“Please tell me you’re seeing this too.” So said Rami Malek tonight, quoting a central phrase from Mr. Robot as he accepted his first Emmy tonight for his starring role on the USA network series. In the end, it wasn’t much of a twist as Malek’s performance has been hugely acclaimed, but Malek beat out a highly competitive field tonight, picking up his first acting Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for playing troubled hacker Elliot Alderson.

“I am honored to be recognized with such a distinguished and accomplished group of actors,” Malek said tonight. “I’m honored to stand here and represent my family… I’m honored to work with a pure visionary in (Mr. Robot creator) Sam Esmail.”

Malek closed his speech by nodding to the tortured, misanthropic protagonist he portrays. “I play a young man who is, like so many of us, profoundly alienated” he said. “The unfortunate thing is, I’m not sure how many of us would want to hang out with a guy like Elliot. But I want to honor the Elliots [out there], because there’s a little of Elliot in all of us.”