Anna Sawai has won the Emmy for best actress in a drama series for the FX series “ Shogun ,” becoming the first actor of Asian descent to ever win in the category.

In a competitive field, Sawai triumphed over fellow nominees Jennifer Aniston (Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show”), Carrie Coon (HBO’s “The Gilded Age”), Maya Erskine (Amazon’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), Imelda Staunton (Netflix’s “The Crown”) and Reese Witherspoon (Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show”).

Sawai thanked the “Shogun” team but also paid tribute to her mom, who served as her inspiration. “Thank you John Landgraf and the whole FX team for believing in our story. Thank you, Justin and Rachel, for believing in me and giving me this role of a lifetime,” she said.

“Finally, I want to thank my team and my family. Mom, I love you. You're the reason I'm here. You taught me perseverance, and that's how I was able to bring that to my role. This is dedicated to all the women who
expect nothing and continue to be an inspiration to everyone,” Sawai concluded.

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This was Sawai's first Emmy nomination and her first win. She's also been in Apple TV+ shows like “Pachinko” and “Monarch,” as well as the British crime series “Giri/Haji.” She has also appeared in films like “F9” and “Ninja Assassin.”

“Shogun” garnered an impressive 25 Emmy nominations this year, making it the most-nominated series at this year’s Emmys. The series draws inspiration from the novel of the same name by James Clavell, which itself is rooted in authentic Japanese history. Sawai's portrayal of Toda Mariko, a woman of noble birth, was central to the unfolding drama of civil war within Japan’s governing council.

Initially conceived as a limited series, it was reported in May that FX was submitting “Shogun” for awards consideration as a drama series, signaling their intention to produce additional seasons. Soon after, FX announced their collaboration with the Clavell estate and “Shogun” creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo to develop two more seasons of the show.

See all the Emmy winners here .