AFT Awards: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

This is the tenth category of the 3rd Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television this past season. This year, semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work being done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.
Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Jennifer Esposito, Lucy Lawless, Mira Sorvino, Shoshannah Stern, Frances Sternhagen

Emmy nominees: Brenda Blethyn, Carol Burnett, Ellen Burstyn, Sharon Lawrence, CCH Pounder

Semi-finalists: Brenda Blethyn (Law & Order: SVU) is a terrific actress – all the “SVU” performances didn’t really do much for me, but Blethyn stood out as the best among them.

Finalists: Bernadette Peters (Grey’s Anatomy) was heartbreaking in her unflappable determination to taking care of her friends. Erin Daniels (Swingtown) is great in anything – and as one half of a swinger duo, she was incredibly memorable despite a small part. Margo Martindale (Dexter) is also excellent in whatever she’s in, and her deathbed request for a mercy killing was no exception. Marguerite Moreau (Mad Men) left a mark on Roger Sterling as someone who might have made him happier than he let her. Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) turned a shocking character revival into engaging meditations on robotic life and human ethics.

The nominees:

Lizzy Caplan (True Blood) shook up Jason Stackhouse’s life as a seemingly harmless new-girl-in-town with a deadly penchant for survival. Michelle Forbes (True Blood) owned the screen as a mysterious philanthropist definitely hiding more than one secret of her own. Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) proved a fearful match for Don Draper – and their affair was more significant than either expected. Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica) chose death over accepting a truth completely contrary to her upbringing, and sent Dualla out with a tearful finale. Laura Ramsey (Mad Men) gave Don the vacation he needed, and was a major part of what made his trip so intoxicating.

Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series