Sunday, June 30, 2019

Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series


The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 16th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Claire Foy, Tatiana Maslany, Elisabeth Moss, Sandra Oh, Keri Russell, Evan Rachel Wood

The competition: This category is ripe for tremendous change this year, with just one nominee from last year in the running. That’s Sandra Oh (Killing Eve), who took home both the Golden Globe and SAG this past year for season one of her show. Claire Foy and Tatiana Maslany have both finished their runs, and have trophies to show for them, while Keri Russell’s series is also over. Elisabeth Moss’ show just returns, but not in time to be eligible, and Evan Rachel Wood’s series will be back sometime in 2020. Though Oh’s costar Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) seems like a shoo-in given her show’s popularity, I’m very concerned that the sensational actress will be left off the list given how Oh has achieved so much solo recognition thus far. Five past nominees could return to the fold, though their circumstances are all different. Robin Wright (House of Cards) was nominated the last time her show was eligible, and if voters were more impressed with the final season of her show than I was, she’ll likely be back. Though Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) technically broke her three-nomination streak last year, she was nominated for guest-starring as the same character on “Scandal,” and she could be honored again in this category. Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) was nominated three times in the supporting race, and, if voters aren’t against the show, she’s very deserving of praise for its final season. Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Apocalypse) has been nominated five times for the anthology series, and it’s a question mark how the program will do now that it’s no longer considered a limited series. And then there’s Christine Baranski (The Good Fight), who earned six nominations for playing the same character on “The Good Wife,” and many think her CBS All Access spinoff will break through this year. This might be the year for four-time Globe honoree Caitriona Balfe (Outlander), two-time SAG nominee Laura Linney (Ozark), or past Globe nominee Mandy Moore (This Is Us), though if last year’s showcase wasn’t enough to get her in, I don’t think this year will be either. It’s fair to assume that Julia Roberts (Homecoming) will make the cut as long as voters don’t forget about her show. Mj Rodriguez (Pose) might also show up, as could any other number of freshman series stars.

The predicted nominees: Clarke, Comer, Linney, Oh, Roberts, Wright

The predicted winner: It seems like Oh has unparalleled momentum, though I’d be ecstatic if it went to Comer if she can get nominated.

Next up: Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

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