Welsh actor Matthew Rhys has made history at the Emmy Awards, becoming the first person to win two lead acting prizes in one night, according to the BBC. Rhys was recognized at the prestigious US ceremony for his roles in supernatural TV comedy Widow’s Bay and psychological thriller The Beast In Me.

A Small Nation, A Big Win

On stage, Rhys dedicated his second award to the people of Wales, calling them “as much a nurture as anyone else.” He added, “We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible,” while expressing his thanks in Welsh with the phrase “Diolh yn fawr iawn,” which means “thank you very much.”

Rhys was named best lead actor in a limited series for The Beast In Me, then won best lead actor in a comedy for Widow’s Bay. A small number of actors, including Alan Alda, Sally Field, John Goodman, Elisabeth Moss, and Ted Danson, have previously been nominated for two lead acting prizes in the same year, but Rhys is the first to score a double win.

Backstage, Rhys said: “I’m from a small country, and I’m glad we get moments to kind of put our flag on the map and say, ‘we punch higher than our weight sometimes.’”

The Beast In Me and Widow’s Bay

The Beast In Me follows a grieving author, played by Claire Danes, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious new neighbor suspected of murder. Rhys said it was a “real shock” to win the award, and told Danes: “Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine and bringing out the beast. You are an intimidating scene partner, but I’m grateful for all this.”

Later in the night, accepting the comedy actor prize for playing the mayor in Widow’s Bay, he thanked the family, friends, and colleagues who supported his career, including his parents who “kicked me on to the stage at a very early age.”

His Widow’s Bay co-star, Kate O’Flynn, was also recognized, winning best supporting comedy actress for playing Patricia in the show about a fictional island beset by a centuries-old curse. O’Flynn said: “This is the role of a lifetime..; Thank you for trusting this Lancashire lass to play a sassy broad like Patricia.”

Emmy Records and Honors

Elsewhere, Jean Smart won best comedy actress for her role in the fifth and final series of Hacks. It is the fifth Emmy she has won for the Hollywood satire, and her eighth overall, tying the record for most acting wins ever, shared with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Allison Janney also picked up her eighth Emmy of her career, scoring best supporting actress in a drama series. Despite her past success, Janney was a surprise winner and said she was “genuinely shocked” to beat out competition from four stars of hospital drama The Pitt, among others.

Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his work in supporting Parkinson’s disease. Appearing in a wheelchair, he said: “When it starts getting tough, you show up, you help, and if you get a little joy while you’re doing it, that’s even better.”

Dolly Parton was honored with a tribute by Sally Field, who starred in Steel Magnolias opposite Parton. Field described Parton as “genuine, humble, supportive and blisteringly funny,” adding that she was a “humanitarian whose contribution has made a profound difference across our country.”

Catherine O’Hara was remembered in a heartfelt tribute by Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy; Culkin referred to her as “our mom,” and joked: “She may have forgotten me… twice! But we will always remember her.”

Alan Cumming accepted the best reality show prize for the US version of The Traitors; he concluded his speech by encouraging US citizens to register to vote ahead of the midterm elections in November.

Stephen Colbert won best variety series after presenting his final episode of The Late Show in May. He said nightly talk shows were a “fantastic incubator for young people to come in, work professionally, on a deadline, in collaboration, and that is the future of our business that we have to look after.”