Matthew McConaughey is "honoured" to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award

He said in a statement: "I am honoured to be nominated with such a talented field of actors. This is a tremendous category filled with some riveting performances. Thank you for this recognition."

Jimmy Fallon is up for two awards, Outstanding Variety Series and Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, for 'The Tonight Show' and 'Saturday Night Live' respectively, and joked the nominations had given him an excuse to celebrate.

He said: "So happy to be nominated for an Emmy this morning. And even happier to have an excuse for the champagne I was already drinking at 9am."

'Mad Men' star Christina Hendricks wasn't only grateful for her own nomination, for supporting actress in a drama, but for the other nods the show received.

She said: "I am so grateful to the Academy for the incredible amount of support shown for 'Mad Men'. To be nominated is a huge honour and I am thrilled that the show itself has been highlighted in so many other areas as well. I am so thankful."

And Lena Dunham paid tribute to her fellow nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category, which includes 'Veep' star Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Edie Falco from 'Nurse Jackie', 'Mike & Molly' actress Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler from 'Parks and Recreation' and 'Orange Is the New Black's Taylor Schilling.

She said: "It's an honour to be recognised with this incredible group of fierce and funny women. This list of nominees would also be the list for the best dinner party in history. Many thanks to the academy and to HBO."