Historic night as British actor Matthew Rhys wins two lead actor Emmys. Awards success for Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, Hacks and Pluribus.
The winners of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards have been officially announced at the ceremony held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Celebrating the finest achievements in television, it proved to be a landmark evening for transatlantic talent, packed with memorable speeches, emotional triumphs, and significant victories for British actors.
It was an extraordinary night for Welsh actor – and Spotlight member – Matthew Rhys, who made history with a double win for both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for The Beast in Me. In his speech, Matthew dedicated his award “to the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurture as anyone else”. He continued, “We are a small but mighty nation […] Diolch yn fawr iawn” (which means thank you very much in Welsh),
British actor Kate O’Flynn (also a Spotlight member) scored a major victory, taking home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her standout performance in Widow’s Bay, while Scottish director Saul Metzstein claimed Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the hit UK espionage thriller Slow Horses.
Kate O’Flynn accepting the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy. Image credit: Associated Press
The night’s biggest overall comedy breakout was the comedy-horror series Widow’s Bay, which swept top awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing (Hiro Murai), and Outstanding Writing (Katie Dippold). In the drama categories, medical drama The Pitt secured the award for Outstanding Drama Series, with Noah Wyle taking Lead Actor. Apple TV+’s Pluribus saw Rhea Seehorn named Lead Actress in a Drama.
Take a look at the highlight winners from the 2026 Emmy Awards below:
List of Emmy Award Winners 2026
* indicates a Spotlight member
Outstanding Drama Series
- The Pitt – WINNER
- The Diplomat
- The Gilded Age
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Paradise
- Pluribus
- Slow Horses
- Your Friends & Neighbors
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER
- Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
- Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
- Mark Ruffalo – Task
- Rufus Sewell* – The Diplomat
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER
- Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
- Chase Infiniti – The Testaments
- Keri Russell – The Diplomat
- Zendaya – Euphoria
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Tom Pelphrey – Task – WINNER
- Patrick Ball – The Pitt
- Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
- Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt
- Gerran Howell* – The Pitt
- Jack Lowden* – Slow Horses
- Carlos-Manuel Vesga – Pluribus
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Allison Janney – The Diplomat – WINNER
- Taylor Dearden – The Pitt
- Fiona Dourif – The Pitt
- Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt
- Sepideh Moafi – The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson* – Paradise
- Karolina Wydra – Pluribus
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Widow’s Bay – WINNER
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Hacks
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Nobody Wants This
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Matthew Rhys* – Widow’s Bay – WINNER
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
- Steve Carell – Rooster
- Jason Segel – Shrinking
- Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER
- Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
- Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Stephen Root – Widow’s Bay – WINNER
- Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons
- Paul W. Downs – Hacks
- Harrison Ford – Shrinking
- Nick Offerman – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Michael Urie – Shrinking
- Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Kate O’Flynn* – Widow’s Bay – WINNER
- Dale Dickey – Widow’s Bay
- Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
- Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
- Michelle Pfeiffer – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Megan Stalter – Hacks
- Jessica Williams – Shrinking
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- DTF St. Louis – WINNER
- All Her Fault
- The Beast in Me
- Beef
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Matthew Rhys* – The Beast in Me – WINNER
- Riz Ahmed – Bait
- Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
- Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Oscar Isaac – Beef
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Sally Field – Remarkably Bright Creatures – WINNER
- Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
- Carey Mulligan* – Beef
- Sarah Pidgeon – Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
- Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- David Harbour – DTF St. Louis – WINNER
- Jason Bateman – DTF St. Louis
- Richard Gadd* – Half Man
- Richard Jenkins – DTF St. Louis
- Charles Melton – Beef
- Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis – WINNER
- Dakota Fanning – All Her Fault
- Laurie Metcalf – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Joy Sunday – DTF St. Louis
- Youn Yuh-jung – Beef
- Constance Zimmer – Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Directing & Writing Categories
- Directing for a Drama Series: Saul Metzstein – Slow Horses – WINNER
- Directing for a Comedy Series: Hiro Murai – Widow’s Bay – WINNER
- Directing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: DTF St. Louis – WINNER
- Writing for a Drama Series: Vince Gilligan – Pluribus (“We Is Us”) – WINNER
- Writing for a Comedy Series: Katie Dippold – Widow’s Bay (“Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”) – WINNER
- Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie: DTF St. Louis – WINNER
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