First-time Emmy Winners: 'Mad Men' actor Jon Hamm, 'HTGAWM' actor Viola Davis, 'Veep' and 'Game of Thrones'
“Mad Men” bowed out of Emmy with a solo win on Sunday night. Jon Hamm, who played the enigmatic Don Draper in AMC’s iconic series that wrapped up in May, scored his first Emmy win and his final for “Mad Men.” And in another first, Viola Davis became the first African-American actress to hold the Emmy trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She won it for ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder.” Also “Veep” and “Game of Thrones” took home the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series, respectively, for the first time.
At the 67th Primetime Emmy awards, Hamm finally got to deliver his acceptance speech after failing to reach the winners’ podium on previous 15 occasions. He earned his first acting Emmy nomination for his role as Draper in 2008, the break-out year of “Mad Men.” In total, the actor has 16 Emmy nominations to his name till date, including seven acting nominations for “Mad Men.”
And to receive his first Emmy, Hamm preferred to climb onstage and then crawl. He began his acceptance speech by saying, “ there has been a terrible mistake, clearly." The actor also gave a shout-out to his sisters, ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt, and his dog, Cora. He and Westfeldt recently confirmed their separation after being together for 18 years. Hamm gave the red carpet a skip on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, “Mad Men” failed to grab its final Outstanding Drama Series award, as HBO popular fantasy series “Game of Thrones” won the coveted Emmy trophy for the first time in its six years run. Also HBO’s “Veep” beat four-time Emmy winner ABC’s comedy series “Modern Family” to win the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
And it is Davis’ Emmy win for her portrayal of Annalise Keating in “How to Get Away With Murder” that got the loudest applause, as she created Emmy history by becoming the first black woman to win the Outstanding Actress in a Drama role.
She began her acceptance speech by quoting Harriet Tubman: "In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no-how. I can't seem to get over that line."
"The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win Emmys with roles that are simply not there," she added.
Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.
