James Corden wins best leading actor at the Tony Awards

James Gets Emotional After Tony Awards Win

British comedian James Corden has won a prestigious Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his role in Broadway play One Man, Two Guvnors.

James Corden

Former Gavin and Stacey star James Corden is having a pretty good 2012 so far! His first child Max was born, he's soon to marry his fiancée Julia Carey, and his career is taking off rapidly in the U.S. Corden received great reviews for his part in the play One Man, Two Guvnors when it transferred from West End to Broadway earlier this year, but his success was formally recognised at last night's Tony Awards, where he picked up Best Leading Actor in a Play.

James received his award with an emotional acceptance speech, saying that he was "overwhelmed" by the honour and attributed his success to Julia's support: “Seriously, I would not be holding this if it wasn't for her. She made me say 'us' instead of 'I' and 'we' instead of 'me,' and I love her. Thank you very much.” James follows in the footsteps of actors such as Denzel Washington and Geoffrey Rush who have won the same award in recent years.

A few months ago James was presenting the Brit Awards in London, but in New York he was the one receiving the award. He was joined at the ceremony by several other British actors and directors, including former Coronation Street star Tracie Bennett who was nominated for her role as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow. Scottish director John Tiffany was among the winners for his Broadway adaptation of the musical film Once, which has been a big success. Between the show and its cast and crew, Once won nine of the 12 awards it was nominated for.