The Awardist Emmys Reed Morano first woman to win for directing a drama at Emmys in 22 years By Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, It Happened One Fight, is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen. EW's editorial guidelines Published on September 17, 2017 10:06PM EDT Blessed be Reed Morano. The Handmaid’s Tale director became the first woman to take home the Emmy Award for directing in a drama series since Mimi Leder (ER) won in 1995. Morano thanked her cast and author Margaret Atwood, tipping her hat especially to leading lady and executive producer Elisabeth Moss. “Lizzie is my ultimate inspiration and this is as much her as it is me,” Morano said. Beginning her career as a cinematographer (and currently the youngest member of the American Cinematographer’s Association), this marked Morano’s first Emmy nomination and win. She won for directing the premiere episode of The Handmaid’s Tale first season, titled “Offred.” She joins a host of her Handmaid’s Tale colleagues in the winner’s circle on Sunday, including actress Ann Dowd and writer Bruce Miller. Moreno beat out fellow Handmaid’s director Kate Dennis for Emmy gold, as well as Stephen Daldry, Vince Gilligan, Lesli Linka Glatter, the Duffer Brothers, and Jonathan Nolan.