UK Actors Lead Emmy Nominations

The UK is leading the pack at this year's International Emmy awards with nine nominations, including best drama for Spooks. Julie Walters is up for best actress for A Short Stay In Switzerland, as a terminally ill woman who ends her own life in a Zurich clinic. The script for the one-off BBC drama was based on a true story. David Frost will also receive the Emmy Founders Award at the ceremony in New York on 23 November. Ben Whishaw is in the running for best actor for his role in Criminal Justice. TV star Graham Norton will host the awards show. Brazil has five nominations, including best comedy for The Slum. Mexico's Capadocia, set in a fictional women's prison rife with corruption, is up for three awards - best drama, best actress and best actor. "I think we need this kind of TV, we need to portray what happens in our country," said Cecilia Suarez, nominated for best actress. Oscar Olivares, who also stars in the hit drama, is up for best actor. Thailand received its first nomination for children's programme Lharn Poo Koo E-Joo. "We hope the first-time nomination from Thailand will inspire more producers from many more countries to follow in their footsteps and enter the competition," said Bruce L Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. China's Ultimate Rescue was nominated twice - for best TV movie or mini-series and best actor (Chen Li). Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will present Markus Schachter with the International Emmy Directorate Award for his leadership of Germany's ZDF TV network. In total, there are are 41 nominees in 10 categories from 17 countries around the world, excluding the US.