Lucci's Emmy Afterglow

The 19th time was the charm for actress Susan Lucci. After 18 years of being nominated for a Daytime Emmy and losing, the star of All My Children finally took home a golden statue on Friday.

She received a standing ovation from her peers, many of whom were women crying tears of joy for her. A tearful Lucci thanked her fans and peers for thinking her worthy of a nomination 19 times and her family for making the previous 18 losses bearable.

Lucci won this year with a submission tape that showed her character, Erica Kane, in a hospital vigil over her anorexic TV daughter, Bianca. She originated the role of sexy and devilish Erica 28 years ago and soon turned a role that was meant to be a bit part into one of the most well-known characters on daytime television.

"I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it and was so touched by it, all the people in the industry standing like that," says Lucci.

On the day of the awards show, Lucci watched her son play in a golf tournament and listened to some of her favorite music. Although she did not write a formal speech, she did compose a few thoughts, she says, "because there are so many people that I really, really wanted to thank in public if I ever would get that chance."

When the moment came, she recalls, "I never heard my name. I didn't know it was me. But Rosie [O'Donnell] asked me if she could take my purse if I won, which is so sweet of her, and so she did. And my husband threw his arms around me, [and] I asked my husband, 'Did they say my name?' And he said, 'Yes! They said your name! Yes!'"

She says she simply basked in the moment, "swept over by that warmth in the audience. I'll never forget it as long as I live."

That night, she got only about three hours of sleep, and a crew from People magazine arrived Saturday morning to do a cover story on her.

Among the congratulatory tributes: 19 dozen roses, a dozen for every year Lucci has been nominated.