Collette, who has appeared in a series of hit movies including "The Sixth Sense" and "Little Miss Sunshine," won for her portrayal of a woman with a multiple personality disorder in HBO series "United States of Tara."

The outstanding actor in a drama series category was won by Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," the dark AMC cable drama about a terminally ill high school chemistry teacher who forges a new career as a methamphetamines dealer.

Cranston, 53 -- who rose to fame in the offbeat comedy "Malcolm in the Middle -- won the Emmy for the same role at last year's awards.

Veteran Glenn Close won the the third Emmy of her career in the best drama actress for her performance as ruthless New York lawyer Patty Hewes in the hit cable show "Damages."

As expected "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin took the best actor in a comedy series award for his portrayal of a slippery television network executive.

It was the second Emmy of Baldwin's career following his triumph last year. Baldwin said he owed his success to the support of "30 Rock" executive producer Lorne Michaels.

"It's great when you have a producer, someone who believes in you, in your corner, who hires you and thinks of you in good weather and in bad weather," Baldwin said. "And that person for me is Lorne Michaels."

In other awards, Irish actor Brendan Gleeson scooped the best actor in a miniseries or television movie category for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in HBO's acclaimed war-time drama "Into the Storm."

Gleeson, 54, later thanked producer Frank Doelger for allowing his mother to see a first cut of the film before she died. "It meant a huge amount to me, and I'd like to thank him very much for that," he said.

Jessica Lange meanwhile won the first Emmy of her career, in the best actress in a miniseries or television movie category, for her performance as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's aunt in HBO's "Grey Gardens."

"This is so wonderful," Lange said as she accepted her award. "I thank you so much. This part was a gift and they don't come around that often for me anymore. So I'm, I'm thrilled."