Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
AWARDS Crown jewels
Brit pack grab the gongs at America’s TV Oscars Belfast Throne in Emmy spotlight
Downton star joins fellow Emmynominated cast of Godless in this divine Carolina Herrera gown CLAIRE Foy led the Brit pack who shined at the Emmys as she picked up a gong for her role as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown.
The 34-year-old star was joined by fellow Emmy winners including actress Thandie Newton, actor Matthew Rhys, director Stephen Daldry and writer Charlie Brooker in Los Angeles on a big night for UK talent.
Other home favourites – including Crown co-star Vanessa Kirby, Downton star Michelle Dockery and Emilia Clarke and Gwendoline Christie from Game of Thrones – were either nominated or in shows up for an Emmy.
Claire fought back tears as she accepted the trophy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, dedicating it to Matt Smith who plays Prince Philip.
He backed her in a gender pay row when it was revealed he had been paid more in the supporting role for the show over the first two seasons.
She said: “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was given a role I never thought I’d get a chance to play. I just felt so proud then of being in the company of such extraordinary performers.”
Backstage she told the Mirror: “When my name was announced I completely flatlined. “A friend just showed me a picture of me watching it as I won – I was pulling a horrific face because I was so shocked and horrified.
“Then I was like I have to move and go and speak and I genuinely didn’t prepare anything.”
Claire was not the only Brit who struggled to contain herself during her acceptance speech as Line Of Duty star Thandie Newton had viewers in hysterics after dropping the F-bomb. After picking up her gong for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Westworld, Thandie, 45, told the audience: “I didn’t even believe in God, but I’m going to thank her tonight. I am so blessed, I am so BELFAST got a special mention when Game Of Thrones picked up its latest Emmy Award.
The HBO smash hit landed three gongs including top drama, best supporting actor for Peter Dinklage and visual effects.
Series creators David Benioff and DB blessed even without this I am so f***ing blessed.”
Brit John Oliver also won – his third straight Emmy – for his show Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.
The Birmingham-born comedian opened his speech by joking about the night’s most moving moment when Oscars ceremony director Glenn Weiss proposed to his girlfriend on the stage after his Emmy win.
He joked: “On behalf of everyone in this room, I would like to thank Glenn Weiss’ fiancee for saying yes. This could have been a very different evening. You really came through.”
Backstage, Oliver was asked if the lack of Donald Trump’s name being mentioned during this year’s award meant the country was becoming more relaxed about the President. “No, it f***ing doesn’t,” he said. Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, 43, took home one of the night’s big prizes –as Best Leading Actor in a Drama Series for his part in The Americans.
Brit Stephen Daldry, 58, won Best Directing of a Drama Series for The Crown. And Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, 47 – married to ex-blue Peter host Konnie Huq – won Best Writing for a Limited Series.
Hit BBC show Killing Eve came close with a nomination for Canadian Sandra Oh, 47, the first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for a Lead Actress Emmy.
Despite Netflix and HBO scooping 23 wins a piece, bragging rights went to HBO for their Best Drama win with Games of Thrones.
Netflix topped HBO in the total number of nominations for the first time, with 112 to 108 by its arch rival. Weiss took to the stage to collect the award and made sure Belfast got a special mention.
Weiss added: “The show is only as good as the people who make it.
“It is an honour to work with them, from Spain, to Iceland, all the way to our home base of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Here’s to you Belfast, it’s been an honour.”