HBO’S fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” won for best drama series and Jon Hamm finally took home a trophy for “Mad Men” on Sunday at the Emmy Awards — a night of firsts that saw a black actress make history.

    Viola Davis gave an emotional speech as she became the first African-American to win the award for best actress in a drama series for her portrayal of a law professor involved in a twisted plot on ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder.”

    Other highlights of the show included a best comedy series prize for HBO’s political satire “Veep” and several prizes for Amazon’s dark transgender comedy “Transparent” — a major breakthrough for the streaming content provider.

    “Game of Thrones” was the big winner at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, raking in 12 awards, and HBO also struck gold with “Olive Kitteridge,” about a couple whose marriage is in trouble, which won eight awards.

    “Thrones” — a sweeping epic filled with blood, sex and back-stabbing — had won many awards before, but never the top prize. “Thanks again, HBO, for believing in dragons,” said series co-creator David Benioff.

    But the emotional high points of the night — television’s equivalent of the Oscars — belonged to Hamm and Davis.

    Hamm — whose portrayal of seductive, mysterious ad man Don Draper on retro-cool “Mad Men” had won him rave reviews and transformed his career — finally struck gold on his eighth nomination for the role.

    “It’s incredible and impossible for me personally to be standing here,” Hamm said after receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the 67th Emmys.

    For Davis, the moment was not one to be missed. “Let me tell you something,” she told the audience to wide applause. “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”

    “Transparent,” about a transgender woman, won five Emmys overall for Amazon in its first year with nominations for its scripted content as it tries to catch up with streaming pioneer Netflix.

    Jeffrey Tambor took home the trophy for best actor in a comedy for his portrayal of a transgender woman in the series, which also took honors for directing, best guest actor in a comedy and for two technical categories.

    In addition to top comedy series honors, “Veep” — the story of a female U.S. vice president who rises to the presidency and her bumbling staff — saw its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus win for the fourth time in a row. Co-star Tony Hale won his second Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy.(SD-Agencies)