More glory for Whitby’s Joanne Froggatt as Downton triumphs in Los Angeles

The ITV favourite saw off strong competition to be given the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.

Accepting the award on-stage, Ms Froggatt, who was born in Littlebeck, near Whitby, and plays Lady Mary’s maid Anna Bates in Downton, said: “It’s amazing. … We’ve had the best time. Thank you guys so much.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Redmayne will be hoping Hollywood tradition continues after being named outstanding actor at the awards, as the last ten stars to win also picked up the Oscar.

The run stretches back to 2004 when Jamie Foxx won for Ray and was later named best actor at the Academy Awards.

Redmayne, who plays scientist Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything, beat Birdman star Michael Keaton at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

Redmayne, who has already won a Golden Globe, dedicated his win to those such as Professor Hawking who live with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for their “triumph of spirit”.

Visibly shocked and at times emotional during his speech, he told the audience he had learned a lot when making the film.

Honorary Briton Kevin Spacey, who has been artistic director of London’s Old Vic theatre for more than a decade, won best actor in a drama series for House Of Cards.

And Birdman’s award for best ensemble cast featured English actress Andrea Riseborough.