Sarah Lancashire’s moving acceptance address about the significance of television has gone viral, leaving viewers across the nation in tears.
The 58-year-old Happy Valley performer received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Royal Television Society Awards on Tuesday.
During her acceptance speech, Sarah recounted a story about being accosted by an elderly lady at Christmas time who told her, ‘I wager you assume what you do doesn’t matter.’
‘She said, “Tomorrow is Christmas Day and I will be on my own, but I will have the television on all day and that will be my company, so thank you,” Sarah added.
She concluded her moving speech by saying, ‘I believe we all need to keep doing what we’re doing because it really is companionship for so many people.’
Viewers up and down the country were left in pieces by Sarah’s powerful story, with one writing: ‘Just when I thought I couldn’t love her more. What a lovely lady.’
Another penned: ‘What an incredible woman! I would never ever have a bad thing to say about her. She’s amazing and I love her.’
A third added: ‘Just stunning!! I still can’t get over the fact that the arts have sometimes been said to not be that important…. Imagine a life with no TV, music, books, radio, theatre etc…
‘The whole world revolves around the arts! It brings people together and creates special memories!’
Sarah is one of the top actress nominees for this year’s Bafta TV Awards for her part in Julia, it was announced last week.
She will compete against Imelda Staunton, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the most recent season of The Crown, Kate Winslet for I Am Ruth, Billie Piper for I Hate Suzie Too, Maxine Peake for Anne, and Vicky McClure for Without Sin.