Emmy nominations pit Kate Winslet against Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs stars

Kate Winslet has won an Emmy award nomination for her role in HBO drama series Mildred Pierce. Photograph: HBO/Everett/Rex Features

Kate Winslet's foray into television might not have entirely charmed the critics – but Mildred Pierce, her classy HBO drama, is leading the chase for Emmy awards, with the show taking 21 nominations.

Joining Winslet in the battle for best actress in a mini-series will be Elizabeth McGovern, who plays American heiress Lady Cora in ITVdrama Downton Abbey, and Jean Marsh, the co-creator of Upstairs, Downstairs who is nominated for her performance as Rose Buck in theBBC's revival of the show – 36 years after the role first won her an Emmy for best actress. Marsh's co-star and creator, Dame Eileen Atkins, is nominated in the supporting actress in a miniseries category which also features Dame Maggie Smith, as Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs are pitched against each other again.

But it is the ITV period drama that has secured a nomination in the prestigious outstanding mini-series or movie category – it will go up against Cinema Verite, The Kennedys, The Pillars Of The Earth, Too Big To Fail and Mildred Pierce.

The British actor Idris Elba, who found fame in the acclaimed HBO show The Wire, is nominated twice – for a guest star role in The Big C, starring Laura Linney, and his performance in the title role of the BBC's Luther, for which he wins a nod in the lead actor in a miniseries category.

Hugh Laurie – who has five times been nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series without winning – received his sixth for his role in House.

Other British stars nominated include Kelly Macdonald in the supporting actress in a drama series category for playing Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire. Archie Panjabi, the British star of The Good Wife who last year won the category, receives a nomination for her role as Kalinda Sharma in the US show.