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
