Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 13th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Julia Garner, Thandie Newton, Fiona Shaw, Sarah Snook, Meryl Streep, Samira Wiley

The competition: This category actually has more eligible nominees from last year than was the case then with two years ago. Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown) is looking for her second consecutive nomination, while Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale) is hunting for her fourth, though her one win came when she competed in the guest category for season two of her show. Though Carter didn’t have much of a role on her show, she’s probably in, though she’ll face considerable internal competition, mainly from Golden Globe and SAG winner Gillian Anderson (The Crown), and maybe from Emerald Fennell (The Crown), Erin Doherty (The Crown), or even Marion Bailey (The Crown) if fans are feeling very enthusiastic. On her show, Wiley had more screentime than ever before, and she might have previously nominated costars Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) or Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) join her, and Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale) could also earn her first nomination. Even though those two shows could populate this entire category all by themselves, there are indeed other series on the air. Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country) should benefit from appearing in another high-profile role that aired during voting, “Loki,” and she might be in good company with any of her submitted costars, including Aunjanue Ellis (Lovecraft Country), Abbey Lee (Lovecraft Country), and Jamie Chung (Lovecraft Country). There’s also Cynthia Nixon (Ratched) and Judy Davis (Ratched), who could both score if Emmy voters decide they like Ryan Murphy’s latest. A past Emmy winner, Tatiana Maslany (Perry Mason), could be nominated, and I’d also hope voters made room for Juliet Rylance (Perry Mason) and Gayle Rankin (Perry Mason) too, though they seem much less likely. Don’t count out past nominee Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) or the never-nominated Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us), who might be honored since the show is consistent and good, but I think voters have mostly moved on. It would also be great to finally see Dominique Jackson (Pose) and Indya Moore (Pose) recognized, but I’m just not sure it will happen.

The predicted nominees: Anderson, Carter, Dowd, Maslany, Mosaku, Nixon, Strahovski, Wiley

The predicted winner: I don’t see anyone but Anderson winning this.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series