Sian Clifford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Have One Rule – Wear What Makes You Feel Powerful And Clever

I arrived in LA on Friday afternoon when the melee of the Emmys was already in full swing. There was a throng of parties to attend but I wanted to try and pace myself in the run up to Sunday! There was a reception for the nominated actors first up, with a presentation that’s a bit like a school assembly – you each go up to receive a certificate and have your picture taken as a big gang. I was on stage with some of my heroes and we were all giggling like naughty children. It was very surreal.

Then I went on to a party for Phoebe, celebrating the extraordinary success of both Fleabag and Killing Eve. It was the first time the Fleabag family had been back together in quite a while. It was wonderful to reconnect.

On Saturday afternoon I attended the BAFTA TV Tea Party, a notoriously civilised affair with finger sandwiches and a Game Of Scones patisserie table. Poolside at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and packed to the hilt with a ton of friendly and familiar British faces, it was one of my favourite parts of the weekend.

Then, back to the hotel for a quick change for the ‘Night Before’ party. It’s a bit like a festival with incredible food stalls and twinkly lights. I met so many awesome people but the highlight has to be the team from Succession. I am completely obsessed with that show and the Roys did not disappoint!

Sunday was Emmys ceremony day, and I started getting ready around 11am. I was incredibly nervous. I wore a cream Emilia Wickstead dress which took two agents to get me into on the day! My stylist, Freddie Lovell-Pank, found it a few weeks ago. As soon as I put it on I immediately knew it was the one. I felt extraordinary in it. Phoebe and I have a rule: ‘Wear what makes you feel powerful and clever.

We left for the ceremony around 2pm and I had to lie down in the car, on top of my agent, for the entire (hour-long) journey in order not to crease the dress. The glamour! We were howling with laughter.

Stepping outside is when it really started to hit me though. There was a huge promenade on the way in with throngs of press. I’ve never seen anything like it. Then, after an hour of photos and interviews, we went in and barely found our seats before it began.

I’d been told my category was up second. I was so nervous. When it was announced that the brilliant Alex Borstein had won, my overwhelming feeling was relief – my shoulders dropped about 10 inches. Everything had been building to that moment, and now I could relax and enjoy the evening. But I never could have anticipated what was about to happen. The next award was Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, which Phoebe won, and then... it just kept coming! I burst into tears when we wonOutstanding Comedy Series. The crowd went insane. It was so overwhelming and magical.

After another hour of press following the win we went to the Governer’s Ball to get the statues engraved, and then we headed to the Amazon Studios party at the Chateau Marmont to reunite with our team. We’ve all seen the iconic picture of Phoebe. It wasn’t a hugely late night, jet lag won the day too, but it was overspilling with love. Reminding us all how far we’d come and not to take any of this for granted for one second.

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