Emmys 2019: Sterling K. Brown, Christina Applegate and More Stars React to Their Nominations

How your favorite nominees celebrated the big news

By Elyse Dupre Jul 16, 2019 4:54 PMTags
Watch: 2019 Emmy Nominations for Drama Actor, Actress & Series

It's almost time for the 2019 Emmy Awards!

Ken Jeong and D'Arcy Carden announced the nominees for this year's award show from the Wolfe Theatre at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Game of Thrones swept the nominations with a record-breaking 32 nods. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Chernobyl followed the HBO hit with 20 and 19 nods, respectively. Saturday Night Live also secured 18 nominations and Barry and Fosse/Verdon earned 17 nods each.

Of course, fans will have to wait until the big night to see which programs take home the trophies. Luckily, they won't be kept in suspense for too long. The 2019 Emmy Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 22. starting at 8:00 p.m. EST on Fox.

Still, there were plenty of nominees who couldn't wait to share their excitement, including Sterling K. Brown.

"I got nominated for an Emmy, dude!" the This Is Us star said in a video of himself sharing the news with his son. "And my TV show got nominated for nine Emmys for acting."

Christina Applegate was also thrilled about her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nod.

"Uhhhhh. Shocked. Grateful. Holy crap!!!" the Dead to Me star tweeted. "Thank you thank you thank you!!! Best part of the morning was my kid finding out and she screamed. Haha."

 

To see how more nominees celebrated the big news, check out the gallery.

Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

"Many thanks to the Academy," the Jon Snow star says. "It's been an amazing journey with ol' Jon Snow. I'm thrilled he's been nominated."

Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones

"The truth is, I'm at a loss for words! Thank you to the Academy for recognizing me alongside such formidable actors," he says in a statement. "To my friends: Kit, Peter, Gwen, Lena, Emilia, Nikolaj, Maisie, Carice, and especially Sophie whom I was in the trenches with for so much of this journey—I am honoured to share this with you. Dave, Dan, our amazing HBO team—for 10 years you pushed me to my limits. Many moments I questioned why—but now I realize that it was because you believed in me. And finally, to our truly amazing fans, thank you for sticking with me, for sticking with us, through it all. I am forever grateful for your support!"

Vera Farmiga, When They See Us

"Astonished by the surprising Emmy pat on my back, humbled.  My heart is bursting with pride for all my When They See Us brothers and sisters and their noms. I pray that Kevin, Antron, Raymond, Korey and Yusef continue to absorb healing from this sweeping acknowledgment. Thank you to the Television Academy."

 

Ben Stiller, Escape at Dannemora

"Thank you to the Television Academy for recognizing Escape at Dannemora with these incredible nominations," he says. "We had so many dedicated artists giving their all on the series, both in front of and behind the camera—so to be celebrated this morning in this way is truly gratifying.  Thank you to Showtime for being such incredible partners on this journey, and to the people of the North Country and Clinton Correctional, who helped invariably in bringing this story to life."

 

Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown & Tan France, Queer Eye

"GROUP HUGGIES! We're honored to be nominated for 6 #Emmys this year including Outstanding Structured Reality Program," the Fab Five tweet.

 

Mandy Moore, This Is Us

"I am still in shock and overwhelmed with gratitude to the Academy for being nominated in a category with such undeniably strong and talented women, all of whom I absolutely stand in awe of," the brunette beauty says in a statement. "After 3 seasons and 54 episodes, it's a tremendous honor to have the hard work of our crew, cast and creators recognized amongst TV's best and brightest. This Is Us is the job of a lifetime and I wake up grateful every day to be on this ride."

Michael Angarano, This Is Us

"I'm honored to be nominated for This Is Us," the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series nominee says. "Thank you Dan Fogelman and the special group of writers for giving me a temporary home. Congratulations to the cast and crew on all of their nominations. It was truly a dream job and I'm so grateful for it."

Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us

"It is a privilege to do work that I love. It is an honor to be acknowledged by peers in this way. Thank you, Television Academy," she says via a statement.

Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal

"I'm very touched and grateful to the Academy," the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nominee says. "Also to Stephen Frears for luring me back to TV. (And to showbiz, frankly.) Also to my wife for enduring the hair-do for four months."

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

"My deepest gratitude to my fellow Academy members for a nomination amongst so many talented actors this year," he shares in a statement. "For Chuck Lorre's great writing and Alan Arkin and our excellent ensemble cast. I am blessed."

Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora & The Act

"I was dead asleep and my phone rang and it was Joey King on FaceTime crying," she says. "But she was crying happy tears and I said 'Did you get nominated?' And she cried and I said 'What is it? Did you get nominated?' and she shook her head yes and then she said 'We both did!' It was such a great feeling to see her face and feel her joy she is so damn talented and she kept saying 'I couldn't do it without you.' But she could have because she is an incredible talent. Then my boyfriend came in and told me about all the nominations for Escape at Dannemora too. Then Ben Stiller texted me. So it was a pretty amazing morning. Now I'm just laying here being grateful for all the talented people I have had the chance to work with and I love the work of all the actresses I am being recognized alongside, so I would say it's as they say a 'good day at the office.'"

