The 2021 Emmys were about women. Period.

Women had a big night during Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, from Jessica Hobbs and Lucia Aniello winning the Best Directing categories and marking the first time ever two women have won, to actors lifting up their co-stars and nominees during acceptance speeches.

Women’s rights and inequality were touched on throughout the night, including Sarah Paulson noting unequal earning power for women. The White Lotus’s Jennifer Coolidge took a much more lighthearted but still on-point commentary while presenting Best Actor in a Comedy. “You have all overcome the incredible handicap in this business of being men,” joked Coolidge. “Bravo gentlemen, wherever you are.”

Whether they were nominated against their co-stars or celebrating those who inspired them along the way, these women used their time at the mic to cheer each other on. As it should be.

Debbie Allen thanks those who supported her along the way

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What did we do to deserve living in a world with Debbie Allen? We’re not sure, but the multi-multi-talented dancer, director, producer, choreographer, singer, writer and advocate (this is why we needed two multi’s) accepted her Governor’s Award with a call to action. Allen paid tribute to women in Texas and Afghanistan who have been rocked by a horrific abortion ban and the terror of a Taliban state, thanked those who have helped her along the way in her career, and inspired the next generation to claim their space.

“Let this moment resonate with women across the world and across this country, from Texas to Afghanistan,” said Allen. “For young people, who have no vote, who can’t even get a vaccine, they’re inheriting the world that we live in and will leave them. It’s time for you to claim your power. Claim your voice, say your song, tell your stories. It will make us a better place. Your turn.”

Hannah Waddingham promises to stalk Juno Temple

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A big part of the reason viewers have quickly fallen in love with Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple as Rebecca and Keeley on Ted Lasso is because it’s so refreshing to see two women from different backgrounds at different life stages lifting each other up instead of tearing the other down. The pair were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, with Waddingham walking home with a trophy she desperately wanted to break apart and split with her on-screen and off-screen friend. “There’s no Rebecca without Keeley,” said Waddingham to a tearful Temple. “If you ever leave my life, I’m going to stalk you.”

Michaela Coel destroyed us with her speech

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Michaela Coel’s searingly brilliant I May Destroy You finally getting some recognition already had us in tears when the writer and actor’s name was announced for Best Writing in a Television Limited Series or Movie, but as with everything Coel does, she floored us even further with her words. On Sunday, Coel became the first Black woman to ever win her Emmy category. Showing all the nominees how to deliver a speech that resonates without getting played off (male winners – take note), Coel had the moment of the night with her gripping and poetic challenge to writers.

“Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable. I dare you, in a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to in turn feel the need to be constantly visible, for visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success, do not be afraid to disappear from it, from us for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence,” said Coel, who finished her stunning speech with a dedication to sexual assault survivors everywhere.

Gillian Anderson pays tribute to her longtime manager

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Gillian Anderson took home her second Emmy on Sunday night, this time for her role as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on The Crown. After winning for playing one of the most famous women in history, Anderson used her speech to pay tribute to a great woman, her former manager Connie Freiberg, "who believed in me when no one else did."

Julianne Nicholson thanks Kate Winslet for being Kate Winslet

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In the words of Emmy winner Evan Peters, let’s all thank Kate Winslet for being Kate Winslet! Mare of Easttown’s Julianne Nicholson took home her first-ever Emmys on Sunday for playing Lori on, a mother and wife put in an unimaginable position by her family and unable to turn to her best friend Mare, played by Kate Winslet. Nicholson thanked Winslet for convincing her to take on the role, saying “Man, you’re good at acting. Turns out, you’re good at caring for a whole production,” said Nicholson. “You led all of us every step of the way with such care and intelligence and love.”

“If you hadn’t called and asked if I wanted to join you in Philly, I probably would have read the first two episodes, thought ‘Nah, the priest did it,’ and stayed home. So, I owe this to you,” said Nicholson, who won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Like Debbie Allen, Nicholson also paid tribute to women in Philadelphia, Texas, Kabul “and anywhere who are struggling sometimes, finding it hard to be happy sometimes, understanding that life can be a lot sometimes, but never stopping, never losing hope, never giving up.”

else did."

Jessica Hobbs stands on the shoulders of other directors

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America Ferrera set the tone for the Best Drama Directing category when she proclaimed that she wished all six nominees in the category were women in a year when the nominees were split between men and women. Same, America. This year’s win did go to a woman, specifically The Crown’s Jessica Hobbs, who became only the fourth woman to ever win for Best Drama Directing on Sunday night. Hobbs paid homage to those who have come before her, saying “Not too many women have won this award, so I am standing on shoulders of great personalities right now.” Hobbs also gave her mother Aileen O’Sullivan a shout-out, who is still directing at age 77. That gets a ‘yes queen.’

Lucia Aniello tells stories for women who never get to tell theirs

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Hacks had a big night on Sunday including a Best Actress win for Jean Smart and back-to-back wins for Writing on a Comedy Series and Directing in a Comedy Series for show co-creator Lucia Aniello. The Broad City vet thanked her writing partner and new husband Paul W. Downs, as well as the show’s stars, Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Aniello dedicated her win for a show about a successful female comedian and a struggling female writer to women “who never got to tell their story at all because the world wasn’t listening. For those women, this is for them.”

Kate Winslet highlights her fellow nominees

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Kate Winslet may have taken home the Emmy in the heavily stacked category of Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series, but she wasn’t leaving the stage without making her love for her fellow leading ladies known. “I just want to acknowledge my fellow nominees in this decade that has to be about women having each other’s backs,” said Winslet, giving a nod to the incredible performances of Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) and Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha). “I support you, I salute you, I’m proud of all of you.” The curse of the bad roots has been lifted!

BEFORE YOU GO: Seth Rogen Was Promised The Emmys Would Be Outdoors

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