The Coleraine-born actor, who played Catelyn Stark in the hit HBO drama, has recently appeared in Sky Atlantic’s Gangs of London and BBC Two factual drama Responsible Child.

“I feel very lucky to have been given some fantastic opportunities throughout my career and believe that my ‘outstanding contribution’ really is just that – a contribution to fantastic productions and wonderful creative teams,” said Fairley.

BBC Three teen comedy drama My Left Nut, set and shot by Kay Mellor’s indie Rollem Productions in Belfast, was named best drama at the awards, which were presented at a virtual ceremony by Northern Irish comedian and presenter Patrick Kielty.

Journalist Peter Taylor’s personal account of the key events of the Northern Ireland conflict for BBC Northern Ireland, Peter Taylor: My Journey Through the Troubles, won the Specialist Factual category. The Current Affairs award also to went to BBC Northern Ireland for Spotlight: Fear and Loathing in Quinn Country. UTV Live at Six won the News Coverage award for its coverage of the coronavirus crisis.

BBC Four’s Arena: The Changin’ Times of Ike White, made by Belfast indie Erica Starling Productions, was named Best Documentary.

Stellify Media’s BBC reality show There’s No Place Like Tyrone picked up the Entertainment prize, while Alleycats’ RTÉ2 series Pulling with My Parents scooped the Factual Entertainment/Features award. Soft Border Patrol, the Comedy Unit’s Brexit mockumentary for the BBC, set on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, won the Scripted Comedy prize.

The awards were sponsored by Belfast post-production house Ka-Boom, and supported by BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Channel 4.

RTS Northern Ireland Television Awards winners

Brian Waddell Award: Michelle Fairley

Drama: My Left Nut, Rollem Productions for BBC Three

Scripted Comedy: Soft Border Patrol, The Comedy Unit for BBC Northern Ireland

Entertainment: There’s No Place Like Tyrone, Stellify Media for BBC Northern Ireland

Factual Entertainment/Features: Pulling with My Parents, Alleycats for RTÉ2

Specialist Factual: Peter Taylor: My Journey Through the Troubles, BBC Northern Ireland:

Documentary: Arena: The Changin’ Times of Ike White, Erica Starling Productions for BBC Four

News Coverage: UTV Live at Six, UTV

Current Affairs: Spotlight: Fear and Loathing in Quinn Country, BBC Northern Ireland

Children’s/Animation: The Voyage, Jam Media for RTÉ

Original Music Score: Lost Lives, Mark Gordon, Neil Martin, Richard Hill and Charles Graham, DoubleBand Films