The 38-year-old picked up the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her part as Holly Holliday in the hit US TV series Glee.
Writing in her GOOP newsletter, she said: 'So nearly two weeks ago, getting everyone settled in back to school mode, I woke up to a huge surprise: I had won a Creative Arts Emmy for my guest role on Glee!
'This was especially meaningful, as my father had been nominated and lost the Emmys nine times. So I'm pretty chuffed about the whole thing. And my dad would have been over the moon.
'Anyway, I was asked to present at the big Emmy telecast so I hopped on a plane! And may I please thank Ryan Murphy for thinking up Holly Holliday and deciding to call me up about her.
'Wow. And thanks to the whole Glee family who are among some of the best people I've ever had the good fortune to work with.'