Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a TV Series - Drama

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:
Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)
Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale)
Sandra Oh (Killing Eve)
Julia Roberts (Homecoming)
Keri Russell (The Americans)

New contenders:
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
Olivia Colman (The Crown)
Regina King (Watchmen)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)
Zendaya (Euphoria)

Potential first-time nominees:
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)
Mj Rodriguez (Pose)
Sarah Snook (Succession)

Newly eligible in this category:
Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies)
Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies)

Past nominees:
Mandy Moore (This Is Us)

This list is likely to experience a major shakeup, even with three of its nominees eligible again. I’d think that Balfe is finally off the list after unexpected returns each year, and Moss is probably gone too after her show, which won the top category two years ago, was less off last year. The winner of this award last year, Oh, would have been a shoo-in had her costar Jodie Comer not beat her for the Emmy, so it’s possibly both, neither, or just one of them will make the cut. There are two other duos who are strong contenders: Kidman and Witherspoon, last nominated in the miniseries race for the first season of their show. The other pair is Aniston and Witherspoon again for Apple TV Plus’ new flagship show. I see a scenario in which Witherspoon gets two nominations, but I’m just not sure. The other contender to depend on to be here is Colman, an Oscar winner last year taking over for Claire Foy, who won this category three years ago for the same role. Other possibilities include King, who is more beloved by the Emmy Awards than Globe voters, and Zendaya, both of whom star on hot new HBO shows. I’d expect some surprises here in this very crowded field.

Current predictions:
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
Olivia Colman (The Crown)
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies)
Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)