The Television Academy announced the slate of nominees for the 74th annual Emmy Awards on July 12, and now the big night has finally arrived — with some stacked competition! While many actors who snagged nominations for the 2022 awards show — airing live from Los Angeles on Sept. 12 — were elated to see their respective TV shows among the bunch, others were overjoyed to be honored for the very first time.
Stars like Sydney Sweeney, Andrew Garfield, Oscar Isaac, and Lizzo earned their inaugural Emmy nods this year for their outstanding work, and they began celebrating immediately. "What a morning!" Sweeney wrote on Instagram of her accolades for both "Euphoria" and "The White Lotus." ". . . I'm so proud of both these shows and grateful to everybody that's been apart of them."
Other names fans were pleasantly surprised to see on the 2022 nominations list include former President Barack Obama, Sebastian Stan, the cast of "Squid Game," "Abbott Elementary" stars Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and the late Chadwick Boseman, who was honored with a posthumous early win for his role as T'Challa. James Lance, Jacinte Blankenship, Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Anthony A. Anderson, and Sydnee Washington also earned their first-ever nominations.
Read ahead to see who else joined the Emmy-nominees club this year.
The "Under the Banner of Heaven" star was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie.
The "Euphoria" actor was nominated for both outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for the second season of her HBO show and outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for "The White Lotus."
The late actor was nominated posthumously for outstanding character voiceover performance for reprising his role as T'Challa in Disney+'s "What If?" series — and already won.
Isaac received his first-ever Emmy nod for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie for "Scenes From a Marriage."
The former president snagged an outstanding narrator nomination for his Netflix documentary series, "Our Great National Parks."
The "Special" singer earned her first (six) Emmy nominations for her Prime Video series "Watch Out For the Big Grrrls." Her nods include outstanding competition program and outstanding casting for a reality program.
The "Squid Game" star scored a nomination for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
The actor snagged his first nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for "Squid Game."
The actress received a nomination for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for starring in "Squid Game."
The "Squid Game" actor landed an Emmy nod for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.
"Squid Game"'s Oh Yeong-su received a first-time nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series.
The "Abbott Elementary" creator and star received a whopping three nominations for herself and her ABC sitcom: outstanding comedy series, outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, and outstanding writing in a comedy series. She's the first Black woman to earn all three comedy nominations in the same year, and she's also the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the comedy acting category, Variety reported.
The "Abbott Elementary" star received an outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series nod for his role as Gregory Eddie.
"Abbott Elementary" phenom Janelle James scored a nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
Veteran actor Ralph joins her "Abbott Elementary" costar James with a first-time nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
The "Pam & Tommy" star earned his first-ever Emmy nod for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie for starring in the Hulu show.
James snagged her first-ever nom for outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie for her performance in "Pam & Tommy."
"Euphoria"'s Colman Domingo earned his first Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for his standout role.
"The Dropout"'s star snagged a nomination for outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie for her onscreen portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes.
Fanning earned a first-time nom for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role in "The Great."
"The Great" star Nicholas Hoult earned his first Emmy nom for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series.
The comedian snagged three Emmy nominations for both his HBO special "Rothaniel" and a guest appearance during his "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig. His noms include outstanding guest actor in a comedy series, outstanding directing for a variety special, and outstanding writing for a variety special.
The "Better Call Saul" actor earned a first-time nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for starring on the AMC show. She also snagged a nom for outstanding actress in a short form comedy or drama series for YouTube's "Cooper's Bar."
"Yellowjackets" star Melanie Lynskey received her first-ever Emmy nom for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.
Seasoned actress Lathan earned her first-ever Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for appearing on "Succession."
The comedian earned her first-ever Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a short form comedy or drama series for YouTube's "Desi Lydic Foxsplains."
Zahn earned a first-time nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie for "The White Lotus."
"The White Lotus"'s Jake Lacy also earned a nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie for his role on the HBO series.
Harris snagged a first-time nomination for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for starring on "Hacks."
Burr earned his first-ever Emmy nomination for outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series for "Immoral Compass."
Coolidge got a nom for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie for "The White Lotus."
"Ted Lasso" actor Sarah Niles received her first Emmy nom for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
The "Station Eleven" star snagged a first-time nomination for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie.
Pelphrey earned his first Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "Ozark."
"The White Lotus" actor Murray Bartlett earned a nom for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie.
"The White Lotus"'s Alexandra Daddario also earned a first-time Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie.
The "Severance" actor earned a first-time Emmy nod for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
Moayed earned his first Emmy nom for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "Succession."
The "Dopesick" actor snagged a first-time Emmy nod for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie.
Martha Kelly earned a nomination this year for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for "Euphoria."
McDonald received his inaugural Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for "Hacks."
Sarsgaard snagged a nom for outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie for "Dopesick."
Smith-Cameron earned her first Emmy nom for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for "Succession."
Richardson snagged his first-ever nomination for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for starring on "Ted Lasso."
The "Dopesick" star snagged a nom for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie.
"Ted Lasso"'s Toheeb Jimoh earned a first-time nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.