MANILA, Philippines — "The Pitt" and "Widow's Bay" won the top prizes at the Emmy awards, the latter's 14 wins breaking the record for most awards by a comedy set by "The Studio" last year, but the ceremony's true headliners were the acting records set by some of the winners.
"Hacks" star Jean Smart got the ball rolling by winning Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy yet again, making her the first individual to win the category for all seasons of a given show's run.
The comedy following a stand-up comedienne attempting to rejuvenate her career ended on its fifth season last May, and as of now, Smart has won Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy five times since 2021.
Smart won for all of the show's season, although the streak is non-consecutive as Quinta Brunson of "Abbott Elementary" won in 2023.
This brings Smart's Emmy tally to eight, tying the acting record held by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman. Prior to her five wins for "Hacks," Smart won two Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Emmys for "Frasier" and an Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy for "Samantha Who?"
Allison Janney tied the record with her eighth acting Emmy after winning Outstanding Supporting Actress - Drama for "The Diplomat." Her past wins were from "The West Wing," "Mom," and "Masters of Sex."
It was a big night for Welsh actor Matthew Rhys after winning the Outstanding Lead Actor awards in the Comedy and Limited or Anthology Series or Movie categories for "Widow's Bay" and "The Beast in Me," respectively.
Related: Television's A-listers glitter on Emmys red carpet
It was not only the first time that an actor won two lead acting Emmys in the same ceremony, Rhys is also now the first man to win three lead acting Emmys having previously won the Drama category for "The Americans."
Speaking of drama, "Pluribus" star Rhea Seehorn won Oustanding Lead Actress - Drama. Her win came off the heels of her previous show "Better Call Saul" winning none of its 53 Emmy nominations, a familiar and unfortunate record set by the "Breaking Bad" spin-off that ended in 2022.
The other acting plums went to:
- Noah Wyle of "The Pitt," Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama
- Sally Field of "Remarkably Bright Creatures," Outstanding Lead Actress - Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Stephen Root of "Widow's Bay," Outstanding Supporting Actor - Comedy
- Kate O'Flynn of "Widow's Bay," Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy
- Tom Pelphrey of "Task," Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama
Outside of acting, Hiro Murai became the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing - Comedy for "Widow's Bay" and the third Asian director to win in any Emmy category overall.
Meanwhile, the nearly 91-year-old Julie Andrews became the oldest Primetime Emmy recipient after winning Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for "Bridgerton."