Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Jodie Comer enjoyed a stunning night as Britain’s leading ladies swept to surprise victories at the Emmys, with Fleabag taking home four awards and Comer winning a best actress award for Killing Eve.
Waller-Bridge won three awards for her work onFleabag– best leading comedy actress, best comedy series and best comedy writing – and Comer’s won for her portrayal ofpsychopathic assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve. Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer also picked an award for best comedy director.
Waller-Bridge’s triumph proved to be one of the night’s biggest upsets, leaving the beloved US comedy Veep empty-handed.Taking to the stage for her second award, Waller-Bridge seemed stunned: “This is just getting ridiculous, “she said.
She added the third win was “absolutely mental”.
During her acceptance speech for lead actress in a drama, Liverpool-born Comer revealed her parents were back home because she did not invite them, believing she would lose against stellar competition which included her Killing Eve co -star Sandra Oh.
The pair embraced as a dazed Comer, wearing a Tom Ford gown, made her way to the stage.
Game Of Thrones went out on a high at the biggest night in US television, defyingthe middling critical response to its eighth and final seasonto win outstanding drama series.
HBO’s sprawling fantasy epic won the gong for the fourth time, putting it in hallowed company alongside Hill Street Blues, LA Law, The West Wing and Mad Men.
However, in the individual categories its stars were largely snubbed, with only Peter Dinklage winning.
He signed off with a win for his memorable portrayal of Machiavellian dwarf Tyrion Lannister, the fourth time the TV academy has recognized him for the character in the category of supporting actor in a drama series.
He won ahead of his co-stars Alfie Allen and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
The show had no joy in the female supporting category, where the quartet of Lena Headey, Gwendoline Christie, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams were shock losers to Ozark star Julia Garner.
A tearful Billy Porter made history as the first openly gay black man to win outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
The Pose star – who celebrated his 50 th birthday on Saturday – received a standing ovation while picking up the prize.
He won ahead of Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harrington, Ozark’s Jason Bateman, Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk and Milo Ventimiglia from This Is Us.
Gritty historic drama Chernobyl enjoyed a successful evening, winning three prizes including best director in a limited series for Johan Renck, outstanding writing for creator Craig Mazin and the overall outstanding limited series.
Waller-Bridge had been a shock win of the lead actress in a comedy series ahead of Louis -Dreyfus, Rachel Brosnahan from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Russian Doll’s Natasha Lyonnne and Schitt’s Creek’s Catherine O’Hara.
Louis-Dreyfus had been favorite for an award she has won seven times, including six times for her portrayal of politician Selena Meyer.
She and Veep sat out last year Emmys after she was diagnosed with cancer and had been expected to win for their final season, which aired earlier this year.
Period comedy-drama The Marvelous Mrs Maisel picked up two awards in the supporting categories, with Tony Shalhoub and Alex Borstein winning in their respective categories.
Escape At Dannemore star Patricia Arquette won supporting actress in a limited series or movie while outstanding reality competition series went to RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Bill Hader retained the prize for lead actor in a comedy series for Barry while Johan Renck won best directing for a limited series or movie for HBO’s gritty historical drama Chernobyl.
Jharrel Jerome won the Emmy for lead actor in a limited series or movie for his role in Netflix’s When They See Us and dedicated the gong to the five teenagers whose wrongful conviction inspired the show.
British actor Ben Whishaw won the supporting actor in a limited series for his performance in A Very English Scandal while Craig Mazin won outstanding writing for a limited series for Chernobyl.
Black Mirror special Bandersnatch won outstanding television movie.
Michelle Williams won lead actress in a limited series or movie for Fosse / Verdon and made an impassioned plea for gender pay equality during her acceptance speech.
Outstanding variety talk series went to Last Week Tonight With John Oliver while outstanding variety sketch series was won by Saturday Night Live.
Bateman won outstanding directing for a drama series for Ozark while British screenwriter Jesse Armstrong picked up outstanding writing for a drama series for his HBO family drama Succession.
The Emmys is the biggest night in US television and recognises excellence in the medium.
US pop star Halsey performed the in memoriam section, singing Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time in tribute to stars including John Singleton, Cameron Boyce and Arte Johnson, who died in the last (months.)
The 71 st Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
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