Emmys 2024 as it happened: Australia’s Sarah Snook wins best actress award as Succession, Beef and The Bear dominate

And with that, we’ll end our live coverage. Thank you for joining us for this year’s Emmy Awards.

You can read Culture editor-at-large Michael Idato’s wrap of the awards here. You can also check out my colleague Damien Woolnough’s choices for the best red-carpet fashion.

Australia’s Sarah Snook finally has an individual Emmy. Credit: AP

Before the awards season officially ends, we’ll have the BAFTAs in February and the Academy Awards on March 11 – and thanks to today’s strike-delayed show we’ll have another Primetime Emmys ceremony in September. So we’ll see you again soon!

Read more: Sarah Snook’s trifecta as Succession, The Bear, Beef rumble awards

As the cast of Succession made their way backstage, outstanding actress winner Sarah Snook said they would collectively take away from working on the series the incredible challenge that it presented both the cast and crew.

“There was good eff-ing writing, and setting bars high for next projects [for all of us] because this was amazing and might not ever be beaten,” Snook said.

Jesse Armstrong (left) with the cast of Succession.Credit: AP/Chris Pizzello

Coming at the end of a long night, things rapidly unravelled. Snook was asked about her American accent, but she deflected quickly to co-star Kieran Culkin who was known on set, apparently, for his Australian accent. Or at least a shocking knock-off of one.

Co-stars Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin celebrate with their awards in the press room.Credit: AP/Ashley Landis

Snook: This question is for Kieran.
Culkin: [speaks in terrible Australian accent].
Snook: [laughs]
Culkin: You know, I am cancelled for this now.
Snook: No, you can never come to Australia, that’s all.

Another member of the cast, Nicholas Braun, who plays Roy family cousin Greg Hirsch in the series, said the line between comedy and drama was difficult to walk, especially when he filmed scenes with Matthew Macfadyen, who played Tom Wambsgans.

“Every scene I had with Matthew, I laughed, and I tried not to laugh,” Braun said. “I thought of dark things. I pinched my leg. I’d do all sorts of things to try and not laugh.”

It feels appropriate that the last word goes to Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, who has, with the cast, just surfed off an incredible week in which they swept the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards and now the Emmys.

When Armstrong was asked how he could possibly top the experience of Succession, he said: “I can’t, and I don’t feel any pressure in that regard. This is a very special show, a very special cast. This group of people … I don’t expect to ever be repeated.

“I do hope to do interesting work for the rest of my life, but I am comfortable with the feeling that I might never be involved with something as good.”

Succession cast from left: Alan Ruck, Sarah Snook, Alexander Skarsgard, Brian Cox, Nicholas Braun, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfayden, and J. Smith-Cameron.Credit: AP

The Emmys paid tribute to Friends star Matthew Perry in its in-memoriam segment.

Perry died in October in his pool at his home in Pacific Palisades.

The late Matthew Perry was featured in the in-memoriam section of the awards night. Credit: AP

Singer Charlie Puth performed the comedy’s theme song I’ll Be There for You as part of the tribute.

Producers were forced to be selective for the segment, as the writers’ and actors’ strikes meant there were about 150 people the delayed ceremony could have paid tribute to.

The Emmys also honoured legendary US TV anchor Barbara Walters; Murder, She Wrote star Angela Landesbury; NCIS star David McCallum; and singer and actor Harry Belafonte.

Sitcom stars – including Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley), Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace), Kirstie Alley (Cheers) and Suzanne Somers (Three’s Company) – were also acknowledged.

The tribute also featured Angus Cloud from the drama Euphoria, who died aged 25.

Earlier, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, from the influential 1970s sitcom All In The Family, paid tribute to the program’s creator, prolific TV producer Norman Lear, who died in December aged 101.

The debut season of The Bear has triumphed at the 75th Emmy Awards, with its win for best comedy bringing the show’s total haul to six gongs from 13 nominations.

Canadian chef and restaurateur Matty Matheson, who appears in the series as Neil Fak, was given a passionate on-stage kiss from fellow cast member Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

“I just love restaurants so much,” Matheson said when he came up for air.

Matty Matheson, center, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach kiss.Credit: AP Photo

“The good, the bad. It’s rough. We’re all broken. Inside and every single day we got to show up and cook. And make people feel good by eating something and sitting at a table.”

The Bear also won for writing for a comedy series (Christopher Storer); directing for a comedy series (Christopher Storer); comedy lead actor (Jeremy Allen White); comedy supporting actor (Ebon Moss-Bachrach); and comedy supporting actress (Ayo Edebiri).

This was a big one, folks. The category for best drama series saw major hitters like The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Succession face-off. But let’s be real: no one beats the Roys.

That’s right, Jesse Armstrong’s massively popular HBO show, Succession – which explores corporate and familial dysfunction to a level few others have achieved – has won the coveted gong. It’s a worthy send-off as the series comes to an end after its fourth season.

Peter Dinklage, left, presents the award for outstanding drama series to creator Jesse Armstrong.Credit: AP

“We want to thank HBO. This wasn’t necessarily an easy show to commission at the beginning,” said Armstrong, who accepted the award on the team’s behalf.

“This is a show about family, but it’s also about when partisan news coverage gets intertwined with divisive right-wing politics. And after four seasons of satire, as I see it, that’s a problem we have now fixed. So, we can now depart the stage. We are so honoured. We have loved making the show. Thank you very much indeed.”

It was Succession’s sixth win, making it the most decorated show of the night alongside The Bear, which won the award for the best comedy series. It’s also the third time the show has won in this category. Though this result was largely expected – I mean, they nailed the final season – it was still a cause for celebration, as the entire crowd cheered the cast on with gusto.

