British and Irish actors and creators took prominent positions on the red carpet at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, where nominees ranged from established veterans to breakout young talent.
Sharon Horgan, nominated both for writing and for lead actress for Bad Sisters, drew attention in a black sheer gown with lace detailing and cut-outs. Severance nominee Gwendoline Christie opted for a pale pink power suit as she arrived at the ceremony; she is up for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her work on the Apple TV+ drama.
A number of British and Irish productions dominated nomination tallies and conversations ahead of and during the broadcast. Adolescence, a Netflix limited series, collected 13 nominations and positioned its 15-year-old star Owen Cooper to become the youngest male acting winner in Emmy history should he prevail in the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. Cooper will face, among others, co-star Ashley Walters, who earned his first Emmy nomination for his role in the series. Cooper said ahead of the ceremony that the experience had been life-changing and that breaking the age record would be “cool.”
Adolescence also secured nominations for its co-creator and lead actor Stephen Graham, who is listed in the Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Writing categories. Erin Doherty received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for a single, one-take scene in which her character interviews the teenager at the center of the story. Christine Tremarco, Deirdre O’Connell, Chloë Sevigny and Jenny Slate were among others nominated in the same supporting category.
HBO’s The White Lotus led American shows with multiple nominations and carried a strong British and Irish presence on the carpet. Aimee Lou Wood was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on the series. Sam Nivola, son of actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, attended as part of the White Lotus contingent; the series received 23 nominations overall. Walton Goggins, a White Lotus nominee, arrived with his wife Nadia Conners and shared a kiss on the carpet; both were photographed in formal looks.
Colin Farrell, nominated for Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Penguin, has already won the Screen Actors Guild Award this season for the role. The Penguin was one of the most-nominated programs of the year, with 24 total nominations across categories including acting and directing.
Several other U.K. and Irish figures were spotlighted on the carpet. Ruth Bradley appeared in an off-the-shoulder red sequin gown. Tracy Ifeachor wore a silver sequined gown. Charlie Brooker, co-creator of Black Mirror, walked the carpet with co-writer Bisha K. Ali and executive producer Jessica Rhoades; Brooker and Ali are nominated for writing for the sixth season of Black Mirror. Welsh actor Gerran Howell, who appears in HBO’s The Pitt, opted for an oversized dark brown suit, and veterans such as Alan Cumming and Gary Oldman also attended with partners.
The awards recognized a wide slate of international and U.S. work. Contenders for Best Drama Series included Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses and The White Lotus. The Penguin, Adolescence and Black Mirror were among nominated limited or anthology series. In comedy, Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks and What We Do in the Shadows were among the leading contenders.
In acting categories, nominees from the U.K. and Ireland were prominent. Best Actor in a Drama Series nominees included Gary Oldman for Slow Horses and Noah Wyle for The Pitt. Best Actress in a Drama Series nominees included Sharon Horgan for Matlock and others across high-profile dramas. Supporting acting fields featured British and Irish talent in both drama and comedy slots.
Winners across the ceremony reflected the variety of television honored this season, from prestige streaming dramas to limited series and comedies. The presence of a strong British and Irish delegation underscored the international reach of contemporary television production and highlighted both new faces and established performers in leading creative roles.
The Emmys capped a season of awards attention for many of the nominated shows and actors, with earlier industry prizes and critics’ honors shaping expectations and momentum heading into the televised ceremony. For rising nominees such as Cooper and other young performers, the night marked a major career milestone; for long-established figures the ceremony represented continued recognition of work created across the U.K., Ireland and the United States.
Full nominees lists across categories included top contenders for Best Actor and Actress in drama and comedy, supporting actor and actress races, guest acting categories and writing and directing honors, reflecting the broad field of series and specials that drew voters’ attention this year. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards brought those nominees together on a single stage and showcased a global pool of talent on the Los Angeles red carpet.