Claire Danes Said that Being an Emmy Nominee Is 'Like a Nightmare Come to Life'

Claire Danes is once again nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her Homeland TV series. However, she said that this is like "a nightmare come to life" not because she isn't grateful, PEOPLE reported.

"If you lose, you have to cope with that sting, and if you win, you have to get up and say something eloquent and charming, and remember to thank your husband or your wife," Danes said. "It's always the vital person you forget to thank. It's terrifying. And then you see the clock ticking. It's awful, that particular part of it." 

But she said that after the dreaded seconds are over, "the actual ceremony and the celebrations and seeing everyone in their beautiful clothes is actually really great."

This year many of the Homeland TV series actors and actresses are nominated, which is why "we all get to go to the prom holding hands - if not literally, figuratively - together," she said. "We really are a very close group, so I'm really looking forward to that particular part of it." 

She finally let the idea that the show is popular sink in. "I think the first season especially, we were in a bit of shock [when the show got nominated]," she said. "And then in the second season, we were still processing people's appreciation of it. And I think now we've finally had a chance to accept that we have settled [into the] public consciousness ... and because of that, the Emmys seem scarier for some reason."