Jodie Comer appeared overwhelmed as she gave her first ever award acceptance speech on Wednesday night, requesting that the audience be “gentle” with her.
The actor, who received widespread acclaim for her depiction of assassin Villanelle in television series Killing Eve, was presented with the accolade of Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural Remarkable Women Awards, which was hosted by Stylist magazine.
As Comer took to the stage, the 25-year-old was unable to contain her emotions as she expressed how much the recognition meant to her.
“It is a huge honour to receive this award and be included with such inspiring women, one of them being my best friend Katarina Johnson-Thompson!” she said.
“I’m really overwhelmed and happy that we all get to be here tonight to celebrate each other’s success.”
Comer continued, stating that she wanted to thank Stylist‘s editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski and entertainment director Helen Bownass in particular for making her feel “welcomed” and “empowered” during her cover shoot with the magazine in 2018.
“In honour of international women’s week”, the actor then thanked several women whom she cherishes in her life, including her stylist Elizabeth Saltzman, her Killing Eve co-star Fiona Shaw and her mother, Donna Comer.
“I cannot leave the stage without thanking my mum,” the actor said, a statement that prompted laughter from the audience.
For the awards ceremony, which took place at Rosewood, London, Comer wore a white satin power suit by British fashion brand Casely-Hayford and a multi-coloured gem stone necklace by jeweller Fabio Salini.
Several other attendees at the event, including Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes and This Is England actor Vicky McClure, also wore white, a colour that’s historically associated with the suffragette movement.
Wearing white has become a common sartorial theme at a number of events this year, including at this year’s Bafta Awards and at US president Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in February.
Following the event, Comer shared a photo of herself with Shaw on Instagram, who she described in the picture’s caption as her “colleague, my friend and all time girl crush”.
“Congratulations to all the other winners on your hard work and success. I hope you’re all as hungover as I am!” the actor added.
Other individuals who received recognition at the Remarkable Women Awards included journalist Bryony Gordon, who was presented with the prize of Inspiration of the Year, and Jameela Jamil, who was named Woman of the Year.
“I didn’t realise the award was ‘Woman of the Year!’ This is such an extra honour @StylistMagazine,” Jamil tweeted.
