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Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki has won her first Emmy for playing Princess Diana in the final season of The Crown.
"I didn't write anything down because I'm very superstitious and now I'm in a real pickle," Debicki told the audience.
Debicki, who grew up in Melbourne, thanked those who had been along for the journey and went on to praise Princess Diana.
"Playing this part based on this unparalleled, incredible human being has been my great privilege," she said.
"It has been a gift."
Elizabeth Debicki won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama at the Emmys. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Debicki depicted Diana, Princess of Wales in the series, in the lead up to her tragic death.
Earlier in the opening monologue, actor Eugene Levy who was co-hosting the Emmys with his son and fellow Schitt's Creek actor Dan Levy made the point that the Emmys celebrates performances that resonate with viewers.
"We're all here celebrating tonight because your shows struck a chord with audiences," Eugene Levy said.
Dan Levy didn't skip a beat when saying which performances in particular people can relate to.
"We've all done salacious tell-alls with the BBC to get back at a lying, cheating ex like Elizabeth Debicki in The Crown," he said.
Baby Reindeer wins four Emmys
Jessica Gunning won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Martha in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer, which is based on a true story of a female stalker.
"My biggest thanks though, has to go to Mr Richard Gadd," Gunning said when accepting the award.
"Thank you for trusting me to be your Martha."
Richard Gadd accepts the Best Limited Series award for Baby Reindeer at the 2024 Emmys. (Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Gadd, who played a fictional version of himself in the series, would accept several awards himself including Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series and Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series.
Baby Reindeer also won Best Limited or Anthology Series.
Gadd took to the stage in a kilt and tux.
"I don't know much about this life," Gadd said.
"I don't know why we're here, none of that.
"But what I do know is that nothing lasts forever.
"And no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better. So, if you're struggling, keep going and I promise you things will be OK."
Later he implored the industry to take risks.
"Dare to fail in order to achieve," he said.
Political references in the lead up to the US election
Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez were the first presenters at the 2024 Emmys. (Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Selena Gomez poked fun at Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short.
"Let me say, what an honour it is to work with two men who are this far away from being childless cat ladies," Gomez said.
The comment follows a Taylor Swift endorsement of US Vice President Kamala Harris, while holding a cat, and signing off with "childless cay lady" after former US president Donald Trump's vice presidential pick J.D. Vance had previously used the phrase to describe child-free women.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach also made a reference to his cats in his acceptance speech when he won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for The Bear, saying his parents were taking good care of his cats at home.
Jeremy Allen White won Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for The Bear and Liza Colon-Zayas won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, also for The Bear.
"To all the Latinas who [are] looking at me, keep believing, and vote," Colon-Zayas said.
Australian actress Naomi Watts missed out on an award, but her husband Billy Crudup who won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Morning Show mentioned her in his acceptance speech and the fact that she's an immigrant, after Trump faced backlash for saying pets were being eaten by migrants in Ohio, a claim that has been debunked.
"I'm happy to be here with my piece of eye candy there, my wife who also happens to be an immigrant and also gave a searing performance this year for which she's nominated," he said.
"And she starts businesses too.
"So nice to be by her side."
Candice Bergen who played the title role in the TV series Murphy Brown also got political.
"Oh, how far we've come," she said.
"Today, a Republican candidate for vice president would never attack a woman for having kids.
"So, as they say, my work here is done.
"Meow."
Reunions a plenty
Castmates reunited with fellow co-stars on stage including Happy Days stars Ron Howard and Henry Winkler.
The West Wing cast reunion at the 2024 Emmys. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
There were also a number of skits featuring TV doctors, TV coaches, TV mothers, TV dads, TV cops, TV lawyers, TV politicians and TV villains.
"It's hard to believe that 25 years ago, Aaron and the writers actually had to use their imaginations to create interesting plot lines for The West Wing," Allison Janney said.
Her co-star Richard Schiff continued.
"Unlike today, where storylines can be plucked right off the news, storylines that writers would have deemed a bit far-fetched, if not utterly ridiculous 25 years ago."
John Oliver played off
These weren't the only references to companion pets.
John Oliver acknowledged his departed dog in his acceptance speech, talking through the attempted orchestra play-off. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
John Oliver thanked his dog, dropping a profanity and revealing that she'd died as the play-off music began.
"Perfect choice of music," Oliver said.
"We had to say goodbye to her."
The audience reacted with a gasp.
"She was an amazing dog," he said.
"This isn't just for her. It's for all dogs."
Hacks wins Outstanding Comedy Series
Jean Smart got a standing ovation when she won Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks.
The cast and creators of Hacks react to their upset win for Outstanding Comedy at the 2024 Emmys. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
"I appreciate this because I just don't get enough attention," Smart said.
"I'm serious," she continued when the audience laughed.
Hacks went on to win Outstanding Comedy Series.
Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs called for more roles featuring older characters.
"When we pitched this show about two women, one of whom was over 60, we did not know if we would sell it," Downs said.
"About 20 per cent of our population is over 60, and there are only three per cent of those characters on television.
"I would like to see more of them, because while I'm a great young supporting actor, I really want to be a good old lead."
Shōgun wins most awards
Shōgun took out the most number of Emmys – 18 – after already winning 14 trophies before the ceremony.
The cast and crew of Shogun accept the award for Outstanding Drama series at the 2024 Emmys. (Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
The four it won during the ceremony were Best Drama series, Hiroyuki Sanada won Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Frederick E.O. Toye won Best Directing for a Drama Series and Anna Sawai won Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
"This is to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example to everyone," Sawai said.