The two Hollywood actresses made a point of thanking their (rival) networks, producers and writers - but it was Arquette’s zinger at the end of the dual speech that really made the audience sit up and pay attention.

“I want to thank Ben Stiller, our incredible, courageous director,” she said. “He really let us explore and remove the yoke from my neck that I felt I’ve carried my whole career of, ‘But is she likeable?’ Thank you for taking that off my neck. It was really heavy for me to carry that long.”

Arquette, who picked up a Globe for her role in the show earlier this year, also remarked on the way in which the show demonstrates a variety of female body types.

“Thank you Showtime for this,” she said. “A lot of friends of mine who might be bigger body type said, ‘Thank you. For once in my life, I got to see a bigger boned woman or a different body type woman be sexual, unapologetic and not have it be a fetish or a joke.’”

Critics’ Choice Awards 2019: Amy Adams and Patricia Arquette handle Best Actress tie in best possible way