Emmy winners: The backstage reactions

Outstanding drama series: "Breaking Bad"Outstanding drama series: "Breaking Bad"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Claire Danes, "Homeland"Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series: Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series: Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Outstanding writing for a drama series: Sarah Bromell accepts the award for her late husband, Henry Bromell, "Homeland"Outstanding writing for a drama series: Sarah Bromell accepts the award for her late husband, Henry Bromell, "Homeland"
Outstanding comedy series: "Modern Family"Outstanding comedy series: "Modern Family"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series: Tony Hale, "Veep"Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series: Tony Hale, "Veep"
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Merritt Wever, right, "Nurse Jackie"Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Merritt Wever, right, "Nurse Jackie"
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Melissa Leo, "Louie"Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Melissa Leo, "Louie"
Outstanding writing for a comedy series: Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, "30 Rock"Outstanding writing for a comedy series: Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, "30 Rock"
Outstanding directing for a comedy series: Gail Mancuso, "Modern Family"Outstanding directing for a comedy series: Gail Mancuso, "Modern Family"
Outstanding miniseries or movie and outstanding directing for a miniseries or movie: Steven Soderbergh, "Behind the Candelabra"Outstanding miniseries or movie and outstanding directing for a miniseries or movie: Steven Soderbergh, "Behind the Candelabra"
Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie: Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie: Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie: James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"Outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie: James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie: Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"Outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie: Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie: Abi Morgan, "The Hour"Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie: Abi Morgan, "The Hour"
Outstanding reality-competition program: Carson Daly, left, and Mark Burnett, "The Voice"Outstanding reality-competition program: Carson Daly, left, and Mark Burnett, "The Voice"
Outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program: Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, "Project Runway"Outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program: Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, "Project Runway"
Outstanding variety series and outstanding writing for a variety series: "The Colbert Report"Outstanding variety series and outstanding writing for a variety series: "The Colbert Report"
Outstanding directing for a variety series: Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live"Outstanding directing for a variety series: Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding choreography: Derek Hough, "Dancing with the Stars"Outstanding choreography: Derek Hough, "Dancing with the Stars"
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  • Claire Danes admits to being "shy" about winning Emmy again
  • "Homeland" star won best dramatic actress award for second year
  • "Behind the Candelabra's" Michael Douglas calls Liberace role one of his best
  • Jeff Daniels on winning: "Well, crap ... didn't expect this"

(CNN) -- Claire Danes' hot streak at the Emmys is making her a bit bashful.

The 34-year-old "Homeland" actress told CNN backstage that she was a bit overwhelmed to be this year's outstanding lead actress in a drama winner.

"This is preposterous," Danes said. "It's wonderful, and I'm very, very grateful -- and it's a little hard to accept, you know?"

Danes has played the troubled but brilliant intelligence officer Carrie Mathison on Showtime's "Homeland" since 2011, and Sunday night's win marked her second victory in a row as lead actress in a drama.

"I get shy, but I don't mean to reject it any way. I'm so touched by it, so grateful for it," she said. "I'm going back to work, and this will be a lovely thing to pass around the crew, and people can take photos with it. The point is the work itself."

2013 Emmys: The winners list

Michael Douglas was more embracing of his big honor -- the movie star landed his first Emmy for his work in the TV movie "Behind the Candelabra."

"This is what you dream about," he told CNN. "I got one of the best parts of my life, and my co-star Matt Damon was brilliant."

During his acceptance speech, Douglas made sure to shine the spotlight on Damon, who was also nominated in the outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie category for "Behind the Candelabra."

"Thank you so much to the great performances by all the other nominees, but obviously, there's one nominee in particular that I really have to thank. This is a two-hander," Douglas said with a laugh, holding the Emmy.

"And Matt, you're only as good as your other hand. You were magnificent, and the only reason I'm standing here is because of you. So you really deserve half of this. Do you want the bottom or the top?"

Damon, who'd been laughing along with the rest of the audience, responded, "Top."

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Douglas seemed in jovial spirits in spite of some recent personal turmoil. (The actor separated from his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones.) He admitted the role of Liberace was one of the best parts he's ever had.

"This was one of the best two or three scripts I've ever had in my life," he told CNN. "I have nothing but the fondest memories, and the fact is this all came about right after my whole cancer spell. So one day, I'm thinking about mortality, and then the next (director) Steven (Soderbergh) comes and says, 'We've got this great project, and Matt's going to play your partner' ... and here we are."

The award for the biggest upset of the night went to Jeff Daniels, who won the outstanding lead actor in a drama Emmy, snagging it from odds-on-favorite Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad."

Emmys 2013: Bryan Cranston, man of the moment

Visibly shocked when he took the stage to receive his first Emmy, the "Newsroom" actor admitted -- while chewing gum, "Well, crap ... didn't expect this. I usually don't win anything."

Daniels later told CNN backstage he was just being honest.

"I've been nominated a few times, but it always goes to somebody else, and you kind of get used to that," he said. "It's a wonderful feeling. It'll probably hit me on Wednesday."

CNN's Nischelle Turner contributed to this report.

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