Emmy Race: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

This is the seventh in a daily series of Emmy predictions, focusing on a specific category and outlining the most likely 10 or 15 contenders, with an analysis of their chances and the episodes chosen as submissions for consideration. Predictions will be revisited in July as the Emmy nomination announcement approaches.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Last year's nominees:
KATE BURTON, GREY'S ANATOMY
CHRISTINA RICCI, GREY'S ANATOMY
SWOOSIE KURTZ, HUFF
JOANNA CASSIDY, SIX FEET UNDER
PATRICIA CLARKSON, SIX FEET UNDER (winner)

This year's top contenders:
MEGAN MULLALLY AS RENATA HILL, BOSTON LEGAL
Emmy voters have shown that they like "Boston Legal" guest stars and in the guest acting categories, it really does not matter whether the show is a comedy or a drama. Mullally is a multiple Emmy winner, even one for the despised final season of "Will & Grace", so she is really a favorite.

MARLEE MATLIN AS GINA MITCHUM, CSI: NEW YORK
I list Matlin here mainly because she is an extremely well-respected actress and a three-time nominee in this category. "CSI" shows have never received any guest acting accolades, but the "Law & Order" franchises have a number of nominees each year, so it is hard to tell.

KATE BURTON AS ELLIS GREY, GREY'S ANATOMY (1 nomination)
Portraying the sick mother of the title character, Burton received a nomination last year in this category. Barring the internal competition, Burton should get another nod.

ELIZABETH REASER AS JANE DOE, GREY'S ANATOMY
Even though I was not entirely impressed with her performance on the show, I absolutely loved her starring role in "Puccini for Beginners", so I would be excited to see her get recognized. She has the added bonus of appearing in a large number of episodes.

TOVAH FELDSHUH AS DANIELLE MELNICK, LAW & ORDER (1 nomination)
Feldshuh is a well-respected actress who has recurred on "Law & Order" over the years and received a nomination in 2003. Buzz is down on "Law & Order", but you never know.

LIZA MINELLI AS BETH HARNER, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT
Minelli has been recognized with a number of Emmy nominations for her musical performances. Singer-actresses often do well in this category, especially when guest-starring on "Law & Order".

RITA MORENO AS FRANCES GOREN, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT
Moreno has received a number of Emmy nominations over the years, and judging by the character name, I am going to presume she is playing Vincent D'Onofrio's mother, which I am sure is a juicy role.

DORIS ROBERTS AS VIRGINIA HARRINGTON, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT
Roberts was quite a hit with Emmy voters during the run of "Everybody Loves Raymond", winning 4 awards and receiving 7 nominaions. Her dramatic guest appearance could receive a notice from Emmy voters this year.

KATHY BAKER AS HANNAH CURTIS, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Baker won 3 awards a decade ago for "Picket Fences" and has received 2 nods in this category, and for "Boston Public" no less. She has been out of the spotlight for a while, but this category is kinder to those actresses than others.

MARCIA GAY HARDEN AS DANA LEWIS, LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
Oscar voters have rewarded Harden with nominations for pretty much terrible performances, so Emmy voters are likely to be kind to her for what from the preview did not look like a great role.

ROSIE O'DONNELL AS DAWN BUDGE, NIP/TUCK
"Nip/Tuck" is a fun show because it often has celebrity guest stars portraying themselves. It appears that O'Donnell plays someone else, but nonetheless this category has always been friendly to "Nip/Tuck" guest stars.

KATHLEEN TURNER AS CINDY PLUMB, NIP/TUCK
Turner is another well-respected actress who has been out of the spotlights for a while, but could benefit from what I am sure was a fun guest-starring role on "Nip/Tuck"

JULIANNE MARGULIES AS JULIANA SKIFF, THE SOPRANOS
After an amazing turn on the show last season, Margulies apparently makes a small cameo in the submitted episode, "Kennedy and Heidi". Last year's major episode "Kaisha" is eligible for consideration this year because it aired June 4, and if she changes her submission, she may have better odds.

CHRISTINE LAHTI AS MARTHA O'DELL, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Lahti is an Emmy favorite who probably would have received a nomination for "Jack & Bobby" two years ago had the show not aired on the WB. Her fun turn on "Studio 60" will probably get her a nod, as long as Emmy voters do not completely shut out the show.

JEAN SMART AS MARTHA LOGAN, 24 (1 nomination in Supporting Actress category)
Smart received a nomination for her greatly-loved turn as the nutty First Lady for the previous season of "24". The show has never done well with guest acting nominations, so I am doubting her chances, despite her popularity last year.

Current predictions (who the hell knows):
MEGAN MULLALLY, BOSTON LEGAL
KATE BURTON, GREY'S ANATOMY
ELIZABETH REASER, GREY'S ANATOMY
DORIS ROBERTS, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT
CHRISTINE LAHTI, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

Tomorrow: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series.