London, Sep 20 (IANS): Maggie Smith, known as the doyenne of acting in Britain, has responded to Jimmy Kimmel's joke that he wouldn't be passing on her Emmy Award after she missed the annual event.

Kimmel hosted the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Smith, a nine-time Emmy nominated actress and four-time recipient, was honoured with the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Award for her role in "Downton Abbey".

She previously won Emmys for the role in 2011 and 2012.

But before presenters Minnie Driver and Michael Weatherly could accept the award on Smith's behalf, Kimmel intercepted the trophy and told Smith to retrieve it herself.

"No, no, no, no, no. We're not mailing this award to her. Maggie, if you want this it'll be in the lost and found," said Kimmel.

Smith put out a statement formally accepting her award, reports mirror.co.uk. 

"I was very astonished and pleased to win the award. I feel the Emmys has been overly generous to me," Smith said via the Masterpiece PBS Twitter account.

"If Mr. Kimmel could please direct me to the lost and found office, I will try and be on the next flight," the actress wrote, undersigning the note as "Old Maggie".

The host, who is known for his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" - which currently airs in India on Star World and Star World HD - was applauded for his hosting gig.