Emmys: Behind the Scenes, Including Jennifer Aniston’s Ticket Issues
LOS ANGELES – At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, FX’s “Shogun” achieved a milestone by winning awards for the first two Japanese performers in history: Hiroyuki Sonada for best actor in a drama and Anna Sawai for best actress.
The series, which is FX’s most costly production focusing on 17th-century feudal Japan, also claimed the award for best drama and wrapped up with a remarkable total of 18 Emmys (14 of which were awarded at last week’s Creative Arts Emmys).
However, the highlight behind the curtains at the Emmy Awards involved Richard Gadd, the star and creator of “Baby Reindeer.” He humorously struggled to manage his three hefty trophies (for best limited series, best actor, and best writer) while also trying to keep his kilt in place before he could take pictures with co-star Jessica Gunning, who won the award for best supporting actress. He required some help—both for his kilt and the trophies—before he was prepared to pose for photos.
Here’s a glimpse of other moments you might have missed at Sunday’s Emmy Awards:
Jennifer Aniston: Ticket Troubles Before Her Glam Entrance
Jennifer Aniston’s grand entrance onto the Emmy red carpet in a breathtaking Oscar de la Renta dress was highly anticipated, almost deserving of a loudspeaker announcement. However, the “Friends” star, nominated for her performance in “The Morning Show,” faced a hiccup: her tickets wouldn’t scan at security for a painful two minutes as she maintained her calm demeanor. Eventually, an observer called out, “Why are you holding her up? Do you not know who this is?”
With that, Aniston breezed through security, posed effortlessly for photos, and made her way into the auditorium. Any prior issues vanished when she encountered Robert Downey Jr. inside. The two shared a warm hug and decided to take a star-studded photo together.
“Let’s go,” Downey Jr. proclaimed, wrapping an arm around Aniston with a smile. “This one’s going to be a hit.”
Dakota Fanning: Waiting in Line for Nachos
While the Peacock Theater had an exclusive VIP area for stars, Dakota Fanning was among the coolest attendees who opted to wait in line like everyone else. The “Ripley” actress stood in a queue of 50 people to buy Tostitos chips and cheese for $8.50, enjoying them with friends while donned in her spectacular champagne gown, clutching a stylish handbag under her arm.
Similarly, Kiwi actor and director Taika Waititi joined the crowd to buy some $17.50 premium cocktails for himself and his girlfriend, Rita Ora. As Ora relaxed at the entrance, Waititi juggled his ApplePay, several drinks, and numerous fans requesting selfies. “Just a second,” he was seen mouthing to Ora, handling a photo request.
Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup: The Cutest Couple at the Emmys
Naomi Watts and her husband, Billy Crudup, took home the unwritten title of Couple of the Night. Crudup, who won best supporting actor in a drama series for “The Morning Show,” affectionately referred to Watts as his “piece of eye candy” during his acceptance speech. Watts was nominated as well but didn’t win the award for lead actress in a limited series for her role in “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.”
“We’re quite competitive, but in a fun way, like Scrabble,” Crudup remarked backstage, noting that the newly married couple—who tied the knot last year—are “super supportive of one another.”
This dynamic was evident during the afterparty, where Watts took care of Crudup’s Emmy while it awaited engraving, as he chatted with Ebon Moss-Bachrach, a winner from “The Bear.” When the band played “Hold On, I’m Coming,” dancing Watts pulled Crudup over to enjoy his moment. He left with a beaming smile, holding his Emmy in one hand and a Stella Artois beer in the other.
John Oliver Expresses Gratitude to Emmy Orchestra for Cutting Off His Heartfelt Speech
During his acceptance speech for the best scripted variety series for HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” comedian John Oliver had the audience roaring with laughter when he suddenly told the orchestra to be quiet, using some choice words, right as he was honoring his recently deceased family pet.
Later backstage, Oliver admitted he was actually thankful to the person who started the exit music. It gave him a chance to add humor to a somber moment.
“As a Brit and a comic, I’m not great at being sincere, so I didn’t want to get tearful. Luckily, the person in charge of the music knew I couldn’t handle that,” remarked Oliver. “I’m really thankful they provided a kind of safety net to help me dodge my emotions once again.”
Ayo Edebiri has the Best Time at the Emmys with Selena Gomez and Beyond
While Ayo Edebiri didn’t replicate her Emmy triumph last year for her role in “The Bear,” she surely made the most of her night, starting with a thrilling moment on the red carpet when she met Reba McEntire, exclaiming, “My legs are shaking!”
Inside the venue, Edebiri bumped into “Only Murders in the Building” star Selena Gomez, who was mingling with her boyfriend Benny Blanco during a commercial break. Their quick interaction caused quite the gridlock as they chatted, with Gomez praising Edebiri’s stunning Bottega Veneta dress.
“Oh, this old thing,” replied Edebiri with a chuckle before hugging Gomez. She wished her well, playfully saying, “Keep it up, dude.”
When the next break came around, Edebiri paused to snap a picture for her co-star Moss-Bachrach. “I always take awful pictures,” she remarked while holding the camera. “Does it need to be focused?”