Pop star Christina Aguilera posed for photographers as she arrived at the 59th annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. The singer later performed with Tony Bennett on stage.

Mob drama The Sopranos marked its final season by taking home three awards - for drama series, writing and directing. But its cast unexpectedly failed to win any acting awards.

Oscar winner Helen Mirren picked up the award for best drama actress in a mini-series for Prime Suspect: The Final Act. The drama also won best directing and writing.

Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, who won the award for best female actress in a comedy, shared a joke with co-star Vanessa Williams.

Sally Field was lost for words as she accepted her third Emmy. Her performance in Brothers and Sisters won her the title of outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

Host of the ceremony Ryan Seacrest, who also presents American Idol, joked that 6,000 others had been asked to present the awards before he received the call.

Ellen Degeneres, who hosted the award ceremony in 2005, arrived for the event with her partner, actress Portia de Rossi.

The cast of 30 Rock, a series set in the offices of a New York television studio, gathered backstage to pose with their award for outstanding comedy series.

Katherine Heigl, who plays Dr Isobel Stevens in Grey's Anatomy, accepted the award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.

Jeremy Piven took home the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his work on Entourage.

Terry O'Quinn won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in the drama series Lost, in which he plays the mysterious John Locke.