Howarth and Maitland sweep Daytime Emmy acting categories

Los Angeles, Calif. Roger Howarth and Beth Maitland took home the top acting prizes at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night. Both performers are longtime fixtures on CBS soap operas and returned to the winner's circle decades after their initial breakthroughs.

Howarth, who currently plays Matt Clark on The Young and the Restless, won in the supporting actor category. His first Emmy victory came in 1994 for his role as Todd Manning on One Life to Live, a performance that launched his career in the younger actor division.

Maitland shared the spotlight by winning the supporting actress award for her portrayal of Traci Abbott on The Young and the Restless. She originated the character in 1982, the same year she first won a supporting actress honor. She has played the role intermittently since then.

"I was equally as gobsmacked back then as a young actress, and I can’t tell you how meaningful it is to be here," Maitland said during her acceptance speech. She praised her fellow nominees for providing relief in a chaotic world, noting that their work allows audiences to laugh, cry, and celebrate.

Other winners included Tracee Ellis Ross, who took home the travel and adventure award for her Roku series Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross. Ross, a five-time Primetime Emmy nominee for black-ish, thanked viewers in Morocco, Mexico, and Spain while holding her trophy. Sherri Shepherd won the daytime talk series host award for Sherri, a show that concluded its four-season run in May. Ambyr Michelle from Beyond the Gates received the emerging talent award, marking the second year that specific category was presented.

The ceremony took place at the Hollywood Palladium and was streamed live for the second consecutive year.