Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a TV Series

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Olivia Colman (The Night Manager)
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
Chrissy Metz (This Is Us)
Mandy Moore (This Is Us)
Thandie Newton (This Is Us)

New contenders:
Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Judy Davis (Feud: Bette and Joan)
Laura Dern (Big Little Lies)
Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Nicole Kidman (Top of the Lake: China Girl)
Michelle Pfeiffer (The Wizard of Lies)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Fargo)
Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies)

Potential first-time nominees:
Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things)

Category switch?
Winona Ryder (Stranger Things)

Past nominees:
Megan Mullally (Will and Grace)

Colman was the star of a limited series, Moore got promoted to the lead category, and Newton’s show won’t be back until next year. Headey is a decent bet to return, though her role in season seven of her show wasn’t as prominent, whereas Metz has been featured just as much and is very likely to be back. Mullally, a four-time nominee, was last here fourteen years ago and is very likely to return this year. Emmy winners Dowd, Bledel, and Dern all seem very likely too, though I’m pulling for Winstead, whose nomination would feel like Michelle Monaghan’s inclusion for “True Detective” a few years back after her Emmy snub. Woodley also has a good shot if her limited series is popular with voters. Lead acting nominee Ryder might also move to this race, but it’s not clear where she’ll end up, and the more popular Brown might show up here after Emmy and SAG nods.

Current predictions:
Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale) 
Laura Dern (Big Little Lies)
Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Megan Mullally (Will and Grace)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Fargo)