Emmy Awards: Thandie Newton gives emotional speech for Westworld win

Thandie Newton gave a moving acceptance speech after being announced as the winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress at this year's Emmy Awards.

The Westworld star prompted laughter from the audience at the Hollywood ceremony when she began with "I don't even believe in God but I'm going to thank her tonight".

She told the aurdience: "I am so blessed. I am so f***ing blessed..." At this point the actress clapped her hand over her mouth as she realised she'd dropped the expletive – to more cheers from the audience.

"To work with the people that I have gotten to work with," she said. "The cast and crew of – I can't believe I'm here – the cast and crew of Westworld, I love you all so much."

Newton beat The Handmaid's Tale stars Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski and Alexis Blediel, Game of Thrones' Lena Headey, Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things, and Vanessa Kirby from The Crown to win the award. She revealed that the day was all the more special because it was her daughter's 18th birthday.

"My family, my daughter Ripley turns 18 today and I get to guide you and love you and protect you, which is my north star, I love you so much baby," she said. "Thank you, thank you for this," she concluded, before walking offstage with The Handmaid's Tale stars Elisabeth Moss and Samira Wiley, who had presented her with the award.

It was Newton's second nomination and her first win at the Emmys. She was previously nominated for the same role in Westworld last year.

This year's Emmy Awards were relatively uneventful, with highlights being off-script moments such as director Glenn Weiss proposing to his partner Jan Svendsen onstage.

Co-hosted by Saturday Night Live's Colin Josh and MIchael Che, the ceremony saw Game of Thrones emerge as the biggest winner on the night, while Atlanta fans were left disappointed as the acclaimed FX comedy left empty handed.

Game of Thrones' win for Outstanding Drama Series raised a few eyebrows. As Ed Powers noted for The Independent, even the show's biggest fans would admit that the seventh series was littered with flaws and lacked the gravitas of previous seasons.

What this year's Emmys did prove is how TV is rapidly changing, with its more "obscure gems" recognised among the traditional blockbuster winners.

See more of The Independent's Emmys coverage here.