Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a TV Series - Drama

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama

The following represents some preliminary thoughts on Golden Globe contenders for the given category. Predictions will be narrowed and revised towards the end of November or the beginning of December. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER (winner)
ELLEN POMPEO, GREY’S ANATOMY
EVANGELINE LILLY, LOST
PATRICIA ARQUETTE, MEDIUM
EDIE FALCO, THE SOPRANOS

This year’s top contenders:
SALLY FIELD, BROTHERS & SISTERS (new show #1)
Somehow, Field won the Emmy so I guess the Globes may have to be next. Unless her show is completely ignored by the Globes (she was snubbed last year after her show had been on the air a few months), she should have no trouble making it in.

KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER
There is almost no way that Sedgwick could miss out here. Her show has not gone downhill with critics or ratings-wise. Her only competition comes from five high-powered women on popular new shows.

GLENN CLOSE, DAMAGES (new show #2)
Close is not that good on the show, but just look at any other frequently awarded actress who took on a TV role. Close also got nominated two years ago in this category for her role on another FX show, “The Shield”. I think “Damages” itself will fall short gaining awards, but Close should have less trouble.

ELLEN POMPEO, GREY’S ANATOMY
I find Pompeo grating to listen to, and so do many others, but this is the Golden Globes we are talking about, where almost anything goes. “Grey’s Anatomy” has been getting bad buzz lately, and I feel like Pompeo was a one-time fling anyway.

MARISKA HARGITAY, LAW & ORDER: SVU
Hargitay has missed out on a nomination the past two years, but she won the year before that. The “Law & Order” franchise follows a general procedural format in regards to awards systems. Hargitay became hot a few years ago after the show had already aired several seasons and may have fizzled out simply due to the fact that it is pretty much the same thing over and over.

PATRICIA ARQUETTE, MEDIUM
Arquette has been nominated the past two years for her truly dismal performance on the crime series. She could easily slip through the cracks with the arrival of those five new shows.

KATE WALSH, PRIVATE PRACTICE (new show #3)
Does anyone actually think this show is a quality program or do they just enjoy watching it? Walsh made the top ten for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the Emmy Awards this past year for originating the same role on “Grey’s Anatomy”. I cannot stand her, but it seems that many adore her, and if they can take the performance seriously enough, she could well be in.

MINNIE DRIVER, THE RICHES (new show #4)
Driver is a revelation in this show and earned the series’ lone Emmy nomination this past year. As I have mentioned, freshmen FX series have an amazing track record at the Golden Globe, especially for lead performers. I cannot imagine that Driver will find herself left out.

HOLLY HUNTER, SAVING GRACE (new show #5)
Hunter is a huge awards magnet, though not recently, with the exception of across-the-board nominations for her supporting role in the film “Thirteen” in 2003. This could be a major comeback for Hunter, and the show did well enough. If voters do not find her too off-putting, she may get a nomination.

EDIE FALCO, THE SOPRANOS
Falco really did not have a large role in the final season of the mob dramedy. She got an Emmy nomination this year and, unlike co-star Gandolfini, has not been snubbed by the Globes the past few years. I think she will still succumb to Sedgwick and the stars of the five new shows.

Anyone else? “Lost” actress Evangeline Lilly scored a nomination from a weak array of contenders last year, but took a real backseat to the rest of the actors this year. Polly Walker received a nod two years ago when “Rome” last aired, and if anyone stuck around to watch the show’s second and final season, she might get a repeat nomination. I do not believe that anyone will get through enough of “Tell Me You Love Me” to check off Sonya Walger on their ballots. Angie Harmon, lead actress on “Women’s Murder Club”, might have a shot. I would have to hope that no one would think Michelle Ryan deserves a nomination for “Bionic Woman”. And it is not too late to root for Mary McDonnell of “Battlestar Galactica”.

Current predictions:
SALLY FIELD, BROTHERS & SISTERS
KYRA SEDGWICK, THE CLOSER
GLENN CLOSE, DAMAGES
MINNIE DRIVER, THE RICHES
HOLLY HUNTER, SAVING GRACE