Emilia Clarke stuns in a blue Valentino gown at the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards. Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Arguably one of the most anticipated and exciting TV awards ceremonies took place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles last night and we were glued to our screens – soaking up everything from red carpet looks (and reunions) to brilliant acceptance speeches. Big winners on the night included HBO’s Game of Thrones, British comedy Fleabag as well as hits like Chernobyl and Ozark.
Here are some of our best moments from the ceremony…
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The Great GOT Reunion
Let’s face it, Game of Thrones and it’s many stars featured so strongly both on the red carpet and at the ceremony, it started to feel like GOT celebration night. The reunions started early on as cast members came together for the first time in months, and continued right up until they gathered back stage before collecting the award for Outstanding Drama Series. This sneaky selfie is courtesy of Theon Greyjoy himself, Alfie Allen. The series was nominated for a record-breaking 32 Emmy awards and came away with a total of 12. Not bad for that divisive final season.
There was also a special moment between stars Kit Harington and Sophie Turner where they embraced one another after the show’s final win was announced. After their hug, Sophie stood back and said to Kit, “You look so handsome!” Yes, yes he does.
Michelle Williams’ Unexpected Win And Moving Speech
Winning the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Fosse/Verdon star Michelle Williams took the opportunity to speak about something very close to her heart – gender pay equity. She said, “My bosses never presumed to know better than I did about what I needed in order to do my job and honor Gwen Verdon… The next time a woman, and especially a woman of color – because she stands to make 52 cents on the dollar compared to her white male counterpart – tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her. Believe her, because one day she might stand in front of you and say thank you for allowing [her] to succeed because of her workplace environment and not in spite of it.” There were few dry eyes in the audience.
Co-Stars And Fashion Twins
This Is Us co-stars Many Moore and Susan Kelechi Watson made quite the pair in matching red and pink colour-blocked outfits. Mandy wore a gown by designer Brandon Maxwell while Susan’s dress was elegant Badgley Mischka couture. The two appeared to have no idea they would be wearing such similar garments to the ceremony, and didn’t seem at all bothered by it. If anything, it prompted even more photographs and twinning laughs. Next time, though, perhaps stylists should compare notes before the time.
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Everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge Did
British comedy-drama Fleabag came out as the evening’s big winner and the series creator/writer/producer and lead star Phoebe Waller-Bridge couldn’t have been more thrilled. She picked up three statues, out of her four nominations, including awards for Outstanding Writing and Best Comedy Series. In her third acceptance speech of the night, the star opened with, “This is just getting ridiculous,” delivered with the dry English humour and deadpan honesty we’ve come to love. Also, she looked breathtaking in her nude Monique Lhuillier gown!
Billy Porter’s Acceptance Speech
The American performer and star of drama series Pose, broke records as the first openly gay, black man to win in the lead drama actor category. He took home the coveted award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series but, according to him, “the category is love, y’all, love!” It was wonderful to see tolerance and representation celebrated so whole-heartedly at the ceremony.
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Jason Bateman’s First-Ever Emmy Win
He’s been nominated several times, but this was the Ozark star’s first-ever Emmy win. Jason came away with the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, which seems especially pertinent given as he sees this show as his ‘baby’ – he’s also one of the lead characters in the show. Here he is with co-star and fellow Emmy-winner, Julia Garner.
Catch the delayed broadcast of the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards tonight at 9pm on M-Net, DStv channel 101.
Compiled by Features Editor Stephanie van der Plank
