Paul Telfer of Days of Our Lives and Nancy Lee Grahn of General Hospital won lead acting honors at the Daytime Emmys on Friday, as ABC’s General Hospital dominated with six major awards, including drama series.
Sir David Attenborough, 99, became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner, surpassing Dick Van Dyke, by winning for daytime personality, non-daily, as host of Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans. Attenborough was not present.
Telfer, 45, who plays Xander Kiriakis on Peacock’s Days of Our Lives, first joined the show in 2015. “Winning this as a villain on a soap my mom loved is really amazing. Thanks, Mom,” he said.
Grahn, portraying Alexis Davis on General Hospital since 1996, earned her third Emmy. She used her speech to advocate for democracy, carrying a silver clutch inscribed with “Democracy dies in silence,” and urged the audience to “stand up” for human decency.
Supporting acting trophies went to Jonathan Jackson (General Hospital) and first-time nominee Susan Walters (The Young and the Restless). Jackson plays Lucky Spencer, a role he has held since 1993, while Walters plays Diane Jenkins, appearing in the series in three stints.
Alley Mills won for guest performer on General Hospital, marking her second career Emmy. The show also received awards for its writing and directing teams. Mills, 74, encouraged the audience to “keep our spirits high” amid challenging times.
Drew Barrymore won her first Emmy as daytime talk series host for The Drew Barrymore Show, defeating Kelly Clarkson, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb, and Jennifer Hudson. Live With Kelly and Mark won daytime talk series.
Lisa Yamada of CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful won the emerging talent award, portraying Luna Nozawa. Culinary host Kardea Brown of Food Network’s Delicious Miss Brown won for both culinary host and culinary instructional series, celebrating her achievement as a young Black woman from Charleston, South Carolina.
Journalist Deborah Norville received the career achievement award after leaving Inside Edition in May to host the game show The Perfect Line.