British talent won big at the Emmys during a memorable ceremony that saw one winner propose to his girlfriend on stage and Game Of Thrones win the battle of the heavyweights to regain its crown.
At the most prestigious awards show in US television, Welsh star Matthew Rhys won the lead actor in a drama series prize for his role in FX’s The Americans, while English actress Claire Foy scooped the equivalent award in the female category for her portrayal of the Queen in Netflix’s The Crown.
Foy’s co-star, Matt Smith, missed out on a supporting actor prize while Benedict Cumberbatch lost out to Rhys for lead actor.
Game Of Thrones – back at the Emmys after a one-year absence due to the timing of its previous season – won the prize for outstanding drama series.
HBO’s fantasy epic came out on top from a category including The Crown, Stranger Things, The Americans, This Is Us, Westworld and last year’s winner, The Handmaid’s Tale.
Glenn Weiss won the outstanding directing for a variety special and told the audience the prize was “bittersweet” because his mother had died two weeks previously.
The room erupted into cheers before Weiss invited his partner to the stage. He explained the ring was the same one his father had given to his mother 67 years ago before popping the question.
The crowd again erupted into loud cheers and the camera panned on to members of the audience wiping tears from their eyes.
What’s better than winning at the #Emmys? Getting engaged while winning an Emmy. Congrats to Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special winner @glenn_weiss (@TheAcademy)! #Emmys70 pic.twitter.com/mSo8CUI6jP
— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 18, 2018
Referencing the earlier on-stage proposal during his acceptance speech, Rhys said his girlfriend Keri Lynn Russell told him, “I will punch you clean in the mouth” if he followed suit.
Elsewhere, Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs Maisel won big, scooping five gongs in the comedy categories, for supporting actress, outstanding writing, directing, lead actress and outstanding series.
Hosts for the evening Michael Che and Colin Jost opened the ceremony with jokes about alleged sexual abuse in Hollywood, following allegations against high-profile figures such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
Che said it was an “honour to be here sharing this night with many, many talented and creative people in Hollywood”, adding: “Who have not yet been caught.”
The veteran actor, 72, scooped the outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series gong for his role as acting coach Gene Cousineau in HBO’s Barry.
He was first nominated in 1976 for playing Arthur “the Fonz” Fonzarelli in Happy Days.
Charlie Brooker won an Emmy for the USS Callister episode of Black Mirror.
