Emmy 2015: Veep, Games of Thrones, Viola Davis create history

The 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California, on September 20.

It was a special night for American prime time television, especially for Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Jon Hamm and Game of Thrones, as they made new records with their wins at the recently concluded Emmy Awards.

A look at all the headline makers at this year's Emmys, from the stage to the red carpet:

Julia Louis-Dreyfus won her fourth Emmy in a row for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for HBO's Veep, making history.

As per Deadline. com, the win, which ties her with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore for most wins ever in the category, follows Veep's wins in the comedy writing category, which went to Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche, and in the supporting actor category for Tony Hale.

The 54-year-old actress began her acceptance quoting from the show, then jokingly attributing the quote to Donald Trump, before thanking the show's creator, her costars, and her family.

 

HBO's fantasy hit Game of Thrones has shattered an all-time Emmy Awards record with its Outstanding Drama Series win.

The TV series now holds the record for most Emmy wins in a single year with 12 awards, including the show's wins at the Creative Arts Emmys, which were held last weekend.

Snagging the 2015 best-directing, best-writing, best-supporting-actor and best drama series Emmy Awards, the drama made Emmy history, beating out departing sentimental favorite Mad Men.

The show, which was competing against House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, AMC's Mad Men and Better Call Saul, Showtime's Homeland and PBS' Downton Abbey, for outstanding drama series title, racked up an impressive 24 nominations and gathered steam with an equally impressive 8 wins at the Creative Arts Emmys last week.

Some of the categories, for which the show based on the books by George R R Martin gained nods, were outstanding drama series, best supporting actor -- Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, and best supporting actress -- Lena Heady, who portrays Cersei Lannister, and Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen.

 

Viola Davis was declared the outstanding actress at the 2015 Emmy Awards for her performance in the drama How To Get Away With Murder, making her the first time an African-American woman to win in this category.

She won the trophy thanks to her role of the tough, damaged lawyer and law school professor Annalise Keating on the ABC show, reported Us magazine.

The 50-year-old actress looked shocked and overwhelmed when her name was announced.

Wearing a Carmen Marc Valvo gown, the two-time Oscar nominee took the opportunity to make a statement about racial inequality in Hollywood and to thank the people, who helped get her into a leading role.

After reciting Harriet Tubman's (an African-American humanitarian) moving quote about trying to cross the line of the racial divide, Davis said, "The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is simply opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

"So here's to all the writers, the awesome people -- people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black."

She got a standing ovation from actress Taraji P Henson, who was nominated in the same category for her role on TV show Empire.

Meanwhile, Jon Hamm's troubled ad man Don Draper from Mad Men helped him win the outstanding actor in a drama series honour at the 2015 Emmy Awards, ending his eight years of quest for the coveted title.

 

Model and Project Runway host Heidi Klum stood out in her dramatic Versace gown and colour-coordinated heels.

Uzo Aduba picked up her second Emmy, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, for Orange is the New Black while Bill Murray Wins Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie for Olive Kitteridge

Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand picked up the Lead Actress nod for Olive Kitteridge.

 

Modern Family Star Sofia Vergara turned heads in her stunning St John gown with fishtail silhouette as she hit the red carpet with actor fiance Joe Mangeniello.

 

Jon Stewart, who recently quit the highly acclaimed The Daily Show, picked up the Outstanding Writing - Variety Show nod with the show's team. 

 

The fashionably outlandish Lady Gaga struck us all as pretty tame in this rather conservative black gown from Brandon Maxwell.

 

Allison Janney was also a part of the night's histroy-making brigade as she became a seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner.

The 55-year-old actress took home the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards night's first prize: Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Mom.

The West Wing star said that since there were eight of them in this category, she feels like she won the lottery and also gave a shout-out to the sitcom's producer Chuck Lorre for thinking of her to play the character on the hit show.

 

Actress and comedian Amy Schumer picked up the Outstanding Variety Sketch Series trophy for her show Inside Amy Schumer.

 

Top Chef host and model Padma Lakshmi looked magnificent in her Romona Keveza satin dress.

 

Scandal star Kerry Washington puts her best foot forward in an edgy Marc Jacobs.

 

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber make for a striking couple on the Emmy red carpet.

With Agency inputs