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STORY: The 66th annual Tony Awards was a night to honor veterans of the stage as well as a time to welcome a crop of first-time winners.

Actor James Corden proved he was "the governor" when he picked up a Tony award for his hit show "One Man, Two Guvnors".

The 33-year-old, who found fame in the TV comedy Gavin And Stacey, paid an emotional tribute to his girlfriend, Julia, as he picked up his award.

"Whenever I start talking about my girlfriend I always get a little welled up, so, yeah, but that's all right, that's OK, if you're not emotional at this point when can you be?" he explained.

When asked to put the win into words Corden said Julia now has competition.

"It feels the same but different, like a new girlfriend," he said with a smile.

The 66th Tony Awards were held at the Beacon Theater in New York on Sunday (June 10) to celebrate excellence in Broadway theater.

The Tony Awards are Broadway's top honor and are broadcast live on U.S. television network CBS.