” she confessed from the awards stage. “So I’m deeply grateful for moments of light. Making this show with our extraordinary cast and crew, stepping into Sofia’s skin—it was a bright spot for me, even though the story itself was, you know, quite grim. Playing her felt like flying.”
Pausing to acknowledge her family in the audience, Milioti thanked them for supporting their “quirky kid” and exposing her to “movies that were way too mature for my age.” Turning to her friends, she choked up, saying, “I have the best friends in the world. You’re why I’m standing here. You’re the reason I’ve survived life.”
She wrapped up her speech by praising *The Penguin*’s showrunner, Lauren LeFranc. “She’s the reason our show is so special,” Milioti declared. She then expressed gratitude to her team and the countless unsung heroes behind the scenes. “I love you all, and I love acting so much!” she concluded, her voice radiating passion.
Earlier, following her nomination announcement, Milioti had shared her excitement with *The Hollywood Reporter*. “I feel amazing—it’s such an honor. I’m thrilled for our show,” she said in August. “You never know how these things will turn out, and I’m blown away by the number of nominations we’ve received, especially for our incredible crew.”
*The Penguin* garnered a staggering 24 nominations across diverse creative categories at the awards. Additionally, her other series, *Black Mirror*, also earned recognition.
The 2025 Emmy Awards, hosted by Nate Bargatze, unfolded at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The ceremony aired on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+ from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET.
