All the First Time Winners at the 2024 Emmys — and the Best Thing They Said About Their Big Wins

Mar. 15, 2025

Jodie Foster, Liza Colón-Zayas and Hiroyuki Sanada.Photo:Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Sunday was a night of firsts at the 2024 Emmy Awards!Among Emmy veterans likeJean SmartandJeremy Allen White, this year’s ceremony was filled with first-time winners who shared their gratitude from the stage at L.A.’s Peacock Theater.FromLamorne MorristoJodie Foster, hear how these stars celebrated their milestone moments.

Sunday was a night of firsts at the 2024 Emmy Awards!

Among Emmy veterans likeJean SmartandJeremy Allen White, this year’s ceremony was filled with first-time winners who shared their gratitude from the stage at L.A.’s Peacock Theater.

FromLamorne MorristoJodie Foster, hear how these stars celebrated their milestone moments.

01of 11Liza Colón-ZayasLiza Colón-Zayas.ABCLiza Colón-Zayas was so surprised about her award for best supporting actress in a comedy that she admitted she hadn’t written a speech —despite her husband’s suggestion to do so.“Thank you to my husband David Zayas, he told me to write a speech and I didn’t, because I didn’t think it would be possible,” she explained. “How could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph? I love you all. I revere you to the bottom of my heart.”

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Liza Colón-Zayas

Liza Colón-Zayas.ABC

ABC

Liza Colón-Zayas was so surprised about her award for best supporting actress in a comedy that she admitted she hadn’t written a speech —despite her husband’s suggestion to do so.

“Thank you to my husband David Zayas, he told me to write a speech and I didn’t, because I didn’t think it would be possible,” she explained. “How could I have thought it would be possible to be in the presence of Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett and Janelle and Sheryl Lee Ralph? I love you all. I revere you to the bottom of my heart.”

02of 11Lamorne MorrisLamorne Morris.ABCWhen Lamorne Morris took the stage to accept his award for outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie he was quick to thank his mom in hisheartfelt — and comedic — speech.“I want to thank God for allowing me to be here,” he began. “I also want to thank God for my beautiful mother, who raised me. She’s been my biggest champion ever since, you know, I came out of, I dropped out of her — her butt. Whatever. I know where babies come from.“He later gave a shoutout toRobert Downey Jr., a fellow nominee, and shared that he has a poster of theIron Manstar in his home.“I got a poster of you at my house. Please sign it, seriously,” he added.

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Lamorne Morris

Lamorne Morris.ABC

When Lamorne Morris took the stage to accept his award for outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie he was quick to thank his mom in hisheartfelt — and comedic — speech.

“I want to thank God for allowing me to be here,” he began. “I also want to thank God for my beautiful mother, who raised me. She’s been my biggest champion ever since, you know, I came out of, I dropped out of her — her butt. Whatever. I know where babies come from.”

He later gave a shoutout toRobert Downey Jr., a fellow nominee, and shared that he has a poster of theIron Manstar in his home.

“I got a poster of you at my house. Please sign it, seriously,” he added.

03of 11Elizabeth DebickiElizabeth Debicki.ABCIn her second year in a row being nominated for her portrayal of Princess Diana onThe Crown, Elizabeth Debicki took home the award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at Sunday’s ceremony.“Playing this part based on this unparalleled, incredible human being has been my great privilege. It has been a gift,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

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Elizabeth Debicki

Elizabeth Debicki.ABC

In her second year in a row being nominated for her portrayal of Princess Diana onThe Crown, Elizabeth Debicki took home the award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series at Sunday’s ceremony.

“Playing this part based on this unparalleled, incredible human being has been my great privilege. It has been a gift,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

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Jessica Gunning

Jessica Gunning.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

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Richard Gadd

Richard Gadd.ABC

As he took the stage to receive his second award, he said: “Ah, you’re all crazy, honestly. Thank you so much, honestly. I wasn’t expecting this one at all and I didn’t prepare. I mean, this is not … Jon Hamm. I’m your biggest fan! And I told you for ages last night over and over again. Like, this is nothing in the world.”

He then thanked his parents, admitting that leaving them out of his first speech was “a glaring omission.”

“They’re the best,” he added.

06of 11Alan CummingAlan Cumming.Kevin Winter/GettyAs the show’s producer, Alan Cumming acceptedThe Traitors' first-ever Emmy on Sunday.After thanking Peacock as well as the cast and crew, Cumming was sure to think his home country as well.“I also want to thank Scotland, I owe it everything and it’s such a beautiful costar,” Cumming said.He was also named outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program this year.

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Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming.Kevin Winter/Getty

As the show’s producer, Alan Cumming acceptedThe Traitors' first-ever Emmy on Sunday.

After thanking Peacock as well as the cast and crew, Cumming was sure to think his home country as well.

“I also want to thank Scotland, I owe it everything and it’s such a beautiful costar,” Cumming said.

He was also named outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program this year.

07of 11Jodie FosterJodie Foster.Leon Bennett/WireImageAs Jodie Foster arrived on the stage to receive her very first Emmy award, she admitted it was “an incredibly emotional moment” and went on to thank everyone who madeTrue Detective: Night Countrypossible including the Inupiaq and Inuit people of Northern Alaska.“They just told us their stories and they allowed us to listen, and that was just a blessing,” she said. “It was love, love, love and when you feel that, something amazing happens. It’s deep and wonderful and it’s older than this place in this time. That’s just the message, which is love and work equals art.”

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Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster.Leon Bennett/WireImage

Leon Bennett/WireImage

As Jodie Foster arrived on the stage to receive her very first Emmy award, she admitted it was “an incredibly emotional moment” and went on to thank everyone who madeTrue Detective: Night Countrypossible including the Inupiaq and Inuit people of Northern Alaska.

“They just told us their stories and they allowed us to listen, and that was just a blessing,” she said. “It was love, love, love and when you feel that, something amazing happens. It’s deep and wonderful and it’s older than this place in this time. That’s just the message, which is love and work equals art.”

08of 11Alex EdelmanAlex Edelman.Kevin Winter/Getty"Oh God, I’m going to cry in front ofCarol Burnett, fantastic,” comedian Alex Edelman joked as he took the stage to win the award for writing for a variety special.He later thanked his friend and collaborator, Adam Brace, who died just before Edelman opened his show on Broadway.“I got to make something really funny with me friend,” he said. “So, I thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it.”

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Alex Edelman

Alex Edelman.Kevin Winter/Getty

“Oh God, I’m going to cry in front ofCarol Burnett, fantastic,” comedian Alex Edelman joked as he took the stage to win the award for writing for a variety special.

He later thanked his friend and collaborator, Adam Brace, who died just before Edelman opened his show on Broadway.

“I got to make something really funny with me friend,” he said. “So, I thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it.”

09of 11Steven ZaillianSteven Zaillian.Leon Bennett/WireImage"MakingRipleyin Italy was its own reward, it was like a dream, I didn’t need anything after that,” Steven Zaillian said as he accepted the award for directing for a limited anthology series or movie. “I know the other directors, they know what I’m talking about. The work is its own reward. I still really appreciate this honor.”

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Steven Zaillian

Steven Zaillian.Leon Bennett/WireImage

“MakingRipleyin Italy was its own reward, it was like a dream, I didn’t need anything after that,” Steven Zaillian said as he accepted the award for directing for a limited anthology series or movie. “I know the other directors, they know what I’m talking about. The work is its own reward. I still really appreciate this honor.”

10of 11Hiroyuki SanadaHiroyuki Sanada.ABCHiroyuki Sanada won two Emmys this year for his work both as an actor and producer inShōgun. When accepting the award for outstanding actor in a drama series,Sanada said, “It was an East-meets-West dream project with respect. AndShōguntaught me that when people work together, we can make miracles. We can create a better future together. Thank you so much.”

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Hiroyuki Sanada

Hiroyuki Sanada.ABC

Hiroyuki Sanada won two Emmys this year for his work both as an actor and producer inShōgun. When accepting the award for outstanding actor in a drama series,Sanada said, “It was an East-meets-West dream project with respect. AndShōguntaught me that when people work together, we can make miracles. We can create a better future together. Thank you so much.”

11of 11Anna SawaiAnna Sawai.Kevin Winter/GettySanada’s costar Anna Sawai was also honored for her performance in the FX series with the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.“I was crying before my name was announced. I am a mess today,” Sawai said in her speech, while also calling her character the “role of a lifetime.”

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Anna Sawai

Anna Sawai.Kevin Winter/Getty

Sanada’s costar Anna Sawai was also honored for her performance in the FX series with the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

“I was crying before my name was announced. I am a mess today,” Sawai said in her speech, while also calling her character the “role of a lifetime.”

source: people.com