Ex-pat Australians Nicole Kidman and Bruna Papandrea have taken home a sweep of Emmy Awards on Sunday night for their co-produced HBO series,Big Little Lies.

The duo worked on the television adaptation of the book, written by fellow Australian, Liane Moriarty. The critically acclaimed seven episode TV series started as a pipe-dream that, according to Kidman, began in a Sydney cafe a few years ago.

Papandrea (second from right) with her Big Little Lies family. Source: Getty.

During her acceptance speech for the Best Actress award, Kidman thanked Papandrea and her co-star (and Papandrea's former business partner) Reese Witherspoon for their support saying, "I wouldn't be up here without you."

The 50-year-old award winner also spoke about the power ofBig Little Lies,telling the audience, "sometimes when you're acting you get a chance to bring a bigger message and this is their contribution. We shone a light on domestic abuse."

She continued, "It is a complicated, insidious disease. It exists far more than we allow ourselves to know, it is filled with shame and secrecy. And by you acknowledging me with this award you shine a light on it even more."

Watched Big Little Lies? Here's our recap on the season:

In addition to producingBig Little Lies,Witherspoon and Papandrea also co-produced the award-winning 2014 filmsGone GirlandWild.

This is Papandrea's first Emmy, but here's to many, many more coming her way.

Listen: Mia Freedman talks to Bruna Papandrea about life in Hollywood on No Filter.

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