The cast of Succession, which scooped six Emmys for the 2023 awards.Credit: AP

It was also the final category of the ceremony, and boy, was it a long one! Three hours of the best and brightest on the small screen. But don’t forget: we get two Primetime Emmys this year, so be sure to tune back in come September.

Kieran Culkin has continued his winning streak, taking home an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Roman Roy in Succession.

He beat Succession co-stars Brian Cox, who played patriarch Logan Roy, and Jeremy Strong, who played his older brother Kendall.

Kieran Culkin tosses his jacket aside...Credit: AP

Culkin, who threw his jacket down on stage, paid tribute to his cast, showrunner Jesse Armstrong, and his mother for giving him a happy childhood.

He told wife Jazz Charton that he wanted to have a third child.

“You said maybe if I win,” he told her in the audience.

...and then accepts the award. Credit: AP

He also thanked his agent Emily Gerson Saines, whom he has retained for 29 years.

“I just have to thank you for keeping my name in the conversation when nobody was talking about me. So as far as I am concerned, this is yours.”

Culkin triumphed over Pedro Pascal, who won plaudits for his complicated portrayal of grieving father Joel in The Last of Us.

Also nominated were Jeff Bridges for The Old Man and Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul.

Calling all Australians: Prepare to be very proud. Our very own Sarah Snook has scooped the award for best actress in a drama series, continuing her impressive winning streak at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

After losing the category in previous years, Australia’s Sarah Snook has won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.Credit: AP

Winning, of course, for her memorable role as Shiv Roy in HBO’s Succession, Snook beats out other actresses like Melanie Lynskey from Yellowjackets, Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid’s Tale, Bella Ramsey from The Last of Us and Keri Russell from The Diplomat. But despite her strong competition, Snook was expected to win more or less across the board thanks to her stunning performance alongside her on-screen husband, Matthew Macfadyen’s Tom Wambsgans.

“Thank you for loving the show as much as we all did … We put our all into it,” Snook said. “Thank you [to my parents] for letting me have a dress-up box as a kid. This is where it gets you. My biggest thank you goes to somebody who won’t understand anything I’m saying right now – someone I carried through the last season, but she really carried me. She gave me the strength to do this. It’s all for you from here on out.”

Snook has previously been nominated twice in the supporting actress category but lost both times. This time, she wasn’t going to leave without a win.

Her victory brings Succession’s tally to five awards (with the possibility of another in the best drama series category at the end of the ceremony), an impressive and well-deserved result given the series has now come to an end. What a way to finish it off!

It’s become the question of the night: will there be a Succession spin-off? The answer is a firm no, with a qualifying maybe, the show’s director Mark Mylod said backstage. “It’s nice to think there could be, isn’t it?” he said.

Succession director Mark Mylod.

“I like the idea of a musical, that could be nice,” Mylod joked, but then continued more seriously: “Let’s leave it on a high. Let’s not come back and flog it. But if somebody comes back with a great idea, let’s all come back. If Jesse writes something, we’d all come running.”

Mylod, who won for directing for drama, said the show’s run in the last week – with major wins at the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards and the Emmys – was a thrill.

“It was obviously well received when it aired, and that was a huge relief, to feel we finished the season well. Awards season, it’s the icing on the cake, isn’t it?”

Mylod won for directing the episode in the final season when – warning: spoilers – Waystar RoyCo boss Logan Roy dies.

“Jesse had the idea that Logan should die early in the season, partly as a surprise, but also to allow us to explore the succession element that’s inherent in the title,” Mylod said.

“The discussion we had was around intensity and gaze, the balance between being on the plane with Matthew’s character, and being with our sibling characters on the boat. That was an ongoing debate.”

Beef is on a role, with Steven Yeun winning lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie. This adds to its wins in the writing and directing categories.

“Judgment and shame is a lonely place, but compassion and grace is where we can all meet,” he said to the enthusiasm of the audience.

Beef’s Steven Yeun accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series. Credit: AP

Straight off the back of Yeun’s win, co-star Ali Wong scooped the win for best lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie.

“I wouldn’t be standing here without my amazing parents, my mother and also my father, who I so wish was alive to share this moment with me … He taught me the value of failure,” Wong said between tears.

Fresh off her Golden Globes win, Ali Wong also won an Emmy for her role in Beef. Credit: AP

She beat out Daisy Jones & the Six’s Riley Keough, another star who was a front contender for the gong.

And you know what they say: all good things come in threes. Completing its clean sweep, Beef then received the award for best limited or anthology series. These awards marked Beef’s fifth win of the day so far, putting it on par with The Bear.

Breaking news: Rocket Man is officially an EGOT!

Winning the Emmy for best live variety special secured Sir Elton John the highly sought-after title, which signifies he has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

At 76, Sir Elton John has become the 19th person to win an EGOT. Credit: AP

Before the groundbreaking victory, iconic comedy duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler had everyone chuckling with a Saturday Night Live newsroom bit.

“We’ve reached the stage in life where we will only present awards when sitting down,” Fey quipped in her trademark dry manner.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler behind the SNL news desk.Credit: AP

The team behind Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium took to the stage to receive the gong – one of three of the special’s nominations of the evening.

“I am not Elton John,” the show’s producer said on behalf of John. “Sadly, he had a knee op, but he’s absolutely fine. He wants to send his love … We knew this show would be historic because it would be Elton’s last show on tour … We didn’t know it would be historic because it would win a man – a man who made the soundtrack to our lives – an EGOT.”

It beat other live specials like The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna and The Oscars.