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

The competition:

Gillian Anderson (The Crown) plays Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season of Netflix’s historical drama. She has five previous nominations, one for “Bleak House” and four for “The X-Files.” She won for the latter in 1996. Her show is the nominations leader.

Helena Bohnam Carter (The Crown) plays Princess Margaret in the fourth season of Netflix’s historical drama. She has five previous TV nominations, including one for this role last year, and three film bids. Her show is the nominations leader.

Julia Garner (Ozark) plays criminal entrepreneur Ruth Langmore in the third season of Netflix’s drama series. This is the first Globe nomination for the actress, who has won two Emmys for this role. Her show is also nominated for Best TV Series – Drama in addition to costars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.

Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) plays public relations guru Alexis Rose in the sixth and final season of the Pop TV comedy. This is her first Globe nomination. Her show is nominated for Best TV Series – Comedy/Musical, and all three of her main costars are in contention this year too.

Cynthia Nixon (Ratched) plays press secretary Gwendolyn Briggs in the first season of the Netflix psychological horror series. This is the sixth nomination for Nixon, who contended once for “Warm Springs” and four times for “Sex and the City.” Her show is nominated for Best TV Series – Drama, in addition to costar Sarah Paulson.

Additional notes: This is the first time in thirty years that all five nominees are from regular series. Garner defeated Carter at the Emmys this past fall, and Murphy won her category. Three previous nominees – Thandie Newton, Chrissy Metz, and Mandy Moore – were eligible this year but didn’t make the cut. This category often rewards limited series players, as it has done the past four years in a row, but it’s not all that consistent.
Who should win? This is a good list, though I’m not sure if Carter merits a placement for a very minimal role in season four. Anderson, on the other hand, was both prominent and terrific, and I think I’d choose her over the others.
Who will win? This feels like a safe win for Anderson to me.