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 do n'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 . '' Past Emmys hosts show up to help Neil Patrick Harris . 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 ... did n't expect this . I usually do n'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 . ''
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 ... did n't expect this ''