Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery leads best dressed at 2018 Emmy Awards

It’s one of the most hotly-anticipated awards ceremonies of the year and the 2018 Emmy Awards did not disappoint, as a host of TV and movie stars once again filled the ceremony with colour and a whole heap of glamour.

Everyone from actresses Michelle Dockery and Mary Steenburgen, to the Baldwins, Allison Janney and Judith Light showed off show-stopping frocks as they posed for photos outside the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles.

Downton Abbey star Michelle, well known for playing Lady Mary in the hit TV show, chose one of the most vibrant looks of the night as she posed in a netted full-length blue dress with a dramatic floral pattern across the front.

Read more: Downton Abbey stars reunite in sweet snap, ahead of filming for the movie

The princess-style gown clinched in at the waist before flowing down into a huge skirt, which the actress held out as she twirled in front of the cameras.

She looked worlds away from her role in the period drama as she showed off a new hairstyle with a short fringe and longer waves down the back.

Meanwhile, Book Club star Mary Steenburgen, 65, opted for a power suit as she posed alongside Ted Danson and showed off a blunt fringe and straight bob for the annual event.

With a dramatic pattern from head to toe and a sheer pink shirt underneath, Mary went for a very edgy look and flashed a beaming smile alongside her dapper companion. Ted chose a classic black tie look and tinted glasses as he kept a protective arm round Mary.

Putting on a loved up display close behind were Alec Baldwin and his stunning wife Hilaria, who posed arm in arm for photos ahead of the ceremony.

In possibly the most stand-out dress yet, mum-of-four Hilaria showed off her incredible post-baby figure in the clinging red gown which ended in a fish-tail skirt. With huge flowers across her chest and an off-the-shoulder strap, the fashionable frock stood out perfectly next to Alec’s smart black suit and bow tie.

Hilaria added a statement diamond necklace and bracelet to the outfit and wore her hair in a tight half-up do.

They joined Mom and I, Tonya actress Allison Janney who brought yet more colour to the bash in a sequinned purple floor-length frock with a daring thigh-split up one leg, showing off her amazing figure.

The 58-year-old star added sky-high stilettos to the eye-catching ensemble and stood out among a sea of black and dark dresses with some green earrings and a matching purple bag.

Arriving later in the evening in the US, actor Matt Smith and his co-star Claire Foy delighted fans with an appearance as they’re nominated for Outstanding Drama Series for their roles in hit TV show The Crown.

The pair played the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh in the TV show before they were re-cast in the latest series, and clearly remain good friends off set too.

Claire looked far from her on-screen persona and wore a silk white strapless dress and strappy black stilettos on her big night, while Matt kept it simple in a smart dark tux.

Elsewhere, Who’s the Boss? star Judith Light proved she’s still a blonde bombshell and looked incredibly glamorous in a skintight yellow ball gown.

The 69-year-old actress towered outside in gold metallic heels and wore her hair in loose waves as she threw a fierce pose for the cameras.

Judith made a name for herself in the ’80s after starring in the day time soap opera One Life to Live (1977-1983), for which she won two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

However her signature role came in 1984 when she took on the role of power exec Angela Bower in the long-running ABC sitcom Who’s the Boss? (1984-1992). The popular series centres on a widowed ex-Major League Baseball player from Brooklyn who relocates a wealthy suburb with his daughter to become the housekeeper for a divorced advertising exec.

Matching her in yellow was award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch’s wife Sophie Hunter who opted for a straight full-length dress with a high neck-line, hiding her figure but looking elegant for the awards show.

Her famous actor husband scrubbed up well alongside her in a navy suit with a matching waistcoat, ditching his usual wavy locks for a shorter cropped hairstyle following his recent movie roles.

Which is your favourite outfit from the 2018 Emmys?