Nominees are pictured and listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.
Linda Cardellini as Sylvia Rosen, Mad Men (Man with a Plan)
The former “Freaks and Geeks” star is unrecognizable as Don’s married neighbor on AMC’s hit drama. Her past on that slight Emmy favorite might help her if voters are familiar with her name, but the fact that no actor on her show has ever won an Emmy all but negates her chances. Her submitted episode, however, is a knockout, showing her ride the rollercoaster of Don’s manipulation from enthralled participant to bored rebel intent on ending the charade.
Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson, Shameless (A Long Way From Home)
This third consecutive nomination for Cusack represents the biggest case of category fraud I’ve ever seen and demonstrates for the third time that voters don’t watch this show. Cusack’s frenzied mother is certainly a fantastic performance, but she’s far from the best element of this show (which I’d argue is a comedy), and is most definitely not a guest star. In her submitted episode, Cusack tries to deal with her boyfriend’s sex addiction, which gives her a fun platform to be weird as usual. I don’t think it’s enough for a win, but the fact that she’s in this race at all is baffling, so it’s hard to predict how she’ll fare.
Jane Fonda as Leona Lansing, The Newsroom (The 112th Congress)
One of the only elements of Aaron Sorkin’s drama that was nominated for an Emmy was Fonda’s scenery-chewing portrayal of an executive who always gets her way. Two-time Oscar winner Fonda has only once before been nominated for an Emmy, for 1984’s “The Dollmaker,” which she won. The show’s third episode, which marks her first appearance, is a great choice since it shows her wielding her fury for the first time. She’s certainly the showiest of these nominees.
Margo Martindale as Claudia, The Americans (The Colonel)
Martindale is clearly a new Emmy favorite, earning the lone non-technical nomination for FX’s freshman series after winning an Emmy for her tour de force supporting role on the second season of “Justified.” Her part on this show isn’t nearly as meaty or compelling, but it’s still one of the most dynamic in the submitted installment, the season finale, in which she grapples with her new fate and even gets to go into the field to execute a mission of her own.
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, The Good Wife (Je Ne Sais What?)
I nominated Preston for an AFT Award in this category last year, and thought that she might make the cut then for her multi-episode arc last year. Instead, she got recognized for an even more impressive episode in which she found herself on the other side of the courtroom as the defendant, maintaining her individuality all the way through. Her costar Martha Plimpton won this race last year, and I’d love to see Preston, who has a good shot, take it home this year.
Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell, Game of Thrones (And Now His Watch is Ended)
Rigg is here equally because of her status as a respected actress and the juicy nature of her role. As the matriarch of House Tyrell, she squares off with the Lannister family and manages to shame everyone into some sort of submission, including patriarch Tywin in her submitted episode. This is her sixth nomination (her first was in 1967), and she has won once, in 1997.
Who should win (based on entire season): N/A
Who will win (based on individual episodes): Rigg, Preston, or Cardellini
Who will win: It’s a battle between Rigg and Fonda, and I think the latter will be the victor.
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