Rachel Brosnahan feels like the "new kid at the party" after winning an Emmy Award

Speaking to reporters backstage at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theatre, she said: "This is very, very new -- I feel like the new kid at the party. It's very new but I've had incredible teachers, Amy and Dan have been the gods and fearless leaders and I'm so, so grateful for their guidance on this.

And the brunette beauty admitted the role, and its popularity, had come as a surprise to her, though she's grateful the show has done so well.

She said: "This is a dream I didn't know I had. If you had told me five years ago that I'd be playing a stand-up comedian on television, I would have told you to sit down.

"But I've always wanted to play complex and interesting and grounded women and this has been an opportunity to do that.

"We've put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it and the acceptance of the show has been lifeblood for us.

"There's so much good TV out there and it's incredible to know we've made something people love as much as we do."

Rachel believes the Amazon series has struck a chord with audiences because it successfully mixes "fantasy and reality" to come up with an aspirational tale.

She said: "The show is equal parts fantasy and reality. It has beautiful clothes and sets. It's aspirational too; it's about a woman reinventing herself ... and it's never too late to do that.

"And it's funny and filled with joy at its core -- and that's something we need a lot more of right now."