Netflix dominates Emmy with ‘Crown’ sweep and ‘Queen’s Gambit’ win

2021-09-21 -

LOS ANGELES: “The Crown” swept the drama awards at the Emmys on Sunday to finally coronate Neflix with a top prize on television’s biggest night, as the streaming giant also claimed best limited series honours for “The Queen’s Gambit.” Neflix has transformed the TV landscape since creating its first original show in 2012, but had never won any top series prize before Sunday’s ceremony — the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars. In the comedy categories, Apple TV+’S “Ted Lasso” was the big winner. A reduced audience of top television stars gathered in person for the event in Los Angeles for the first time in two years — it was held at a partially outdoor venue due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns.

“We’re gonna have a party now. I’m lost for words, and I’m very, very grateful,” said “The Crown” creator Peter Morgan, dialing in with fellow cast and filmmakers from a remote London satellite hub. The fourth season of the wildly popular British royal series depicted the ill-fated marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Olivia Colman — who previously won an Oscar for playing Britain’s Queen Anne in “The Favourite” — scooped best actress for portraying her descendant Queen Elizabeth II. Colman paid tribute to her father who died during the Covid-19 pandemic and “would have loved all of this,” as she collected an award that had been widely expected to go to her co-star Emma Corrin, who portrayed a young Diana.

Josh O’connor, named best actor for playing Charles, praised Corrin as a “force of nature” and said making the show had been “the most rewarding two years of my life.”

“The Crown” also won both supporting actor prizes — including one for Gillian Anderson for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher — and awards for best writing and directing. Its tally including technical awards handed out before Sunday’s ceremony came to 11 — tied this year with “The Queen’s Gambit,” and one short of the drama record held by “Game of Thrones.”

“The Queen’s Gambit,” a limited series about a troubled orphaned girl who storms the world of professional chess, sent chessboard sales skyrocketing worldwide on its release last October. “You brought the sexy back to chess, and you inspired a whole generation of girls and young women to realize that patriarchy simply has no defense against our queens,” executive producer William Horberg told star Anya Taylor-joy on stage. “The one thing that no algorithm can predict and no billion dollar budget can manufacture is word of mouth,” he said of the show becoming a global phenomenon.

But the limited series lead actress prize went to Kate Winslet for small-town whodunit detective drama “Mare of Eastown,” which also won both limited series supporting acting awards for Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters. “I just want to acknowledge my fellow nominees in this decade that has to be about women having each other’s backs,” said Winslet. She praised the show’s creators for creating “an middle-aged, imperfect, flawed mother... you made us all feel validated, quite honestly.” Ewan Mcgregor won best limited series actor for fashion designer series “Halston.” Apple TV+ global smash hit “Ted Lasso” won best comedy series. Co-creator Bill Lawrence praised the show’s “fearless leader” Jason Sudeikis, who won best actor as an out-of-his-depth American football coach handed control of an English soccer team.

“Heck of a year,” said Sudeikis. “I would say that this show is about family, this show is about mentors and teachers, this show is about teammates.

“And I wouldn’t be here without those three things in my life.”

WINNERS IN KEY CATEGORIES

BEST DRAMA SERIES

‘The Crown’

BEST COMEDY SERIES

‘Ted Lasso’

BEST LIMITED SERIES

‘The Queen’s Gambit’

BEST COMEDY ACTOR

Jason Sudeikis, ‘Ted Lasso’

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS