Full list of Emmy Award winners as Breaking Bad steals the show

The cast and crew from Breaking Bad pose backstage with their awards for Outstanding Drama Series. Credit: Reuters

Downton Abbey had lead the British charge ahead of the Emmy Awards but it seems that the period drama could not compete with the gritty US offerings.

Favourites including Downton Abbey actors Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery and Homeland lead Damian Lewis, lost out on the big gongs of the night.

Instead it was the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony which gained Britain recognition, with the worldwide broadcast scooping the title of outstanding art direction for variety programming.

The London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony scooped the title of outstanding art direction for variety programming. Credit: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire

"Breaking Bad," the brutal saga of an everyman's ambition turned evil, captured its first best drama Emmy Award.

"I did not see this coming," said Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, tipping his hat to competitor House of Cards, the first online contender for top Emmy honours.

The cast and crew from Breaking Bad pose backstage with their awards for Outstanding Drama Series. Credit: Reuters

While Breaking Bad has been hailed as the biggest winner of the night the awards were full of surprise winners and the awards were spread throughout the nominees.

The full list of winners:

  • Best drama series - Breaking Bad

  • Actor in a drama series - Jeff Daniels for the Newsroom

  • Actress in a drama series - Clare Danes for Homeland

  • Supporting actor in a drama series - Bobby Cannavale for Boardwalk Empire

  • Supporting actress in a drama series - Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad

  • Best comedy series - Modern Family

  • Actor in a comedy series - Jim Parsons for the Big Bang Theory

  • Actress in a comedy series - Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep

  • Supporting actor in a comedy series - Tony Hale for Veep

  • Supporting actress in a comedy series - Merritt Wever for Nurse Jackie

  • Best Miniseries or TV movie - Behind the Candelabra

  • Actor in a miniseries or TV movie - Michael Douglas for Behind the Candelabra

  • Actress in a miniseries or TV movie - Laura Linnely for the Big C Hereafter

  • Best reality programme - Undercover Boss

  • Best reality competition programme - The Voice

  • Best reality show host - Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn for Project Runway

  • Best variety show - The Colbert Report

  • Best writing, drama series - Henry Bromell for Homeland

  • Best writing comedy series - Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield for 30 Rock

High Bonneville lost out on the best drama award. Credit: Reuters