The 53rd International Emmy Awards were held in New York on November 24, 2025, celebrating television excellence from 26 countries across 16 competitive categories. The UK emerged as the dominant force of the evening, winning more awards than any other nation and underlining the strength of its current TV landscape.
“Rivals,” produced by Happy Prince as part of ITV Studios for Disney+, was named Best Drama Series, while “Ludwig,” another UK production, secured Best Comedy, reinforcing Britain’s creative depth across genres. Alongside these wins, British projects also triumphed in categories such as TV Movie/Mini-Series (“Lost Boys and Fairies”) and Documentary (“Hell Jumper”), further tilting the night in the UK’s favour.
Anna Maxwell Martin’s Best Actress win
Anna Maxwell Martin won the International Emmy for Best Performance by an Actress for her role in the UK true‑crime drama “Until I Kill You.” She beat a strong field that included Charlotte Hope (“Catch Me a Killer,” South Africa), Carolina Miranda (“Mujeres Asesinas Season 2,” Mexico), and Maria Sid (“Smärtpunkten [Pressure Point],” Sweden).
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences highlighted her performance as the standout portrayal among global contenders, placing her at the forefront of international screen acting for 2025. Media coverage around the ceremony repeatedly singled out her win as one of the headline moments of the night, pairing it with the UK’s sweep in major programme categories.
Her role in “Until I Kill You”
“Until I Kill You” is a British true‑crime series that dramatises real‑life events, positioning Martin at the centre of a tense, emotionally demanding narrative about violence, fear, and survival. Reports on the show describe it as an intense, character‑driven drama that leans heavily on its lead performance to carry both the psychological weight and the moral complexity of the story.
Commentary around her win notes that Martin’s portrayal was praised for its nuance and emotional range, grounding a dark subject in humanity rather than sensationalism. This balance between sensitivity and dramatic power is widely credited as a key factor in convincing International Emmy jurors to recognise her in a fiercely competitive year.
“Rivals” wins Best Drama Series
While Anna Maxwell Martin was honoured for acting, “Rivals” delivered one of the evening’s biggest programme victories by winning Best Drama Series. The show is an adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s iconic novel, reimagined as a stylish 1980s-set dramedy that blends rivalry, romance, and media‑industry intrigue, produced by Happy Prince/ITV Studios for Disney+.
“Rivals” features an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer, giving the series broad international appeal. Its International Emmy win cements it as one of the year’s flagship global dramas, confirming that UK storytelling, even when rooted in familiar literary IP, can still feel fresh to worldwide audiences.
How Anna Maxwell Martin fits into the UK’s big night
Anna Maxwell Martin’s success did not stand alone; it was part of a wider British surge at the 2025 International Emmys. Alongside “Rivals” and “Ludwig,” UK projects such as “Lost Boys and Fairies” (TV Movie/Mini-Series), “Hell Jumper” (Documentary), and “Dispatch: Kill Zone: Inside Gaza” (Current Affairs) all took home trophies.
Anna Maxwell Martin also appears in “Ludwig,” the British comedy that won Best Comedy Series, underlining how central she has become to the country’s most acclaimed television output. That dual presence, starring in the year’s top drama performance and contributing to the winning comedy, showcases her range and reinforces her status as a key face of contemporary UK TV.
Global context and other major winners
Beyond the UK, the International Emmys spread recognition across a broad slate of countries, underscoring the event’s global reach. Spanish actor Oriol Pla won Best Performance by an Actor for “Yo, adicto (I, Addict),” while Türkiye’s “Deha [The Good & The Bad]” captured the Telenovela award.
Awards also went to productions from Japan (“Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days” for Arts Programming), Denmark (“Shaolin Heroes” for Non‑Scripted Entertainment), Qatar (“Gaza, Search for Life” for News), and Australia (“Bluey” for Kids: Animation), among others. This spread highlighted Anna Maxwell Martin’s achievement as not just a national milestone but a win in one of television’s most internationally competitive arenas.
Reaction and significance of the win
In post‑ceremony comments, Anna Maxwell Martin framed the International Emmys as a reminder of shared global experience, stressing unity and a sense that “we’re one big globe.” Coverage of her speech pointed out that she placed her win within a wider conversation about empathy and cross‑border storytelling, rather than treating it as a purely individual triumph.
The International Academy’s announcement and subsequent analysis from trade outlets emphasised that her win consolidates the UK’s reputation for world‑class character‑driven drama. For casting directors, producers, and global platforms, the award signals that Anna Maxwell Martin is not only a staple of British prestige television but also an international leading lady capable of carrying demanding projects to awards‑level recognition.
What this means for Anna Maxwell Martin’s career
Anna Maxwell Martin was already well‑regarded for her work in British series before 2025, but the International Emmy elevates her into a different league of global visibility. Winning in such a high‑profile international field makes her a top‑tier contender for future lead roles in both drama and darkly comic projects, particularly as streamers and broadcasters look for bankable, awards‑proven talent.
