Emmy Awards 2022: Celebrating the Big Winners, Historic Firsts and Our Favourite Fashion Moments

After a solemn weekend paying respects to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night proved a welcome respite — a feel-good show featuring triumphant (and even some historic) moments for members of Hollywood royalty.

For one, Jean Smart, 71, continued her recent career renaissance by nabbing her second-straight Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for playing comedian Deborah Vance on Hacks. Ted Lasso, which was nominated for 20 awards, took home four, including Best Comedy and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis, 46, who also scored the award for the second year running. And Michael Keaton, 71, won his first ever acting Emmy, for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the drama series Dopesick.

Speaking of firsts, one of the evening’s highlights came courtesy of Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph who, at age 65, and after 45 years as a performer on stage and screen, won her first Emmy Award (on her first nomination), for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Ralph, visibly shocked, took the stage and sung a portion of Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species” before concluding a passionate acceptance speech that The Atlantic called “the kind of moment that television — live television, in particular — is made for and needs more of.”

In a historic first, Squid Game‘s Lee Jung-jae, 49, won the award for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, making him both the first Korean actor and first person in a non-English speaking role to win it. Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk, 51, also won took home Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series honours — making it the first time a director has won for a non-English language drama. And last week, at the Creative Arts Emmys, Squid Game actress Lee Yoo-mi made history when she won the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series award — the first Korean actress to do so.

As well, Zendaya, at only 26 years old, won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue on Euphoria, becoming both the first Black two-time winner of the award and also the youngest two-time Emmy winner.

Elsewhere, The White Lotus’ Jennifer Coolidge, 61, and Murray Bartlett, 51, both won their first Emmys, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie respectively. The drama itself took home 10 of the 20 Emmys it was nominated for, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Writing as well as Outstanding Directing for the show’s creator Mike White, 52 — his first two Emmys.

And in an awkward moment, when Succession won the final award of the evening — Outstanding Drama Series — the show’s creator Jesse Armstrong, flanked by his cast, began his speech with an awkward nod to King Charles III.

“Big week for successions. New King in the U.K., this for us. Evidently a little bit more voting involved in our winning than Prince Charles,” the 51-year-old said. “I’m not saying we’re more legitimate in our position than he is, we’ll leave that to other people.”

The crowd didn’t really know what to make of it, while Succession star Brian Cox, 76, told Armstrong “Keep it royalist, keep it royalist.”

You can check out the full list of winners here.

The show also featured a classic TV theme song re-mix montage — which included Friends, The Brady Bunch (some of the cast reunited and were in attendance) and Law & Order.  —Mike Crisolago

Of course, Emmy fashion was also on full display all night. Here, some of our favourite looks from the evening:

 

1. Sandra Oh, 51

The Canadian Killing Eve star, who was looking for her first Emmy after 13 nominations (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series), went with haute ’70s glam for the Emmy red carpet in a glittering Rodarte suit and deep-v silk halter.

 

2. Laura Linney, 58

On hand for her seventh Emmy nomination, this time for her turn as the duplicitous Wendy Byrde in the cult hit Ozark, Laura Linney turned heads in a monochrome peplum gown by Christian Siriano, who has since dressed everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Cardi B since he won Season 4 of Project Runway in 2007.

 

3. Sarah Paulson, 47

The award-winning character actress went with a bold Louis Vuitton ensemble for the Emmy red carpet.

 

4. Marcia Gay Harden, 63

Nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress (The Morning Show), Harden presented the award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. 

 

 

5. Steve Martin, 77, and Martin Short, 72

Their hit show Only Murders in the Building scored an impressive 17 nominations — including Best Outstanding Comedy and Best Lead Actor nods for each of them.

 

6. J. Smith-Cameron, 65

Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, The Succession co-star walked the red carpet in classic awards-show red.

 

7. Hannah Waddingham, 48

The Brit Ted Lasso co-star rocked the princess glam in a frothy blush Dolce & Gabbana gown with Bulgari jewels.

 

8. Amy Pohler, 50

Presenting alongside Seth Myers, the comedienne was a knock-out in a peek-a-boo midnight blue sequin dress by Halston. 

 

9. Jean Smart, 71

Smart did Old Hollywood glam, draped in a cream, curve-hugging Laura Basci gown with pear-shaped diamond earrings by Rahaminov.

 

10. Oprah Winfrey, 68

In a lush braid and crip white trench coat look, the television icon handed out the first award of the night to Michael Keaton for Outstanding Lead Actor in Limited or Anthology Series.

 

11. Jennifer Coolidge, 61

A favourite for her acclaimed turn as a wealthy depressive in the HBO hit The White Lotus, Coolidge beat out co-star, fellow nominee Connie Britton, to take the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series award in a glimmering green, off-the-shoulder gown.

 

 

13. Geena Davis, 66

With her Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media receiving the 2022 Governors Award “in recognition of their efforts to promote gender balance and foster inclusion throughout the entertainment industry,” the Oscar-winning star attended the ceremony in a bold, yellow silk-chiffon dress with a gem-embellished waistline.

 

14. Kerry Washington, 45

The multi-time Emmy nominee and 2022 presenter accessorized her dramatic one-shoulder floral applique mini-gown by red carpet rockstar Elie Saab, with Christian Louboutin heels and Bulgari diamonds.

15. Laverne Cox, 50

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