Emotional moment Viola Davis becomes first black woman to win Best Actress Emmy Award
VIOLA DAVIS has become the black first woman in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards to be crowned Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Viola David with her Emmy Award following her victory
The 50-year-old African American actress from South Carolina won the award for her role as Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder and made a rather emotional acceptance speech.
Viola told the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles: "The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone is opportunity. You cannot win Emmys for roles that are not there."
She also quoted 19th century African American abolitionist Harriet Tubman, saying: "In my mind, I see a line. And over that line I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line.
"But I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line."
Emmy Awards- Viola Davis
Viola Davis gave an emotional speech as she accepted her Emmy
The star was up against Taraji P. Henson from Empire, Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black, Homeland's Claire Danes, Robin Wright in House of Cards and Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss.
Following her acceptance on the podium, backstage a visibly emotional Viola went on to thank the entire cast of How To Get Away With Murder, her husband, daughter and her mother, who she said "wasn't watching tonight".
The 67th Emmy Awards saw Americans winning the overwhelming majority of prizes, despite several nominations for British stars and UK dramas Downton Abbey and Wolf Hall.