Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series

The competition:
Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) plays Susie Myerson, an aspiring talent manager in the second season of the period Amazon comedy. Her costar Rachel Brosnahan is also nominated, and her show contends for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical. Both won the Globes last year, and Borstein took home an Emmy for this role this summer. This is her first Globe nomination. She also contends both individually and as a member of her ensemble at the SAG Awards.

Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects) plays Adora Crellin, an intense and domineering mother, in the dark HBO limited series. Her costar Amy Adams is also nominated for a Globe this year, and her show contends for Best Miniseries or Television Film. Clarkson was previously nominated for the film “Pieces of April” in 2003. She also contends for a SAG Award for this role.

Penelope Cruz (American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) plays fashion designer Donatella Versace in the second season of the FX anthology series. Her costars Darren Criss and Edgar Ramirez are also nominated this year, and her show contends for Best Miniseries or Television Film. Cruz has three previous film nominations at the Globes. She was nominated for an Emmy for this role this past summer and also contends for a SAG Award.

Thandie Newton (Westworld) plays Maeve Millay, a powerful host in a dangerous theme park in the second season of the mysterious HBO drama. Newton was nominated two years ago for her show’s first season, and took home an Emmy this past summer for this role. She is the lone representative of her show this time around after it contended for Best TV Series – Drama last time.

Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) plays Serena Joy Waterford, a high-placed wife in the second season of Hulu’s dystopian drama. This is her first Globe nomination, and she is joined by costar Elisabeth Moss, who won last year. She was nominated for an Emmy for this role this past summer and contends for a SAG Award as part of the ensemble.

Additional notes: Though Newton and Strahovski are nominated without their series being recognized in the top races, they shouldn’t be counted out because of how much their performances stood out this past season. This category often rewards limited series players but doesn’t really discriminate.
Who should win? I’ve only watched the first episodes of Clarkson and Cruz’s work. In the three episodes of Borstein’s performance I’ve seen so far this season, I will say that she’s absolutely hilarious. I wanted Newton to win so badly two years ago, and while I’d welcome it now, it’s Strahovski who truly deserves it for excellence this year.
Who will win? Feasibly, any of them could, and comparing these five extraordinarily different performances is going to be a challenge. I’m going to optimistically say Strahovski with minimal confidence.