'Fleabag' steals 'Game of Thrones' thunder at Emmys

It was a love story that robbed "Game of Thrones", considered one of the biggest shows of all time, of its sheen at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.

"Fleabag" made the epic fantasy series 'kneel' to its second season-run with its four big wins -- lead actress in a comedy series, best comedy series and best comedy writing for Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and best director in comedy series for Harry Bradbeer.

Waller-Bridge, who scored a hat trick for her very personal dark comedy, said it was wonderful and reassuring to know that "a dirty, pervy, angry and messed-up woman can make it to the Emmys".

"I find acting really hard and really painful. Thank you to be nominated with these unbelievable actresses who I've looked up to and watched and laughed with for so many years - it means so much. I mean that in a nice way. And this means a huge amount to me," she said.

The actor, who beat Emmy darling Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") in a surprise snub, recognised the contribution of her fellow nominees.

Waller-Bridge also gave a shout-out to Andrew Scott's 'Hot Priest', the love interest of Fleabag in the second and final season of the Amazon show.

"Season two would not have exploded in the way that it did if it wasn't for Andrew Scott, who came into our 'Fleabag' world like a whirlwind and gave a performance of such depth and complexity it elevated the whole thing."