The biggest stars in Hollywood gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 73rd Emmy Awards.
The Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles played host to the event, which took place on Sunday. During the award’s three-hour runtime, there were plenty of memorable speeches, tributes and spectacular style moments on the red carpet.
The year’s big winners were The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit, with each series winning 11 awards. Saturday Night Live wasn’t too far behind with eight Emmys . Ted Lasso and The Madolorian walked away with seven.
Here are some of our favourite moments from the 73rd Emmy awards…
Debbie Allen, The Governors Award
The great Debbie Allen, 71, was honoured with the Governors Award. A film summarising Allen’s life and work was shown before she took to the stage.
In a touching speech, Allen orders the Emmys producers to “turn that clock off” because she was “paying no attention to it.” She continues,
“I am trembling with gratitude and grace, I’m trying not to cry and be equal to the situation, because it’s been many years in the making, taking a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time, a lot of courage and creativity and faith to believe that I could keep going. And I have.”
Jada Pinkett Smith, Ellen Pompeo, Ava DuVernay, and Michael Douglas were shown carrying canes in honour of her legendary “Fame” persona. She stepped off the stage to a standing ovation.
Lead Actress, Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit
The Queen’s Gambit walked away with the Emmy for outstanding limited or anthology series. It had 18 overall awards nominations. Although the series is highly regarded, it has been confirmed that there will be no season 2 return.
Twenty five year-old Lead actress winner, Anya Taylor-Joy wears a completely backless Dior gown on the night, styled by Gregory Russel. She accessorised with Tiffany & Co. jewellery.
Speaking with ET‘s Kevin Frazier backstage, Taylor-Joy says,
“It’s incredible, just being able to hug everyone and be together and celebrate,” Taylor-Joy marveled. “It’s been a year of virtual high-fiving. So this is pretty special.”
In total, The Queen’s Gambit earned 11 Emmys out of a total of 18 nominations.
Outstanding Lead Actress, Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown
The success of drama series Mare of Easttown surprised the cast and crew. Leading lady Kate Winslet wins the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited series for her performance. There is nothing confirmed currently in relation to a second season. Winslet tells the Emmy press corps,
“Conversations are happening, but I think until scripts are in place that we can really respond to, and know what a full story of a Season 2 might be and where Mare goes.”
Winslet wears a Giorgio Armani Privé dress, with a plunging neckline on the night.
Emma Corrin, The Crown, Best Actress Nominee
The award-winning actress was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award. Her role as the late Princess Diana on The Crown won a golden globe earlier in the year.
Other frontrunners for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Emmy were Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Emma Corrin and Olivia Coleman.
Corrin appeared on the red carpet at a London Emmys party dressed in a genre-defying costume by Miu Miu. The strapless pastel yellow gown was paired with a matching bonnet and fingerless opera gloves.
Corrin lost out on the award to Olivia Coleman of The Crown. Her outfit, however, stole the show.
Emma Corrin via Instagram: “crucible realness for EMMYS 2021” ? pic.twitter.com/oUO7GJF2nP
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 19, 2021
Olivia Coleman was surprised by the win, for her depiction of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. She says in her acceptance speech,
“I’d have put money on that not happening,”
Coleman beat out fellow nominees Michaela Jaé Rodriguez of Pose and costar Emma Corrin, who had been predicted the win.
“This is amazing and what a lovely end to the most extraordinary journey with this lovely family. I loved every second of it and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Colman became emotional as she acknowledged her late father.
“I’m going to be very quick because I’m really teary as I wish my dad was here to see this,” she said. “I lost my daddy during COVID and he would have loved all of this.”
Michaela Coel, Outstanding Writing
Michaela Coel won the award for outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series or movie, I May Destroy You.
Coel is the first black woman to win the category. She goes on to deliver a powerful acceptance speech to ‘every survivor of sexual assault’.
Coel wore a phenomenal, neon yellow Christopher John Rogers two-piece on the night. The electric yellow look is paired with highlighter-coloured heels.
Check out her inspiring acceptance speech below:
In Memorium
Cedric the Entertainer kicked off with a musical act – a tribute to Biz Markie, who died in July.
The comedian, LL Cool J, Lil Dicky, and Rita Wilson went on to perform the late rapper’s 1989 classic “Just a Friend”.
Biz Markie, the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop, died at the age of 57. Although no official cause of death was given, TMZ states that the rapper died from a
“series of complications from diabetes that he’d been fighting for more than a year.”
The In Memorium segment was introduced by “Orange Is the New Black” alum Uzo Aduba. Leon Bridges and Jon Batiste played Bridges’ original song “River”. The montage includes stars such as Larry King, Christopher Plummer, Dawn Wells, George Segal and Ned Beatty.
The In Memorium segment closed with a Michael K. Williams ( The Wire) quote; a fitting tribute to Williams, who tragically died earlier this month.
Awards Diversity Controversy
Forty-nine actors of colour were up for awards this year, the most diverse in the history of the awards. Unfortunately, no Black, Latinx or Asian actors won an acting award. Out of the nominees, the only people of colour to win an award are Ru Paul and Michaela Cool.
Ru Paul won the award for an Outstanding Competition Program for Ru Paul’s Drag Race. This is his 11th Emmy Award win to date. This ranks him as the #1 record holder for any black performer. At last week’s Creative Arts Emmys, Ru paul won Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program. He has won the category six years in a row.
During the show, actress Yvette Nicole Brown posted to Twitter,
“Every chance they had to make history in a meaningful way, they passed on it. Just said, “Naw, son.””
Every chance they had to make history in a meaningful way, they passed on it. Just said, “Naw, son.”
Mmkay. Got it.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 20, 2021
And others joined in throughout the ceremony,
To the "allies" who told me that they are losing jobs to diversity & there is too much diversity in TV PLEASE look at the winners of tonights Emmy. Who got extensive budgets & campaigns? Still so much work to do for actual equality. Glad to be on the Exec committee to make change
— Gloria Calderón Kellett (@everythingloria) September 20, 2021
The fact that the #Emmys2021 has so many Black and brown people hosting, and so few winning, is another example of performative "commitments" to representation. It's not just about who gets a trophy—awards like the #Emmys determine who gets their projects funded and more.
— Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson) September 20, 2021
The Crown had six actors of colour up for nomination, Sterling K. Brown, Regé-Jean Page, Jonathan Majors and Billy Porter. However, Josh O’Connor of The Crown took home the award.
The hashtag #EmmysSoWhite has been trending on Twitter since.
Boys in Colour
This year, the males helped to brighten up the red carpet. Colourful bursts of colour were a major trend for the evening. A number of celebrities made statements in quirky tuxedos.
Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson chose a pastel pink tux. The awards host, Cedric the Entertainer, opted for a baby blue combo.
Jason Sudeikis wore a teal velvet Tom Ford suit to the occasion. The 45-year-old Virginia native won the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award for his role on Ted Lasso.
During his address, he praised his and Wilde’s children, Otis, 7, and Daisy, 4.
“Thank you very much. So yeah, heck of a year,” Sudeikis began his speech. “I would say that this show is about family. This show is about mentors and teachers. This show is about teammates. And I wouldn’t be here without those three things in my life.”
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