Nikki Glaser Says Tom Brady Roast ‘Changed My Life Forever’: ‘I Didn’t Know It Was Going to Be Such a Big Deal’ (Exclusive)

Nikki Glaser says that the Tom Brady roast was “a night that changed my life forever.”

During the BAFTA TV Tea Party in Beverly Hills on Saturday, Sept. 14, the comedian spoke to PEOPLE about what her life has been like since participating in Netflix’s roast of the retired NFL star, which aired on May 5.

“I did not know the magnitude of it. I knew that it was going to be a big moment of my career, but I didn’t know that it would be the linchpin that I’ll always reference that point as before and after the roast,” says Glaser, 40.

“In terms of my career, it feels like it’s changed that drastically and I’m glad that I took it as seriously as I did,” she continues. “I didn’t know it was going to be such a big deal, but I knew it’d be a big deal, so I just prepared so hard.”

Glaser adds: “I just put everything I had into it so that no matter what happened, I could say, ‘Well, at least I did my best.’ That’s just how I approached it.”

The F Boy Island host also likens her preparation for and performance at the roast to that of an Olympian. “It felt like an Olympic performance. It felt like — I always compare it to an Olympics balance beam routine because it was that high stakes and things could go wrong. I could stumble at any second, and I nailed it,” she tells PEOPLE.

“It felt amazing,” she adds. “And it’s rare that I’ve had those moments, so I’m basking in it.”

Along with Glaser, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Will Ferrell and Kim Kardashian participated in the special, which was hosted by Kevin Hart.

Glaser took shots at the seven-time Super Bowl champ regarding his divorce from Gisele Bündchen and his past relationship with Bridget Moynahan.

Glaser also tells PEOPLE that she has “nothing to worry about” ahead of the Primetime Emmys ceremony, since she lost in the outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) category to Dick Van Dyke when the category’s award was handed out on Sept. 7.

“I know that this sounds fake, but I was honestly rooting for him,” she explains of the 98-year-old actor. “I didn’t vote for him. I did vote for myself, but I just was like, ‘We can’t bring Dick Van Dyke to the ceremony and then make him sit for three-and-a-half hours and then not give him an Emmy.’ ”

Glaser adds: “So, I have no nervousness anymore.”

The Primetime Emmys air on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.