Excitement builds ahead of Sunday's ceremony: the 'Downton' ladies are feeling Emmy fever

Dazzling on the red carpet in LA, Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery and Joanne Froggatt could hardly contain their excitement about the 64th Emmy Awards, which take place on Sunday night.

Joanne, who plays servant Anna Bates in the show, spoke for Michelle and herself when she said they were "loving every minute" of the buzz the awards have created.

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The ceremony, whose status continues to grow and grow, will see some of  the UK's best-loved TV stars hope to take home a prestigious award.

Flying the flag for Britain are ITV's Downton Abbey and BBC's Sherlock, whose star actors and actresses are up for several top titles.

The costume drama kick-started Emmys fever in July when it received 16 nominations, only one shy of US drama Mad Men which leads the field with 17.

Michelle is up for outstanding lead actress, for her role as Lady Mary Crawley, Joanne for supporting actress and Hugh Bonneville in the running for outstanding lead actor.

Hugh remained sceptical about his chances in the tough category, which also includes British actor Damian Lewis for his role in Homeland, and claimed "if I win in my category, I will eat my own toe."

Hugh's co-stars Brendan Coyle, who stars as valet John Bates, and Jim Carter, who plays the butler Carson, will go head to head for the title of outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.

Meanwhile Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are also hoping to walk away with an award from what is often described as the Oscars of television. The pair are in the running for outstanding lead actor and outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or a movie respectively.

Benedict described the support and attention from fans as being "overwhelming" and looked equally as excited about proceedings as the ladies from Downton.

Other British TV talent that has been recognised is celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, whose show, Food Revolution, could take the title of outstanding reality programme, London-born Emma Thompson and presenter Cat Deeley.

2012 Emmy Award Nominations 

• Outstanding Drama Series
  Boardwalk Empire
  Breaking Bad
  Downton Abbey
  Homeland
  Mad Men
  Game of Thrones
  
  
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
  Glenn Close in Damages
  Michelle Dockery in Downton Abbey
  Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife
  Kathy Bates in Harry’s Law
  Clare Danes in Homeland
  Elisabeth Moss in Mad Men
  
  
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
  Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire
  Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad
  Michael C. Hall in Dexter
  Damian Lewis in Homeland
  Jon Hamm in Mad Men
  Hugh Bonneville in Downton Abbey
  
  
• Supporting Actress
  Anna Gunn in Breaking Bad
  Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey
  Joanne Froggatt in Downton Abbey
  Archie Panjabi in The Good Wife
  Christine Baranski in The Good Wife
  Christina Hendricks in Mad Men
  
  
• Supporting Actor
  Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad
  Giancarlo Esposito in Breaking Bad
  Brendan Coyle in Downton Abbey
  Jim Carter in Downton Abbey
  Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones
  Jared Harris in Mad Men
  
  
• Miniseries or TV Movie
  Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
  Luther
  American Horror Story
  Game Change
  Hatfields & McCoys
  Hemingway & Gellhorn
  
  
• Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
  Emma Thompson in The Song of Lunch
  Connie Britton in American Horror Story
  Julianne Moore in Game Change
  Nicole Kidman in Hemingway & Gellhorn
  Ashley Judd in Missing
  
  
• Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
  Idris Elba in Luther
  Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
  Woody Harrelson in Game Change
  Kevin Costner in Hatfields & McCoys
  Bill Paxton in Hatfields & McCoys
  Clive Owen in Hemingway & Gellhorn
  
  
• Comedy Series
  The Big Bang Theory
  Curb Your Enthusiasm
  Girls
  Modern Family
  30 Rock
  Veep
  
  
• Comedy Actor
  Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory
  Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm
  Don Cheadle in House of Lies
  Louis C.K. in Louie
  Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock
  Jon Cryer in Two and a Half Men
  
  
• Comedy Actress
  Lena Dunham in Girls
  Melissa McCarthy in Mike & Molly
  Zooey Deschanel in New Girl
  Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie
  Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation
  Tina Fey in 30 Rock
  Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep