2025 Emmys Deliver Big Shocks: ‘White Lotus’ Misses Out, Colin Farrell Snubbed, and More Upsets
The 2025 Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 14, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.
Big shows like Severance, The Penguin, The Studio, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us were in the running for top awards. The night delivered plenty of wins, unexpected losses, and shocking moments that kept everyone talking.
1. Owen Cooper Breaks Records as Youngest Male Acting Emmy Winner
Owen Cooper made history at the 2025 Emmys by becoming the youngest male acting winner ever. He had already set the record as the youngest male nominee, but now, at just 15, he’s cemented his name in Emmy history. His win for Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for Adolescence was his first professional acting credit, filmed when he was only 14.
2. Britt Lower Beats Kathy Bates for Best Drama Actress
Britt Lower took home Best Actress in a Drama Series for playing Helly R, beating frontrunner Kathy Bates from Matlock. Her win came shortly after Tramell Tillman’s first Emmy in the supporting category, marking a strong night for Severance stars.
3. Hannah Einbinder Wins First Emmy After Four Nominations
Hannah Einbinder finally celebrated her own Emmy moment in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category for her role as Ava Daniels in Hacks. Her victory ended Catherine O’Hara’s shot at the award and followed her co-star Jean Smart’s win for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
4. Jeff Hiller Pulls Off Surprise Win in Comedy Supporting Actor
Jeff Hiller beat out big names like Harrison Ford (Shrinking), Ike Barinholtz (The Studio), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Hiller, who starred in the beloved but often overlooked Somebody Somewhere, scored his first Emmy, delivering one of the night’s most unexpected wins.
5. Stephen Graham Wins Lead Actor in a Limited Series Over Colin Farrell
In a closely watched race, Stephen Graham took home Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for Adolescence, narrowly defeating Oscar nominee Colin Farrell from The Penguin. Graham also celebrated his show winning Outstanding Limited Series, capping off a big night for the Netflix series.
6. Adam Randall Wins First Emmy for Directing
Adam Randall earned his first Emmy for directing Slow Horses, beating acclaimed directors from Severance (Ben Stiller, Jessica Lee Gagné), The Pitt (John Wells, Janus Metz), and The White Lotus (Mike White). Experts had him ranked low in predictions, making this a surprising victory.
7. Tramell Tillman Beats White Lotus Contenders for Supporting Actor
Tramell Tillman won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Seth Milchick in Severance. It was his first nomination and first win, defeating co-stars John Turturro and Zach Cherry along with three White Lotus nominees, including Jason Isaacs, Sam Rockwell, and fan favorite Walton Goggins.
8. Katharine LaNasa Upsets White Lotus Cast for Supporting Actress
Katharine LaNasa scored a big upset by winning Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Dana Evans in The Pitt. She beat four White Lotus nominees, including Carrie Coon, Aimee Lou Wood, Natasha Rothwell, and Parker Posey. This was LaNasa’s first nomination and first Emmy win.
9. ‘The Bear’ Walks Away Empty-Handed
After dominating Comedy categories in previous years, The Bear faced a shocking shutout at the 2025 Emmys. Its fourth season earned 13 nominations, up from last year, but the show failed to take home a single award, ending its remarkable Emmy streak.
10. ‘The Pitt’ Wins Best Drama Series Over Severance
Most experts expected Severance to take the top prize, but The Pitt surprised everyone by winning Best Drama Series. Noah Wyle also earned his first Lead Actor Emmy for playing Dr. Michael Robinavitch, making the series one of the night’s biggest winners and shocks.
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