Hollywood was in full swing last night as the biggest names in television came together for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.

It was an evening to remember for Matthew Rhys as the Welsh actor made history by becoming the first person to win two lead acting prizes for two different programmes in one night.

The seasoned star eased his way towards a Lead Actor (Comedy) win for his performance as ambitious mayor Tom Loftis in Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, and also took home the Lead Actor (Limited or Anthology) gong for his turn as creepy real estate executive Nile Jarvis in Netflix’s The Beast in Me.

While accepting his second accolade, Rhys dedicated his win to the “great and good people of Wales” before signing off with a Welsh thank you.

For Widow’s Bay itself, the supernatural comedy took centre stage with six major awards including a comfortable Outstanding Comedy Series triumph and further acting wins for supporting cast members Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root.

In the case of O’Flynn, the Bury-born star picked up the Supporting Actress gong for her memorable role as the eccentric Patricia Moyer, while veteran performer Root saw off mighty competition from fellow veteran Harrison Ford to land Supporting Actor for his role as outspoken believer Wyk Crawford.

There was also success for showrunner Katie Dippold as she took home the Writing (Comedy) prize, while filmmaker Hiro Murai was rewarded for his directing on the series.

Having already scored an impressive eight wins at last week’s Craft Awards, Widow’s Bay finished up with fourteen accolades in total and by doing so, eclipsed last year’s record set by The Studio for the most wins for a comedy series in a single year.

It was also a historic night for Jean Smart as she scooped her fifth Lead Actress (Comedy) gong for her swansong performance as veteran comedian Deborah Vance in the final series of HBO Max’s Hacks.

During her acceptance speech, Smart reflected on the ride she had been on with the series, and joked that the audience only gave her a standing ovation “because I’m old”.

On the drama side of things, HBO Max’s The Pitt secured the Outstanding Drama Series prize for the second year in a row with victory coming at the expense of other major dramas including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Pluribus and Slow Horses.

Additionally, central star Noah Wyle made it back-to-back successes in the Lead Actor (Drama) category for his reprised role as overburdened physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch and told the audience:

“I’m a Hollywood kid. I was raised on a television, and movie theaters were my place of worship. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do and this is the only club I’ve ever wanted to join. Thank you for accepting me.”

Elsewhere, there was joy for Rhea Seehorn as she took home the Lead Actress (Drama) gong for her performance as lonely author Carol Sturka in the hit Apple sci-fi drama Pluribus, which also scored a writing win for creator Vince Gilligan.

A more unexpected result came in the Supporting Actress (Drama) category as Allison Janney bagged her EIGHTH career Emmy win for her turn as President Grace Penn in the latest series of Netflix’s The Diplomat with four Pitt actresses among her competition.

Additionally, Tom Pelphrey was awarded the Supporting Actor (Drama) prize for playing robber Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task, while Saul Metzstein prevailed in the Director (Drama) field for his work on Apple TV’s Slow Horses.

Meanwhile, HBO’s DTF St. Louis followed up its impressive haul at last week’s Craft Awards by landing the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series accolade ahead of the likes of Netflix duo The Beast in Me and Beef.

In a controversial move made by the Television Academy, the supporting actor and actress awards were presented at that particular event with David Harbour and Linda Cardellini recognised for their respective turns as struggling couple Floyd Smernitch and Carol Love-Smernitch in the dark comedy.

There was a surprise in the Lead Actress (Limited or Anthology) category as veteran star Sally Field saw off the likes of Carey Mulligan and Sarah Snook to win for her performance as elderly cleaner Tova Sullivan in the Netflix television film Remarkably Bright Creatures.

In the non-acting fields, Scottish television presenter Alan Cumming accepted the Outstanding Reality Competition Program prize for the US version of The Traitors, while Stephen Colbert won the Outstanding Variety Series accolade for his own talk show after its controversial cancellation last year.

Finally, Michael J. Fox was given a standing ovation after receiving the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his campaigning for support of Parkinson’s disease, while there were emotional tributes made to the likes of beloved comedy star Catherine O’Hara and country music legend Dolly Parton after their passings earlier this year.

With Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay on hosting duties for the ceremony, it was a disappointing night for a number of series as the likes of Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Beef, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Only Murders in the Building, Paradise and Shrinking all came away empty-handed.

In the meantime, the full list of major Emmy winners are…

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
THE PITT

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Rhea Seehorn, PLURIBUS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Noah Wyle, THE PITT

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Allison Janney, THE DIPLOMAT

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Tom Pelphrey, TASK

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Saul Metzstein, SLOW HORSES

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
PLURIBUS (Vince Gilligan)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
WIDOW’S BAY

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jean Smart, HACKS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Matthew Rhys, WIDOW’S BAY

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kate O’Flynn, WIDOW’S BAY

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Stephen Root, WIDOW’S BAY

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Hiro Murai, WIDOW’S BAY

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
WIDOW’S BAY (Katie Dippold)

OUTSTANDING LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES
DTF ST. LOUIS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
Sally Field, REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
Matthew Rhys, THE BEAST IN ME

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
Linda Cardellini, DTF ST. LOUIS

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
David Harbour, DTF ST. LOUIS

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
Steve Conrad, DTF ST. LOUIS

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE
DTF ST. LOUIS (Steve Conrad)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SERIES
LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
THE TRAITORS

Meanwhile, this year’s Craft Award winners can be found in the following link: https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/2026