Betty Gilpin secured her first Emmy win for her role in the Apple TV series Widow’s Bay on Sunday. She took home the trophy in the ‘Guest Actress In a Comedy Series’ category for her portrayal of Sarah Westcott Warren, a character from the 18th century.
It was a significant evening for the show, as it walked away with eight wins ahead of the main Emmy telecast on September 14. This victory marks a major milestone for Gilpin, who previously received three nominations for her work on GLOW. The category featured a tough competition between Widow’s Bay and the HBO Max series Hacks, with many predictions favoring Kaitlin Olson for the win.
Gilpin delivered a memorable acceptance speech on Night 2 of the 2026 Emmys after reading a poem she composed on her phone. She took the time to acknowledge the people she has encountered throughout her career.
Gilpin was initially hesitant to prepare a victory speech
“I want to thank all of the actors I’ve met, old ladies in dressing rooms, hot guys on sets./What a privilege to spend this life laughing at crafty, watching Shakespeare in theaters, half-full and drafty./Our business is stupid, but actors are the bomb. From [Margo] Martindale to [Cristin] Milioti,” she said. She specifically highlighted Margo Martindale, her co-star from Mrs. Davis, and Cristin Milioti, a longtime friend who worked with her on an off-Broadway play 15 years ago.
The speech concluded with a distinct message for the creative community. Gilpin told her fellow artists, “Let’s all lean towards Sam Shepard, and less toward Sam Altman.” This sentiment drew loud cheers from the crowd gathered at the Peacock Theater. Notably, Sam Altman is the co-founder of OpenAI, one of the frontrunning AI companies in the United States.
Backstage, Gilpin explained how the speech came together after a conversation with her co-star and fellow nominee Hamish Linklater. Linklater plays her husband on the show, and the two happened to be on the same flight before the ceremony. “I was on the same flight as my co-nominee Hamish Linklater. He came over to my row and asked if I had written my speech,” Gilpin said.
She admitted she was initially hesitant to prepare anything because she did not expect to win. Linklater encouraged her to be ready just in case. “I was like, ‘No, I’m not going to win.’ He’s like, ‘Well, you need to do that because it’s a scientific possibility, and don’t be stupid just prepare something.’ He scared the sht out of me, so I wrote a quick manic poem, which, as you know, women have done for centuries.”
Her performance in the episode titled Our History resonated with viewers and voters alike. Her character, Sarah, arrived on the island in 1702 to join her husband, Richard Warren, who was played by Linklater. The story turned dark as Sarah uncovered strange illnesses, unexplained disappearances, and secrets related to her husband. She eventually discovered that Richard had allegedly made a deal with a demon. Her attempt to escape the island with their children ended in a tragic death for her and all but one of the children.
Published: Sep 7, 2026 02:31 pm