ONE of Britain’s most famous actresses and one of its newer stars brought home gongs as part of a large British pack who were nominated for Emmy Awards today.
At a glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles, Dame Maggie Smith picked up an award for her portrayal of the grand Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, while Damian Lewis hailed a “golden age” of television as he scooped an award for his portrayal of an American in espionage thriller Homeland.
Dame Maggie saw off competition from her co-star Joanna Froggatt, who plays domestic servant Anna, to win the prize for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.
Lewis won outstanding actor in a drama series for his role as US soldier Nicholas Brody, who is saved from a hostage situation in the Middle East, but sparks the suspicions of the FBI who think he may have been “turned” and could present a terrorist threat on home soil.
His award kicked off a golden night for the series, which beat Downton Abbey, Mad Men and Breaking Bad to win best drama series.
Lewis’ co-star Claire Danes won the award for outstanding actress in a drama series for her portrayal of mentally disturbed FBI agent Carrie Mathison, beating competition from Downton’s Michelle Dockery among others.
Lewis, who saw off challenges from fellow Brit Hugh Bonneville, who stars as the Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey, Hollywood veteran Steve Buscemi and Jon Hamm, who plays Don Draper in Mad Men, among others, said: “I’m one of those pesky Brits, I apologise.
“I don’t really believe in judging art, but I thought I’d show up just in case.
“What an extraordinary honour to be in a category with these golden actors setting a gold standard in acting in a golden age of TV.”
WINNERS
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, ABC.
Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K, Louie, FX Networks.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, Modern Family, ABC.
Directing, Comedy Series: Steven Levitan, Modern Family, ABC.
Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men, CBS.
Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO.
Reality-Competition Programme: The Amazing Race, CBS.
Host, Reality-Competition Programme: Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars, ABC.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC.
Writing, Drama Series: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, Homeland, Showtime.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey, PBS.
Directing, Drama Series: Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire, HBO.
Actor, Drama Series: Damian Lewis, Homeland, Showtime.
Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime.
Writing for a Variety Special: Louis C.K., Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre, FX Networks.
Directing for a Variety Special:Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards, CBS.
Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central.
Supporting Actress, Mini-series or Movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story, FX Networks.
Supporting Actor, Mini-series or Movie: Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys, History.
Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Danny Strong, Game Change, HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, Game Change, HBO.
Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Jay Roach, Game Change, HBO.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys, History.
Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie: Game Change, HBO.
Drama Series: Homeland, Showtime.