After a year in which COVID-19 turned television viewing (and production) upside down, the 73rd annual Emmy Awards played an each-way bet, pouring its glory on the awards-laden British historical drama The Crown and two first-time nominees, the comedies Ted Lasso and Hacks.
The Crown made a stunning sweep of all seven drama categories, while Ted Lasso and Hacks divided the comedy spoils, with Ted Lasso taking series, lead actor, supporting actor and actress, and Hacks taking lead actress, directing and writing.
But there was no glory for Australia, whose biggest Emmy hope, actress Yvonne Strahovski, was nominated in the supporting actress in a drama category for The Handmaid’s Tale. Strahovski delivered a dazzling performance but was fighting in one of the night’s toughest categories.
From a field that also included Helena Bonham Carter and Emerald Fennell, from The Crown, and Samira Wiley from The Handmaid’s Tale, the award ultimately went to Gillian Anderson, whose portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Crown was one of the year’s most talked-about performances.
Speaking backstage, Anderson said the win was very different from her last, in 1997, for her performance as Special Agent Dana Scully on The X-Files.
“When you’re 24 or 27 or whatever it was, you feel like you’re invincible, and it’s always going to be like that, which of course it isn’t necessarily,” Anderson said.
Gillian Anderson won best supporting actress in a drama series at the Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.Credit: Getty Images
“For something like [The Crown], which was such an extraordinary experience, and was one of the hardest things I have done to date, it’s such a lovely feeling to be recognised for the work,” Anderson added. “It’s kinda cool. It’s a cool moment.”
One winner Australia can claim as its own is New Zealand-born director Jessica Hobbs, who has worked extensively in Australian television, and was nominated in the director in a drama category for The Crown episode War.
Hobbs defeated a heavyweight field that included Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian), Liz Garbus (The Handmaid’s Tale), Julie Anne Robinson (Bridgerton) and Steven Canals (Pose) to secure the win.
One of the night’s expected wins was also one of its most deserved: Jean Smart, who knocked out formidable opposition including Allison Janney (Mom) and Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) to win outstanding lead actress in a comedy series.
The Crown’s Josh O’Connor accepts the award for outstanding lead actor at the Emmys.Credit: Television Academy via AP
“To have your peers respect you is huge, and it meant a lot because it’s been such a difficult last six months,” Smart said backstage, referring to the death earlier this year of her husband, actor Richard Gilliland. “So this has been something that has been a strange counterpoint.
“[But] it’s nice to make people smile and laugh,” Smart added, acknowledging how difficult 2020 was for everyone. “When you do something that is meant to entertain like that, that’s the whole thing, people’s reaction,” she said. “This is more than we could ever have expected.”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor arrive at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
As you would expect, there were odd and awkward moments. Onstage, when Scott Frank, who won for The Queen’s Gambit, stretched his speech to four minutes, despite the persistent attempts of the orchestra to play him off. Outstanding actor or actress, maybe, but directing for a limited or anthology series or movie? That’s pushing your luck.
Or backstage, when an American TV reporter asked Gillian Anderson if she’d had a chance to discuss her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown with Thatcher herself. There was a moment of silence as Anderson, who clearly knew that Thatcher had died in 2013, composed her thoughts. “I have not spoken to Margaret,” Anderson finally said.
The Crown wins big: actress Olivia Colman accepts her Emmy.Credit: Television Academy via AP
And even at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, when actress Claire Foy, who won the lead actress in a drama Emmy for The Crown in 2018, won the outstanding guest actress in a drama Emmy for a two-minute flashback in the show’s fourth season. No, really, she did.
Kate Winslet wins an Emmy for her role in Mare of Easttown.Credit: Television Academy via AP
On a more sensible track, a double win - variety talk series and writing for a variety series - cemented British talk show host John Oliver into the bedrock of American popular culture. But speaking to media after walking offstage, Oliver deflected praise about his win and instead offered kind words for legendary American talk show host (and fellow nominee) Conan O’Brien.
“It’s hard to overstate the influence he’s had on comedy writers,” Oliver said. “There’s a whole generation of comedy writers who looked at Conan to see their sense of humour on television or the first time.”
John Oliver wins outstanding writing for a variety series and outstanding variety talk series for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.Credit: AP / Chris Pizzello
The Emmys were held at the Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, an outdoor site adjacent to the traditional home of the awards, the Microsoft Theatre. In previous years, the Event Deck has been used as the location of the night’s official after-party, the Governors Ball.
The event was moved outdoors as a precaution due to COVID-19; the guest list was restricted and the after-party cancelled as well. “The health and safety of our nominees is of paramount importance,” a statement from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said.
List of winners at the 73rd annual Emmy Awards:
Drama series: The Crown (Netflix)
Lead actor in a drama series: Josh O’Connor, The Crown
Lead actress in a drama series: Olivia Colman, The Crown
Supporting actor in a drama series: Tobias Menzies, The Crown
Supporting actress in a drama series: Gillian Anderson, The Crown
Directing for a drama series: Jessica Hobbs, The Crown
Writing for a drama series: Peter Morgan, The Crown
Comedy series: Ted Lasso (Apple TV Plus)
Lead actor in a comedy series: Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Lead actress in a comedy series: Jean Smart, Hacks
Supporting actor in a comedy series: Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
Supporting actress in a comedy series: Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Directing for a comedy series: Lucia Aniello, Hacks (HBO Max)
Writing for a comedy series: Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, Hacks (HBO Max)
Limited or anthology series: The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Lead actor in a limited series, movie or anthology: Ewan McGregor, Halston
Lead actress in a limited series, movie or anthology: Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
Supporting actor in a limited series, movie or anthology: Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown
Supporting actress in a limited series, movie or anthology: Julianne Nicholson, Mare of Easttown
Directing for a limited or anthology series or movie: Scott Frank, The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Writing for a limited or anthology series or movie: Michaela Coel, I May Destroy You (HBO)
Competition program: RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Variety talk series: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
Outstanding variety sketch series: Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding variety special (live): Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 (Showtime)
Outstanding variety special (pre-recorded): Hamilton (Disney+)
Outstanding writing for a variety series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Governors Award: choreographer/actress Debbie Allen
The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards will be replayed on Fox Arena at 7.30pm AEST and will be available to stream via Foxtel until November 19.
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