Gwendoline Christie Had to Submit Herself for an Emmy Nomination

The final season of Game of Thrones had its highs and lows. But one positive fans could agree on was Brienne of Tarth finally getting the recognition she deserved and becoming a knight—an honor not typically bestowed on women. Even better, she was knighted by someone she had a complicated and eventually passionate relationship with—Jaime Lannister.

So it wasn’t a surprise when Gwendoline Christie, who played Brienne in the HBO series, was nominated for an Emmy Award, in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. Her co-stars Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) and Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) were also nominated in the category.

What was surprising was the news that she had nominated herself, which went viral on Twitter:

The Hollywood Reporter discovered that Christie, plus her GoT colleagues Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) and Carice van Houten (Melisandre), had submitted themselves after HBO decided not to do so. The cost of submitting a self-nomination is $225.

Christie’s response on Instagram was all-caps, exclamation-mark relatable:

“I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!!!????!?!!?!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote.

Christie’s nomination is one of GoT‘s 33 nominations—a record-setting number for any drama show in history. It’s also the primetime show that holds the record for most Emmys ever won: 47 in total. This is the Big Flex Energy I want in my life!

“Oh my good lord, I never ever thought this would happen,” Christie told Variety. “I really didn’t. I went through every single emotion. I couldn’t be more delighted, this is the best day ever.”

I imagine this is the face she’s making right now: