Downton Abbey flies the flag for Brits with 12 nods at the Emmys... while Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis are also nominated

Dame Helen Mirren up for Outstanding Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for Phil Spector

Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch will battle each other in Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

Dame Diana Rigg and Emilia Clarke up for Game Of Thrones

Damian Lewis up for Best Actor In A Drama Series - which he won in 2012



Period drama Downton Abbey is leading the way for the Brits as this year's Emmy Awards, with 12 nominations.

The ITV series, which runs on PBS in the US, has received major nominations, including acting nods for stars Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith and Jim Carter.

Hugh is up for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for his performance as Earl of Grantham, while his on-screen daughter Michelle is up for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series as Lady Mary Crawley.

Scroll down for a list of nominees and video



Popular Stateside: Downton Abbey is up for 12 nominations at this year's Emmy Awards Who they will? Hugh Bonneville as Earl Of Grantham and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley

Creator Julian Fellowes has received a nod for Outstanding Writing In A Drama Series, while the show is also up for Directing and Best Drama Series.



Last year's Best Actor In A Drama Series Damian Lewis is up in the category again for the second year.

Dame Maggie and Jim are up for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor In A Drama Series respectively.

Also representing the UK is awards veteran Dame Helen Mirren, who will compete for the Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie in TV film Phil Spector.

Will it be a second year in a row? Damian Lewis, who won the same category last year, is up for Best Actor In A Drama Series with Homeland

The Oscar winner has already won four Emmys already for Prime suspect, Elizabeth I and The Passion of Ayn Rand, her last win being in 1996.



Brits Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch will go head-to-head in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie for The Girl and Parade's End respectively.

Toby's The Girl co-star Imelda Staunton, who played Alfred Hitchcock's wife Alma is nominated for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries Or A Movie, although Sienna Miller missed out on a nod for her performance as Tippi Hedren.



Another for the mantlepiece? Dame Helen Mirren, who has won several Emmys already, is up for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Phil Spector

They're in a particularly tough category, which includes Hollywood A-listers Michael Douglas, Matt Damon and Al Pacino.

Emilia Clarke has received a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series for Game Of Thrones, which has a whopping 16 nominations, including Best Drama Series.

Dame Diana Rigg has been recognised for her performance in the HBO series as Lady Olenna Tyrell in Series 3 with Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Uncanny: Toby Jones has been nominated in the Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie category for his portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock in The Girl

Leading man: Benedict Cumberbatch has been nominated for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Parade's End

Rupert Friend has received his ever Emmy nomination for Guest Actor In A Drama Series for Homeland, in which he played CIA analyst Peter Quinn in 9 episodes of Series 2, while Charlotte Rampling's performance in Restless has been acknowledged for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries Or A Movie.

Hollywood reacts to the Emmy nominations Stars across America and around the world reacted to the announcements on Thursday with genuine delight and often heartfelt surprise.

'The love this morning has been unreal. Thank you so much for the undying support for me and for Breaking Bad. Love u all. #Emmys,' tweeted Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul.

The two-time Emmy winner followed it up with a message in the voice of his character, Jesse Pinkman. 'Yeah Bitch!! Emmys!! #Emmys2013.'

Despite the final episode airing in January, NBC comedy 30 Rock was one of the leaders of the pack with 13 nominations, and the show's official page celebrated nominations for Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Will Forte, Jane Krakowski and Elaine Stritch.

'Listen up fives, a ten is nominated! Huge congrats to Jane Krakowski on her #30Rock #Emmys nomination!' wrote @nbc30rock.

'YES! Congrats to Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Jane Krakowski on their #Emmy nominations! #30Rock @nbc30rock' tweeted star Maulik Pancholy.

Alec Baldwin was one of the many cast members grateful for the ongoing support. 'It's days like this that make me miss ‘30 Rock.

'Many thanks to everyone that nominated me,' Baldwin told People magazine. While Krakowski was more focused on celebrating, 'This is such an incredible way to celebrate 30 Rock's final season. I can't wait to go to the Emmys with my cast mates and dance like no one’s watching!' As always, Modern Family was another hot contender in the comedy category with 12 nominations.

'I'm very humbled and honored by the #ModernFamily Emmy love,' tweeted star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. 'I am honored and humbly surprised that this good fortune continues. I've never had something so wonderful happen 4 years in a row before, other than winning the NY state lottery from 1993 to 97,' joked Ty Burrell, reported People. 'Our writers are the reason we're still in this position. I'm eternally grateful for their talent and surprising good looks.'

'Congratulations to my fellow cast and crew members on their Emmy nominations. I have THE best job on TV,' tweeted costar Eric Stonestreet.

While the most famous star of the show, Sofia Vergara wrote: 'Gracias to Modern Family,to my cast, to my fans!!!! Celebrating in Mykonos!' When it came to the drama category, supporters of Homeland were equally as grateful. '#Homeland has received 11 @PrimetimeEmmys nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, the most series nominations in #Showtime history!' wrote the official page.

'Thanks! Congrats to all nominees!!! RT @SHO_PR Congrats to @SHO_Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin and @missmorenab on their …' added star Morena Baccarin, who plays Jessica Brody. Congratulations: The House Of Cards Twitter page celebrated the show's success in style Netflix show House Of Cards has been a surprise hit, and its cast couldn't be happier. 'I'm so proud to be a part of such a ground breaking project as House of Cards,' said Best Actress in a Drama Series nominee Robin Wright. 'I'm thrilled that our show has been recognized and I want to thank the academy for this great honor.' Costar Kevin Spacey joked about the anticipation during the announcements, 'When your name starts with an 'S' and it's the last name said, there are a couple of moments of oh s**t,' he laughed according to USAToday.com . 'And the same is true with Robin Wright. Because she started with a 'W' and she was the last name. So I was very pleased when both of us came up.' Even veteran actors were blown away by the honour, 'I'm in the northern part of lower Michigan playing golf with some college roommates,' said Newsroom star Jeff Daniels. 'It was tough to concentrate on the swing after that.' Some people didn't know what to do when they heard the good news. 'I didn't know who to tell. So I just made coffee by myself,' admitted Saturday Night Live comedian Bill Hader. The hard fought battle to get Behind the Candelabra made paid off for stars Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, who told the Hollywood Reporter: 'This project was turned down by every studio as a feature film, and now it's opened in England as a feature film and is doing strong numbers. And as for being nominated in the same category as Matt -- I love him and I'm rooting for him. This never could have happened without him.'

Birmingham-raised TV presenter Cat Deeley is up for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program for So You Think You Can Dance.



Overall, American Horror Story has the most nominations this year, with 17 apiece, with Game Of Thrones just after with 16.

Brummie girl done good! Cat Deeley is up for So You Think You Can Dance

Following close behind is TV movie Behind The Candelabra in 15 categories.

Saturday Night Live also has 15, while Breaking Bad and 30 Rock have 13 each.

The nominees were announced live from Los Angeles on Thursday morning by Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and Emmys host Neil Patrick Harris.

High drama: Game Of Thrones is up for 16 nods, including Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Clarke

This year was the first year that internet TV series were eligible for nomination for the success of House Of Cards and the rejuvenation of Arrested Development, which both ended up being nominated.

Netflix series House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, is up for nine categories.

The nominees were due to be announced by actress Kate Mara alongside Aaron, but she had to pull out after her flight to Los Angeles from her film location couldn't take off due to technical problems.

Big reveal: Aaron Paul (left) and Neil Patrick Harris announced the nominees in the early hours of Thursday morning in Los Angeles

The nominees are chosen by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which has 18,000 members.

To be eligible, they should have been broadcast between June 1 2012 and May 31 this year, pay an entree fee and at least co-produced by Americans.

The 2013 Emmys will be hosted by How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris for the second time and will be broadcast live in the US on CBS from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre on September 22.

Making history: Internet series House Of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, has received nine nominations

What a comeback: Mad Men has 12 nods Popular: American Horror Story: Asylum, starring Jessica Lange, is up for 17 nominations at the 2013 Emmys