HBO has set an impressive record with 142 Emmy nominations for series like The White Lotus, The Penguin, and The Last of Us. These nominations span 20 original programs, confirming the platform's reputation for high-quality storytelling and craftsmanship. Casey Bloys, CEO of HBO & HBO Max Content, calls it "thrilling to see such a wide range of creative talent recognized."
The White Lotus received a remarkable 24 nominations, including awards for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Scripted Drama Series. Eight actors were also nominated: three male for Outstanding Supporting Actor, four female for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Scott Glenn for Outstanding Guest Actor.
The Penguin also received 24 nominations in various categories. This DC series is competing for awards including Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series, Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role, and Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role. Two directors are also up for a statuette, and Deirdre O'Connell is up for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
Other HBO series nominated: The Last of Us (17 times), Hacks (15 times), The Pitt (13 times), House of the Dragon (6 times), Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (6 times), The Righteous Gemstones (6 times), Pee-wee as Himself (5 times), Dune: Prophecy (4 times), The Rehearsal (4 times), the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeves Story (4 times), 100 Foot Wave (4 times), Chimp Crazy (2 times), Conan O'Brien Must Go (2 times), Somebody Somewhere (2 times), and the made-for-television movies Mountainhead, Fantasmas, Ren Faire and Yacht Rock: A Documentary (all once).
Regarding The Last of Us, both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey (pictured) are nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor category. Ramsey makes history by becoming the first non-binary person ever to be nominated more than once. Two years ago, Ramsey was also nominated for her role as Ellie.
Few openly non-binary and transgender artists are nominated for an Emmy Award. In 2023, Yellowjackets star Liv Hewson declined to submit an Emmy nomination because the categories are separated into male and female actors. Hewson expressed feeling unrepresented within that binary system.
Then there's Owen Cooper, at 15 the youngest nominee ever, for the Netflix series Adolescence. He's vying for the coveted award in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series category against one of his co-stars from the series, Ashley Walters. Stephen Graham (Outstanding Actor), and Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco (both for Outstanding Supporting Actress) are also nominated, as is the series itself (Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series). Adolescence has received a total of 13 nominations.
From youngest to oldest: Kathy Bates, at age 77, has been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Matlock (2024). That's the same age as the Emmy Awards themselves! Bates previously won two Emmy Awards: one for her guest role in the comedy series Two and a Half Men and one for Outstanding Supporting Actress for American Horror Story: Coven (season three of AHS).
Furthermore, there are some notable actors who have only just been nominated for the first time, a whopping 35 (!). The aforementioned Owen Cooper seems logical at such a young age, but for his co-stars Ashley Walters, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, and Christine Tremarco, it's also only their first Emmy nomination.
And what about 83-year-old Harrison Ford, who has been nominated for his role in the Apple comedy series Shrinking? He's never received an Emmy nomination before. Granted, Ford has mostly made movies and little television in his life, but still...
Other actors who scored their first-time Emmy nominations this year include Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Aimée-Lou Wood (The White Lotus), Colin Farrell (The Penguin), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent), Anthony Mackie (The Studio), and Britt Lower (Severance).
Speaking of Severance, this Apple TV+ series leads the 2025 Emmy Awards with 27 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.
And as always, there are surprises to be found. Despite six successful television series, Taylor Sheridan failed to secure a single nomination in the major categories. This includes the debut season of Landman, which Paramount+ hoped would break Sheridan's so-called "Emmy curse."
A few series received only one or two nominations in technical categories: Tulsa King and Lioness were nominated for Best Stunts, while 1923 received recognition for Production Design and Costume Design. It's striking that popular titles like Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, and the final season of Yellowstone (2018) were completely overlooked and didn't receive a single Emmy nomination.
