Ways the 2017 Emmys broke barriers

— -- By many accounts, Sunday night's Emmy Awards was historic — including for women, Hulu and diversity.

Female-driven shows were the night's big winners. "The Handmaid's Tale" won eight Emmys, including the award for outstanding drama series, earning a place in history for Hulu as the first streaming service to win a best series Emmy. Star Elisabeth Moss also won her first Emmy — after nine nominations — for her role as Offred in the dystopian drama about a future in which the few women who are able to bear children are rounded up and forced to become surrogates for the ruling class.

Best of the Emmys: Moments and fashion

1 of 15

Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda speak onstage during the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater, Sept. 17, 2017, in Los Angeles.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

HBO's "Big Little Lies," with its powerhouse female ensemble cast led by Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Reese Witherspoon was the night's other big winner, tying "The Handmaid's Tale" with eight Emmys, including outstanding limited series.

Then there were the female stars who made history last night. Keep reading for more on who made history at the 2017 Emmy Awards.

Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe became the first black woman to receive an Emmy nomination for writing for a comedy series, for "Master of None," and the first to win. She was recognized, along with series star Aziz Ansari. The two co-wrote and starred in the Netflix series' "Thanksgiving" episode, based on Waithe's real-life coming out story.

"My LGBTQI family," she said, accepting her award, "I see each and every one of you. The things that make us different, those are our superpowers."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

"Veep" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus made history as the first performer to win six Emmys for the same role, taking the best actress in a comedy series award again this year for playing Selina Meyer in the HBO series.

She has been nominated for 24 Emmys in her career is tied with Cloris Leachman for the most prime-time Emmy wins by a performer, with eight.

"This ... continues to be the role of a lifetime and an adventure of utter joy," Louis-Dreyfus said when accepting the award.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover became the first black director to win for outstanding directing of a comedy series, for work on his FX show, "Atlanta." He also took home the trophy for lead actor in a comedy series.

"I'm glad I was able to make history, but that's not what I was trying to do," he said backstage. "I was just trying to make the best product. I believe the people deserve quality and when they taste it, they see their own value and they don't ask for less. So I just want to make a really good show."

Sterling K. Brown

"This Is Us" star Sterling K. Brown didn't make history Sunday night, but he was the first black man in two decades to win the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series. During his speech, which was cut short, he gave a nod to Andre Braugher, the last black actor to win the award, in 1988 for his work on "Homicide: Life on the Street."

"It is my supreme honor to follow in your footsteps," Brown said.

Riz Ahmed

Riz Ahmed beat out Robert De Niro and John Turturro for lead actor in a limited series on his way to making history as the first Muslim to win an acting Emmy, for his performance in "The Night Of."

Despite his and others' historic wins that night, he told reporters backstage, "I don't know if any one person's win of an award or one person snagging one role or one person doing very well changes something that's a systemic issue of inclusion."

"I think that's something that happens slowly over time," Ahmed added. "If there are enough isolated examples of success, then maybe the dots start joining up and it's not as slow a process as it sometimes is."