Surprising Emmy Winners: Nine Actors (and One Dirty Song)

Anne Hathaway, Justin Timberlake and more honorees you might not know about

By Jenna Mullins Sep 14, 2012 10:31 PMTags
Justin Timberlake, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Gwyneth PaltrowFrazer Harrison, Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images; Marion Curtis/Startraks; Jim Spellman/WireImage

The wonderful thing about TV is that it welcomes and awards projects that range from a serious period drama about World War II to a song that involves fornicating with a celebrity. It's a wide net it throws, and we love the Emmys for that quality.

Which is why you might have missed the memo on these following stars when they snatched up an Emmy for their work that doesn't involve the big screen, bringing sexy back or the standup stage.  Here are nine people who you might not know have won an Emmy, and a song that was awarded for being crude and awesome:

NBC

1. Justin Timberlake: He's as multitalented as they come, so it shouldn't surprise you that much that he's got an Emmy. Sorry, make that Emmys: two for hosting Saturday Night Live, and one for writing music and lyrics for "D--k in a Box." 

ABC

2. Bruce Willis: Here's a funny story about his award-winning guest role as Paul Stevens on Friends: He gave all his earnings from that appearance to charity because he lost a bet to star Matthew Perry on the set of The Whole Nine Yards. His first Emmy came from his lead role opposite Cybill Shepherd on Moonlighting.

E! Entertainment

3. Cyndi Lauper: The "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" singer was nominated twice for her guest role as Marianne on Mad About You twice, winning in 1995.

Fox Broadcasting

4. Gwyneth Paltrow: One of Glee's most memorable guest stars (and they've had Britney Spears, so that's saying something) Paltrow won an Emmy last year for portraying substitute teacher Holly Holliday.

Matt Groening/Fox

5. Anne Hathaway: She started her career with Princess Diaries, so it only makes sense that she'd be awarded years later for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance as Princess Penelope on The Simpsons

Michael Yada/ABC

6. Hugh Jackman: There is nothing that this oh-so-handsome Aussie cannot do. He sang and danced his way to four Emmy nominations for hosting the Tony Awards and the Oscars, but alas, he's only won once. Get your act together, Academy! 

7. "I'm F--king Matt Damon": Just remember, we live in a country where a song about having intercourse with a hot celebrity can be honored with a prestigious award. America rules. This song, whose video starred Matt Damon and Sarah Silverman, won a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics and for editing in 2001.

Michael Becker / FOX

8. Paula Abdul: Straight up, we're telling you that Simon Cowell's former right-hand woman has two Emmy statues somewhere in her house. She won for Outstanding Choreography in 1989 and 1990 for The Tracey Ullman Show and the 17th Annual American Music Awards, respectively.

Eric Charbonneau/WireImage.com

9. Halle Berry: One of the finest actresses of our generation has many awards to her name, including an Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for portraying the title role in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

Jeff Kravitz/Filmmagic

10. Al Pacino: Can you believe Mr. Pacino only has one Oscar? Well, the Emmy voters were smart enough to give him two Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television movie wins: one in 2003 for Angels in America and the other in 2010 for playing Dr. Jack Kevorkian in You Don't Know Jack.