In a night that took a lot of winners by surprise, the Joanne Froggat "Downton Abbey" win was definitely among the highlights, as the only actress who seems to get any recognition from the period series is Maggie Smith, who has already won two Golden Globes for her role as Dowager Countess Violet.
In an emotional speech in last Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, Joanne Froggatt from "Downton Abbey" seemed humbled by the big honor extended to her by the Foreign Press Association, the first major American award she has gotten for her devastating portrayal maid Anna Bates.
According to The Telegraph, Joanne Froggatt's "Downton Abbey" acceptance speech in the first award show of the season was really homage to her character's rough times: in the last two seasons, her character, Lady Mary's maid Anna Bates, was a victim of rape by a valet from another household.
In an incredibly touching speech, according to Variety, Joanne Froggatt's "Downton Abbey" performance was remembered by everyone in the room and all those watching the broadcast, as the beautiful British actress went on to mention the letters from rape survivors she had gotten ever since the character's story arch was first introduced, which has become a cause of sorrow for all those who know in the fictional Downton estate.
"One woman summed up the thoughts of many by saying she wasn't sure why she'd written but she just felt in some way she wanted to be heard," Froggatt said, according to The Independent. "I'd like to say, I heard you and I hope saying this so publicly in some way means you feel the world hears you."
Anna's rape scene in "Downton" has been among the toughest to bear in recent television airings, and there were even complaints over the graphic content of the scene.
In any case, kudos to Joanne Froggatt's "Downton Abbey" win, and above all a lot of respect for stepping up and speaking out about rape victims in her speech, an act which is surely to be appreciated by those who have gone through this horrible ordeal.
