Veep billboard in Times Square. Photo courtesy Ron Cogswell.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored Emmy history Sunday night by winning “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” for the sixth consecutive year in a row. In addition, the smash HBO series Veep, wherein Louis-Dreyfus plays ex-President Selina Meyer, took the top award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the third year in a row.
“We had a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned that because we were worried someone else may get there first,” Louis-Dreyfus said in her acceptance speech. “This continues to be the role of a lifetime and an adventure of utter joy.”
In winning Best Actress this year, Louis-Dreyfus now holds the record for most Emmys won by an actor in the same role. That distinction had been held by both Candice Bergen, who won top recognition five times for her landmark character Murphy Brown, and historic Don Knotts for his portrayal of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.
Louis-Dreyfus is now also tied with the legendary Cloris Leachman for most Primetime Emmys wins by a single performer. Both women have won eight Emmys.
“I don’t know what to say about it other than I’m numb,” Louis-Dreyfus noted after the awards ceremony. “I can’t believe it. I adore Cloris Leachman. All I think about is her in Young Frankenstein going ‘He was my boyfriend.’ I’m just incredibly honored and amazed this has happened to me. It’s all very baffling and a sh—ton of good luck.”
Louis-Dreyfus beat out other supremely talented actresses for the top billing in comedy: Better Thing’s Pamela Adlon, Black-ish’s Tracee Ellis Ross, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Ellie Kemper, Grace and Frankie’s co-leads Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and Mom’s Allison Janney.
Her series Veep also rocked the evening by taking home their third consecutive “Outstanding Comedy Series” Emmy.
Executive producer David Mandel joked about the comparison between his award-winning comedy series and the real-world White House.
“I guess I’m honestly just glad that in our world Selina lost so we get to do our own show. Obviously the comparison is going to be drawn, but you’re not watching us do a scene in the Oval Office and then watching him do a scene in the Oval Office. He ends up being the 30 Rock to our Studio 60. I think they’re doing a better job being funnier,” Mandel said backstage at the awards ceremony.
The Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series faced tough competition from other fantastic shows this year, including HBO’s Silicon Valley, ABC’s Modern Family, FX’s Atlanta, Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, ABC’s Black-ish and Netflix’s Master of None.
Veep went into the evening as this year’s most nominated comedy series, with 17 total Emmy bids. The show has been a nominee for best comedy series every year since its first season in 2012.
HBO announced earlier this month that Season Eight of Veep will be its last. The final season will air in 2018.
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