AFT Awards: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

This is the tenth category of the 4th 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: Lizzy Caplan, Michelle Forbes, Kandyse McClure, Melinda McGraw, Laura Ramsey

Emmy nominees: Shirley Jones, Ann-Margret, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mary Kay Place, Sissy Spacek, Lily Tomlin

Semi-finalists: Amy Acker (Human Target), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Flash Forward), Moon Bloodgood (Human Target), Tricia Helfer (Human Target), Mary McDonnell (The Closer), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Grace Park (Human Target), Callie Thorne (Royal Pains), Callie Thorne (White Collar)

Finalists: Ally Walker (Sons of Anarchy) was both formidable and pathetic in the way that she played so closely and dangerously with the boys of SAMCRO. Abigail Spencer (Mad Men) was this season’s standout female who stole Don Draper’s attention. Courtney Ford (Human Target) made the possible silliness of her episode work well thanks to her concentrated and sharp performance. Autumn Reeser (Human Target) infused some much-needed female blood into an all-male team. Annabeth Gish (Flash Forward) was barely seen, but was easily one of the most enticing and mysterious figures of the season who should have earned more screen time.

The nominees:

Maura Tierney (Rescue Me) was dry, sarcastic, and an entirely loose cannon as the latest woman to throw Tommy for a loop. Lily Tomlin (Damages) played the part of a disgraced wife with elegance, poise, and a cutthroat edge. Emmanuelle Vaugier (Human Target) didn’t let Christopher Chance toss her aside and became an intricate and necessary part of the show. Courtney Ford (Dexter) was initially a distraction but became so much more due to her smart reading of an extremely complicated character.

The winner:

Summer Glau (Dollhouse) brilliantly played an instantly memorable and deeply disturbed technician whose emotions and connections were crucial and absolutely central to the show’s second season.

Next Up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series