Emmy Predictions: Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, July 14th. Chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Shirley Jones (The Cleaner), Ann-Margret (Law & Order: SVU), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Mary Kay Place (Big Love), Sissy Spacek (Big Love), Lily Tomlin (Damages)

The competition: In the lead here is Joan Cusack (Shameless), who should be a lock if her role on “Law & Order: SVU” doesn’t divide voters. Julia Stiles (Dexter), who earned a Golden Globe nod in the supporting category, should earn a place alongside her. This category has traditionally been dominated by actresses who appeared on “Law & Order: SVU,” earning fifteen nominations and five wins in the past decade, and there are no shortage of contenders this year, including Debra Messing, Kate Burton, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Marcia Gay Harden, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Rita Wilson. Nine-time nominee Candice Bergen (House) is a good bet, and Anika Noni Rose (The Good Wife) could also show up. In the final year of HBO’s drama series, past nominee Ellen Burstyn (Big Love) could also return to the list.

The predicted nominees: Aghdashloo, Bergen, Burton, Cusack, Messing, Stiles

The predicted winner: Cusack

Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series