Emmy Awards given out in Hollywood

The fantasy series "Game of Thrones" received 24 nominations for Emmy Awards and took the record for the most number of wins for a series in a single year, taking home 12 Emmy awards. They included Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Supporting Actor for star Peter Dinklage.

"Game of Thrones" now equals "West Wing" and "Hill Street Blues" for the drama with the most wins over the course of its run.

Viola Davis (photo) became the first African-American to win Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work in "How to Get Away with Murder."

"Veep" was also a big winner at Emmys ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The HBO series set in the office of Selina Meyer, a fictional US Vice President and later President, bagged awards for writing and a Supporting Actor win for Tony Hale. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best actress for the political comedy series, an award she described as "just mind-blowing."

Director of Amazon's "Transparent" Jill Soloway won a directing prize and actor Jeffrey Tambor dedicated his win to the transgender community: "Thank you for your patience, thank you for your courage, thank you for your stories, thank you for your inspiration, thank you for letting us be part of the change. God bless you."

"Olive Kitteridge" won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series among other awards. "We're all here because of the power of the stories that need to be told. Sometimes that's enough. Thank you," said award-winning actress Frances McDormand.

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" took a series of awards including for its writing and direction. Recently-retired host Jon Stewart said "To everyone on television, cling to it as long as you can."

Jon Hamm of "Mad Men" finally won an Emmy - for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

jm/rg (AP, AFP)