Benedict Cumberbatch
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch smiles as he arrives at the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscars Party in West Hollywood, California March 3, 2014. Reuters/Danny Moloshok

BBC's hugely popular series "Sherlock" has scored seven Emmy wins, the most for a series. Sherlock Holmes of the series Benedict Cumberbatch won the outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night. The lissome actor won the award beating his "Sherlock" co-actor Martin Freeman.

Freeman was nominated in the same category for his critically acclaimed role of Lester Nygaard in FX's anthology series "Fargo." Chiwetel Ejiofor ["Dancing on the Edge"], Idris Elba ["Luther], Mark Ruffalo [The Normal Heart] and Billy Bob Thornton [Fargo] were the other nominees that Cumberbatch beat to get hold of the Emmy. The actor, however, did not attend the event.

Meanwhile, Freeman won the outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie award for his Dr Watson's role in "Sherlock." And, Steven Moffat, co-creator of the series, won the Emmy for outstanding writing for a miniseries, movie or a dramatic special for the "Sherlock" Season 3 final episode, "Sherlock: His Last Vow."

"I didn't think we'd win anything, genuinely... very shocked and surprised. We're delighted that we've made it here and hopefully that it will get more people watching," Moffat told the reporters, as quoted by Variety.

Speaking about Cumberbatch's absence at the event, Moffat joked that the actor is now "too big to come to the Emmys."

At the Creative Arts Emmy, "Sherlock" bagged the Best Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie [Neville Kidd]; Best Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie, Or Dramatic Special [David Arnold and Michael Price]; Best Single-Camera Editing for a Miniseries or Movie [Yan Miles]; Best Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special [Doug Sinclair, Stuart McCowan, Jon Joyce, Paul McFadden, William Everett, and Sue Harding].

The filming of "Sherlock" Season 4 is expected to begin in the latter half of 2015. The actors are returning to the set in Jan. to shoot a one-off Christmas special episode.