PASADENA, Calif. – “Days of Our Lives” Paul Telfer and “General Hospital”‘s Nancy Lee Grahn won lead acting honors at the Daytime Emmys on Friday, with ABC’s “General Hospital” claiming six trophies in major categories including drama series.
Sir David Attenborough, as host of Netflix’s “Secret Lives of Orangutans,” broke Dick Van Dyke’s record for most nonfiction, Daytime Emmy winners.
Attenborough, who is 99, was not on hand. Britton’s career as a writer, host and storyteller spans eight decades.
Van Dyke was 98 when he won in 2024 as a guest star on a daytime drama series for “Days of Our Lives.”
Telfer, a 45-year-old native of Scotland, plays Xander Kiriakis on Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives,” which he first joined in 2015.
“My mother always liked soap operas and she also liked villains,” he said. “He’s been gone for over 20 years, and so to win it by playing a villain on a soap opera is really amazing. Thank you, Mom.”
Grahn, playing Alexis Davis on “General Hospital” since 1996, earned the third trophy of her career at the 52nd annual awards. She regularly uses her platform to speak out on political matters, and she carried a silver clutch on which she handwrote “Democracy dies in silence.”
“Our democracy is worth fighting for, the people in it are worth caring about, and whether you have a platform or not, now is the time, friends, to stand up, to stand up, to speak up for human decency, for democracy,” she said, shouting, “Stand up!” Several times to the audience.
Jonathan Jackson of “General Hospital” and first-time nominee Susan Walters of “The Young and the Restless” won supporting acting honors.
Jackson accepted the trophy for playing Lucky Spencer, a role he originated in 1993 and has continued to play since.
“General Hospital” also claimed the trophy for guest starring in a daytime drama for Eli Mills and its writing and directing teams.
This was Mills’ second career win, playing the role of Heather Webber. The 74-year-old, who first won in 2023, is best known as the mother in “The Wonder Years.”
“We’re living in really dark times right now. Everything is crazy,” Mills told the audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “We just have to keep our spirits high.”
Walters plays Diane Jenkins on CBS’s “Y&R”, in which she has appeared in three different roles.
“I’m so happy I won, so I can thank my husband of 40 years,” she said, taking aim at Lyndon Ashby, who appeared on the same show and lost to Mills in the guest actor category.
Drew Barrymore claimed her first win as a daytime talk series host for her New York-based show. She defeated Kelly Clarkson, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb and Jennifer Hudson. “Live with Kelly and Mark” wins daytime talk series.
Lisa Yamada of CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” won the emerging talent category, which replaced the young actor and actress awards. The 23-year-old plays the murderous Luna Nozawa.
Yamada said, “Acting has been my dream since I regained consciousness and my dreams are now coming true.” “I’m crying badly.”
The night’s buzziest winner was Cardia Brown, who was honored as the culinary host for Food Network’s “Delicious Miss Brown,” which has aired for 10 seasons. The show also won the award for Cooking Instructional Series.
“Is it real?” Brown said, mascara-stained tears streaming down her face. “These are tears of joy. As a young black woman from Charleston, South Carolina, no one would have ever thought this would be possible, but I know one person who made it happen. He’s God.”
Journalist Deborah Norville received a career achievement award. She left “Inside Edition” in May after serving as anchor for 30 years to become host of the game show “The Perfect Line.”
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