Emmy Race: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

The Emmy Award nominations are still a few weeks away, but this year looks to be quite competitive in all the major categories. This year, there will be six, rather than five, nominees in the regular acting categories and series categories, but not in the guest categories. At this point, I’d like to offer a rundown of the potential nominees. I’ve profiled, in alphabetical order, the top ten contenders who, right now, have the best shot at a nomination.


Last year’s nominees:
Winner Cynthia Nixon (Law & Order: SVU) and Diahann Caroll (Grey’s Anatomy) did not appear on their shows this year. Ellen Burstyn chose to enter herself into the race for “Law & Order: SVU” this year instead of “Big Love,” and Anjelica Huston (Medium) was not submitted for consideration. Sharon Gless (Nip/Tuck) is eligible.

The contenders:
BRENDA BLETHYN as LINNIE MALCOLM, LAW & ORDER: SVU
Blethyn is a respected British actress with two Oscar nominations under her belt, as well as an Emmy nomination several years ago for a television movie. “SVU” is by far the leader when it comes to nominations in this category, and she’s a big name who, in the footsteps of Leslie Caron, Mare Winningham, and countless others, may get nominated for guest-starring on one of television’s most successful procedurals. Blethyn’s surprising role packs an intense dramatic punch and she will certainly garner some votes.

ELLEN BURSTYN as BERNIE STABLER, LAW & ORDER: SVU
Burstyn got nominated last year for her performance on a far more obscure show which requires context to comprehend the characters. This year, she’s eligible for her one-shot guest spot on the very popular “SVU.” Burstyn shouldn’t worry too much; after all, she was nominated in 2006 for a 12-second role in the television movie “Mrs. Harris.” Voters clearly like her, and it’s of no consequence whether she’s actually a legitimate character in her work. In this case, she’s portraying Detective Stabler’s mentally unstable mother. Count her in.

LIZZY CAPLAN as AMY BURLEY, TRUE BLOOD
This may be terribly hopeful of me, placing Caplan among the top ten contenders for an Emmy, but I’m going to go for it. Caplan’s star status has been building now as critics constantly praise her contributions to projects that aren’t necessarily beloved, like TV show “The Class” and films “Mean Girls” and “Cloverfield.” This year, she starred in comedy series “Party Down” and also turned in an incredible performance on HBO’s vampire drama as a mysterious, unpredictable stranger with an addiction to vampire blood. Anyone who’s been waiting for the right chance to recognize Caplan may decide this is the proper route, but I wouldn’t count on her actually getting a nomination, though I would love it.

TYNE DALY as CAROLYN SHEPHERD, GREY’S ANATOMY
Daly checked into ABC’s medical soap as McDreamy’s mother. Last year, Diahann Carroll guest-starred as Burke’s mother and received a nomination. Sure, Carroll has four Emmy nominations to her name, but that can’t compare to Daly’s 16 nominations for five different shows, including 6 wins sprinkled in there for “Cagney & Lacey,” “Christy,” and “Judging Amy.” She’s a force to be reckoned with; I can’t imagine she’ll be snubbed by Emmy.

SHARON GLESS as COLLEEN ROSE, NIP/TUCK (1 nomination)
The other half of “Cagney & Lacey,” Gless was nominated last year for her portrayal of a criminally insane agent desperate to get her hands on surgeon slash star Sean. Her episode last year was immensely creepy and showed the beginning of her craziness, whereas this year’s showcases her actual attack on Sean in a minimal guest appearance. She may return more due to the fact that viewers want to reward her, placing her in the top ten for her comical role on “Burn Notice” in the supporting actress category. She’s not exactly an Emmy newbie either, and this would make her tenth nomination.

JULIANNA MARGULIES as NURSE CAROL HATHAWAY, ER
I place Margulies here while I didn’t predict any of the old male “ER” cast members for two reasons. The first is that Margulies is the only female under that heading eligible in this category, so voters won’t have to choose whim alumnus to support. Additionally, she was nominated for her entire participation in “ER” – she left at the end of the sixth season, which, coincidentally, is when “ER” stopped receiving excessive Emmy love. Margulies may not make the final cut, but she has decent, nostalgia-fueled shot.

MARY MCDONNELL as DR. VIRGINIA NIXON, GREY’S ANATOMY
McDonnell has been on the verge of a nomination for her lead role on “Battlestar Galactica” for several years now, and this could be her consolation prize. McDonnell was nominated for guest-starring on “ER” back in 2002, and her hospital return could earn her another nod. McDonnell, however, is but one in a sea of “Grey’s Anatomy” women eligible this year. Over the past three years, five “Grey’s Anatomy” guest actresses have been nominated, so McDonnell’s chances as an esteemed actress are pretty good, especially considering she plays a doctor with Asperser’s syndrome.

MELINDA MCGRAW as BOBBIE BARRETT, MAD MEN
McGraw was a major part of why “Mad Men” got such good reviews this year. As the manipulative, adulterous wife of comedian Jimmy Barrett (guest actor contender Patrick Fischler), McGraw more than held her own against the intimidating Jon Hamm, and managed to throw him for a loop quite a few times. She’s not well known, but perhaps the buzz for “Mad Men” can help her snag a nomination.

SUSAN SARANDON as NORA, ER
Oscar-winner Sarandon guest-starred on the final season of “ER” at the same time that former cast members like George Clooney and Julianna Margulies were returning. The show’s history with guest acting nominations, nostalgia for its departure, and the unmatchable flair of Sarandon herself should help push Sarandon towards a probable nomination. Sarandon is a three-time Emmy nominee, for the TV movie “Bernard & Doris” and her guest appearances on “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Friends.”

SIGOURNEY WEAVER as THERAPIST, ELI STONE
Long-absent actress Weaver guest-starred on ABC’s doomed offbeat comedy back when the show premiered its second season. Weaver is a tremendously well-respected actress whose sci-fi reputation usually defines her, and this blend of slightly supernatural drama may be just the ticket to earn her some Emmy recognition. That worked last time she got nominated for an Emmy, for the TV movie “Snow White: A Tale of Terror.”

Other contenders to watch out for: Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica), Mare Winningham (CSI: NY), Kathy Baker (Grey’s Anatomy), Melissa George (Grey’s Anatomy), Sharon Lawrence (Grey’s Anatomy), Bernadette Peters (Grey’s Anatomy), Kristen Bell (Heroes), Anne Dudek (House), Carol Burnett (Law & Order: SVU), Swoosie Kurtz (Law & Order: SVU), Judith Light (Law & Order: SVU), Drea de Matteo (Sons of Anarchy), Adina Porter (True Blood)

The roundup:
It seems like there are so many contenders here, and it’s near impossible to narrow down the field to who won’t matter and who will come really close. There’s always the threat of “Law & Order: SVU” dominating everything, but it feels like “Grey’s Anatomy” may actually have more potential nominees here. I’m expecting to do very poorly in this category, but I’ll offer my best predictions in any case.

Current predictions:
BRENDA BLETHYN, LAW & ORDER: SVU
ELLEN BURSTYN, LAW & ORDER: SVU
TYNE DALY, GREY’S ANATOMY
MELINDA MCGRAW, MAD MEN
SUSAN SARANDON, ER

Who could win? Ellen Burstyn

Next Up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series