Congratulations to Ellie Kemper. The American actress won the Editor's Special Award at this year's GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards - a well-earned triumph for an impressive performance in hit Netflix TV show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
For those of you who haven't watched the show (um, why the hell not?), Ellie Kemper plays cult survivor Kimmy who moves to New York to lead a normal life after being held captive for a decade and a half.
The prestigious award, chosen by GLAMOUR's Jo Elvin, was given to the 36-year-old, and she was delighted with her win.
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Backstage, she told us: "I feel so honoured.
It's so special to be included in a group of women like this - and
one man! I'm totally exhilarated."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Was she excited about any of the other
celebs in attendance at the GLAMOUR Awards? You bet! She revealed
she wants a picture with Kerry Washington: "Never met her.
Love her. Very excited about that."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Voila - she did it, and she got Amy Schumer,
too. Talk about a two for the price of one-special
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Fans of *Unbreakable Kimmy
Schmidt* will know that Ellie's character in the show always
seems really positive. Is she anything like her character in real
life?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">"I don't think I'm as positive as she is but
I aspire to that because this is a story about a woman who moved on
from really terrible circumstances to rebuild her life and not let
those terrible events define her. And I think that's inspiring. So
I hope to have as sunny outlook as she does."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">We were eager to know what advice she
would give younger women, perhaps someone who's starting out in her
career, and she replied: "I think it's to take any job you
can get. You never know where it may lead. But also to have
confidence in yourself, and you know, never let yourself be
demeaned. But saying yes to as many opportunities as you can."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">[#video:https://youtube.com/embed/p3almqMthkc]
