'The Sopranos' big winner at the Emmys

The Sopranos was the big winner of the Emmy Awards last night, taking home three gongs.

The hit US show won awards for writing and directing, as well as the Outstanding Drama Series award - the first show to gain the title for its last series, which aired in America in May.

The show's James Gandolfini missed out on the Best Actor title though - instead the award went to James Spader of Boston Legal.

Meanwhile, America Ferrera won the Best Actress gong for her lead part in hit show Ugly Betty.

A couple of Brits also walked away with awards from the Los Angeles ceremony - Ricky Gervais picked up his second Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his show Extras, while Helen Mirren was awarded with the Lead Actress award for Prime Suspect: The Final Act.

Talking about her win, Mirren said: "You Americans are wonderfully generous people. You are a lot of other things as well. Some good, some bad."