Rhea Seehorn at the Emmy 2026 ceremony won the award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama, marking one of the biggest television victories of the night and defeating Zendaya. The 54-year-old actress was honored for her performance in the series "Pluribus" and with this victory joined the ranks of the industry’s best.
Intense Competition at the Emmy Awards
Seehorn competed against major stars such as Zendaya for the third and final season of "Euphoria," as well as Carrie Coon for "The Gilded Age," Chase Infiniti for "The Testaments," and Keri Russell for "The Diplomat." During the ceremony, Seehorn paid tribute to her competitors and praised their performances.
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In her acceptance speech, she said: "I want to congratulate my fellow nominees in this category and thank them for their brilliant performances. You all had outstanding performances." Seehorn also mentioned that Keri Russell had sent her a beautiful gift and a card with a quote from Gloria Steinem that read: "We are connected, not ranked," and she felt this way about all the women in the industry.
Best Comedy Actress Award Goes to Jean Smart
On this star-studded night, Jean Smart also won her fifth Outstanding Lead Actress award in Comedy. The 75-year-old actress was recognized for her work in the series "Hacks," which recently concluded its fifth and final season. Smart, who has now won a total of eight Emmys out of 15 nominations, was deeply moved and thanked her children, Connor and Forrest, as well as the creators of her beloved series.
In her speech, she said: "I dedicate this award to Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs. It all starts with them and ends with them. I love you all so much. Thank you very much."
Ceremony Opening Hosted by Mariska Hargitay
The Emmy 2026 ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, with Mariska Hargitay serving as the host, marking the first time in 15 years that a woman hosted the event. She opened the program with a pre-recorded video featuring Jalen Brunson and a parody of the song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."
During the ceremony, "The Pitt" set a record with 25 nominations, nearly double that of last year. The series, starring Noah Wyle, was also nominated for Best Drama Series. The ceremony also drew attention for its surprising nominations, including the absence of Sydney Sweeney for her work in "Euphoria."
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