Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama

The competition:
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) plays Alex Leavy, the co-anchor of a popular news show in Apple TV Plus’ freshman series. Aniston won a Globe in 2002 for her work on “Friends,” her second nomination for that role. She was also nominated for her work in the film “Cake” in 2014. In addition to costar Reese Witherspoon, her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama.

Olivia Colman (The Crown) plays Queen Elizabeth in the third season of Netflix’s historical drama, taking over the role from Claire Foy, who won this prize in 2016. Colman has a perfect track record at the Globes, taking home a film award last year for her work in “The Favourite,” which also managed to secure her an Oscar, and winning a TV prize in 2016 for “The Night Manager.” In addition to costars Tobias Menzies and Helena Bonham Carter, her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama.

Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) plays Villanelle, an assassin who takes great pleasure in the work she does, in the second season of the BBC America drama. Comer wasn’t nominated for a Globe last year – though her costar Sandra Oh won – but she managed to eclipse her and take home the Emmy this past year. This is her first Globe nomination. Her show also contends for Best TV Series – Drama.

Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) plays Celeste Wright, a mother and friend dealing with many issues in her life in the second season of HBO’s ensemble drama. She won a Globe two years ago for this role when the first season was considered a miniseries. She has another previous TV bid and eleven film nominations, three of which she won. In addition to costar Meryl Streep, her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama.

Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) plays Bradley Jackson, the newest addition to a popular news show in Apple TV Plus’ freshman series. Her only past TV nomination was for her work in a show nominated this year, “Big Little Lies.” She has four previous film nominations, winning in 2005 for “Walk the Line.” In addition to costar Jennifer Aniston, her show is up for Best TV Series – Drama.

Additional notes: This list is all new, with none of last year’s nominees (three were eligible) returning, including winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve). Previous winners Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Taraji P. Henson (Empire) were also eligible but not nominated this year. The star of a freshman series has won this award for the past six years in a row. Two actresses from the same show have been nominated before, for “The Sopranos,” “L.A. Law,” “Cagney and Lacey,” and “Dynasty,” among others, which hasn’t stopped one of them from winning.
Who should win? I actually watch all these shows! Kidman did great work in her show’s second season, and I like both Aniston and Witherspoon. To me, it’s a difficult choice between Comer and Colman, both so excellent in such different ways.
Who will win? This very competitive category comes down, I think, to Colman versus Aniston. It seems strange to predict Colman to lose, but I think that’s what happens here.