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

"I'm wildly grateful and absolutely thrilled to be invited back to the party, alongside some of my favorite performers and performances of the year. I can't wait to celebrate so many different members of our Maisel family at work today," the 28-year-old actress says.

Niecy Nash, When They See Us

"I am beyond thrilled to have received recognition from the TV Academy and my peers for this Emmy nomination!" the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nominee says. "I'm ecstatic that our cast and crew of When They See Us had had a effect on the hearts and minds of viewers and received 16 nominations!  My sincere hope is that the mini-series will continue to shine a light on the Exonerated Five and the injustice they've experienced."

 

Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones

"Playing Brienne of Tarth has truly been an honor and I am beyond grateful for this nomination," the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nominee says. "This character has changed my life and redefined the way I look at the world, women and particularly myself. Thank you to George R.R. Martin, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, HBO and our incredible cast and crew. Lastly, apologies to my taxi driver who endured my screams, sobs and pure joy when getting this incredible news!"

Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

"Very grateful!" the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominee says. 

 

John Leguizamo, When They See Us

"This nomination is not for me, but for the parents of the innocent children who have been put through the unimaginable—just because their vulnerable children were unjustly accused of a crime by racial profiling, and how almost impossible it was to clear themselves," the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie says in a statement.

 

Joey King, The Act

The Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nominee breaks down in tears after hearing her name called.

 

Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us</>

"Omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg," the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nominee writes on Instagram. "Blessed, honored, bewildered, shocked. Ill have better words to say a little later but right now i cant breathe, I LOVE YOU FAM."

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

"I’m humbled and honored to be nominated yet again for a show that is so personal to me," the actor shares. "I cannot be mentioned alongside these other talented actors whose work I respect and admire without mentioning my own talented cast and writing staff. For without them, I would not be a part of this conversation this morning. Thank you."

Laura Linney, Ozark

"I am thrilled that I somehow ended up in this group of kick-ass women, who all raise the bar over and over again," the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominee says. "I am also especially happy for my Ozark family, Julia, and that Bateman guy."

 

Tony Hale, Veep

"So incredibly honored by this nomination and elated for our entire @veephbo family!" the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominee says. "What an incredible journey these past 7 years have been. Thank you @televisionAcad!"

 

Benicio Del Toro, Escape at Dannemora

"I am incredibly grateful to receive this nomination from the TV Academy, and even more so for the honors Escape at Dannemora earned," the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie says. "The cast, crew, writers, Ben Stiller and Showtime brought this unbelievable story to life and I am so proud to be a part of it. Thank you."

Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones

"Game Of Thrones has been an incredible journey for me over the past 10 years and I feel hugely honored to have been nominated in such an incredibly strong category and alongside some of my closest friendsI have immense admiration for my fellow nominees," the Sansa Stark star tweets.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones

"They say second time's a charm right?" the Jaime Lannister star says. "Thrilled to be nominated together with so so many of my castmates, and the show's incredible creators and crew. This is the cherry on the cherry on the icing on the cake. Grateful and happy."

Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

The Arya Stark actress sums up her excitement with a single meme.

RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race

"Wow! Thank you Television Academy for nominating RuPaul's Drag Race 14 times," the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program nominee says. "On behalf of our incredibly talented queens, cast and crew we share this recognition with all the sweet sensitive souls out there who lead with their hearts rather than follow their fears, who paint with all the colors in the rainbow, and who, in the face of hate and violence, courageously pursue the American dream."

Amy Schumer, Growing

"We are very proud of being EMMY nominated for our @netflixisajoke special #GROWING as we were both on stage during filming!" the comedienne states via Instagram. "Very proud and excited. Thank you everyone who voted and to my husband who wants me to never stop talking."

 

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

"I am thrilled to get this recognition! Thank you to the Academy and to everyone who watched our fourth season," the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nominee says. "I am so proud to be in this wonderfully written and perfectly executed show!"

 

Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method

"Wow, I am 85 years old, so this comes in just the nick of time," the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series says.

Aunjanue Ellis, When They See Us

"This nomination is a tribute to Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise and Yusef Salaam," the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie nominee says.
"Let's all say their names. Yusef's mother, Sharonne Salaam, is nothing less than a warrior for her son and a survivor of an emotional violence few of us will ever understand. I am utterly grateful to her. Thank you to the visionary Ava DuVernay and Netflix for giving me the blessing to be a part of this act of restorative justice."

 

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View More Photos From Emmys 2019: Stars React to Their Nominations

Congratulations to all the nominees!

To see which shows were nominated, watch the announcement via E! News' YouTube page.