Emmy’s love for GoT has grown slowly over the years
It hasn’t always been a gold rush for the cast of Game of Thrones. The show has set several Emmy records, including scoring 32 nominations in its final season.
Coming into the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (which will be given out this afternoon, New Zealand time), it is the leader among scripted series: Game of Thrones has amassed 160 nominations, according to the Television Academy, with 57 wins – including 10 at this year’s Creative Arts Emmys – so far.
But in its first four seasons, HBO’s fantasy epic collected only one major prize – supporting actor, for Peter Dinklage’s performance as Tyrion Lannister in season one. Since then, of course, Game of Thrones has become an Emmy darling, including three wins for drama series. Here, we take you through the series’ Primetime Emmy history.
2011
The series’ first season received four Primetime Emmy nominations (plus nine more Creative Arts nods), including drama series, directing and writing. However, it had only one nod for acting.
Peter Dinklage, already a respected performer and multiple award winner for the film The Station Agent (2003), won the supporting actor prize on his first try, for his portrayal of sardonic not-so-favourite son Tyrion Lannister.
2012
For season two, Dinklage was again the only acting nominee, losing out to Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad.
Homeland topped the drama series category, as Thrones received only two Primetime nods. However, the show received 10 Creative Arts nods and would never again receive fewer than 13.
2013
The series climbed back to four Primetime nominations, cementing a pattern it would follow for its entire run: each of its seasons has been nominated for drama series and Dinklage for outstanding supporting actor.
He was joined for season three by Emilia Clarke, nominated in the supporting actress category for her performance as the emerging Queen of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. (Bobby Cannavale of Boardwalk Empire and Anna Gunn of Breaking Bad, respectively, were the winners in those categories.)
Creators David Benioff and DB Weiss were again nominated for writing, an honour they would miss only once during the show’s run. And Diana Rigg picked up the first of four guest actress nominations for her performance as mastermind matriarch Olenna Tyrell.
2014
From season four, Thrones began to emerge as an Emmy juggernaut, with five Primetime nominations. Apart from nods for drama series, writing and directing, Lena Headey joined Dinklage as a supporting honoree for her work as the scheming queen-to-be Cersei Lannister, while Rigg received her second guest actress nod. While the show was again shut out of Primetime Emmy wins, it collected a total of four Creative Arts trophies to push the series’ total to 14 wins overall.
2015
The series finally claimed the Golden Throne for season five, winning the Emmys’ flagship drama series prize – as well as awards for supporting actor (Dinklage again), direction and writing, from seven Primetime nominations. Clarke and Headey were again nominated, and Rigg received her third straight guest actress nod. Counting Creative Arts prizes, the series’ 12 total wins left its Emmy treasure heap at 26.
2016
With nine Primetime nominations, Thrones started to look like a dragon guarding its gold with season six. It won its second consecutive prize each for drama series, direction and writing. Dinklage, Clarke and Headey were each nominated again, joined by Kit Harington as intrepid pin cushion Jon Snow and Maisie Williams as youthful assassin-in-training, Arya Stark. Max von Sydow picked up a guest actor nomination as the Three-Eyed Raven.
2018
After a year-long hiatus, Game of Thrones returned with a vengeance, picking up seven more Primetime Emmy nominations.
It scored its third win for drama series and Dinklage picked up his third supporting actor trophy.
Headey collected another nomination for playing Cersei, who was joined by her (very, very) dear brother, Jaime Lannister, as Nikolaj CosterWaldau earned his first nod. Rigg received her fourth (and final, thanks to Jaime) guest actress nod as Olenna Tyrell.
2019
In its final season, GoT ran up the score, with a record 32 overall nominations, a stunning 14 of them in the Primetime categories – including 10 acting nods.
Clarke and Harington moved into the lead categories (the ensemble show’s first-ever lead nominations). Dinklage, earning his eighth nomination as Tyrion Lannister, was joined in the supporting actor category by the returning Coster-Waldau and newcomer Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy.
An impressive four of the six slots for supporting actress were taken by women of Westeros, with fixture Headey back again (her fifth nod) and Williams honoured for the second time. They were joined by Stark sister and emergent Queen in the North, Sophie Turner, and Gwendoline Christie as one of the series’ noblest warriors, Brienne of Tarth.
Christie and Allen weren’t submitted for Emmy consideration by HBO. They had to submit themselves and pay the fee out of their own pockets. Carice van Houten had to pull off the same magic trick as red witch Melisandre for her guest actress nod. – Los Angeles Times
For a full list of Emmy nominations and winners, check out Emmy.com and Stuff. The Emmys screen live on Sky’s Vibe Channel from noon today.