AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

This is the sixth category of the 7th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2012-2013 seasons. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Christina Hendricks, Amy Manson, Archie Panjabi, Kathleen Robertson, Maisie Williams

Emmy nominees: Morena Baccarin, Christine Baranski, Emilia Clarke, Anna Gunn, Christina Hendricks, Maggie Smith

Semi-finalists: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Joelle Carter (Justified), January Jones (Mad Men), Jessica Pare (Mad Men), Monica Potter (Parenthood), Maggie Siff (Sons of Anarchy), Sarah Jones (Vegas), Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead), Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead)

Finalists: Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) made a new friend while trying to stay ever relevant in an increasingly populated office. Erin Way (Alphas) didn’t remember much about herself, but she was always excitable and a welcome positive presence on her often dark show. Morena Baccarin (Homeland) took matters into her own hands and found her own voice when she realized that she and her husband no longer saw eye to eye. Kate Mara (House of Cards) was guided by her naïve curiosity, and, though she made enemies along the way, blazed forward with an intrepid sense of determination. Abigail Spencer (Rectify) stole the show in her series’ first episode, and made it clear that messing with her or her family was a bad idea.

The nominees:

Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire) turned in a tragic turn of a lonely woman motivated by false hope of a more rewarding life. Katee Sackhoff (Longmire) returned to television with an above-average role on an above-average procedural that gave her just the right venue to be spunky. Sanaa Lathan (Boss) and Kathleen Robertson (Boss) represented polar opposites unable to break free of the influence of the show’s title character.

The winner:

Alison Pill (The Newsroom) pretty much never stopped talking in her show’s first season, spouting off Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue with a visible cheeriness and commitment to providing quality television and entertainment.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series