Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

I had the chance to dive deep into this category for The Film Experience – head over there to read my analysis!

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 7/8

The only nominee I missed here is Chrissy Metz, whose show was almost completely shut out. The person who got her slot is Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), who I didn’t think would get in after years of snubs but finally made the cut this year. New shows brought Jung Ho-yeon (Squid Game), Patricia Arquette (Severance), and Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets) nominations, while J. Smith-Cameron (Succession) scored her first nomination, joining previously nominated costar Sarah Snook (Succession). Two-time winner Julia Garner (Ozark) is back and likely to win again, especially because she has another bid for “Inventing Anna,” and it’s great to see another double nominee this year, Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria).

Who should win? What a list! Maybe Garner, Seehorn, or Sweeney?
Who will win? I see Garner winning again, but this is very competitive.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Gillian Anderson, Madeline Brewer, Helena Bonham Carter, Ann Dowd, Aunjanue Ellis, Emerald Fennell, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley

The competition: Not a single one of last year’s nominees is eligible this year. But a number of women nominated the last time they were are back in contention, like Sarah Snook (Succession), Julia Garner (Ozark), and Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve). It’s also worth keeping an eye on past nominees Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), though Brown may be eclipsed by her popular costar Sadie Sink (Stranger Things). Strong contenders from returning shows include J. Smith-Cameron (Succession), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Julianna Margulies (The Morning Show), and Glenn Close (Tehran), with Patricia Arquette (Severance), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets), Jung Ho-yeon (Squid Game), and Yuh-jung Youn (Pachinko) at the top of the list of new contenders. I wouldn’t count out Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age), Denée Benton (The Gilded Age), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki), Sophia Di Martino (Loki). And what does Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) have to do to get nominated? I’m not predicting her but would be thrilled to be wrong.

The predicted nominees: Arquette, Garner, Ho-yeon, Metz, Ricci, Smith-Cameron, Snook, Sweeney

The predicted winner: I think Garner triumphs again.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

I've had the pleasure of covering some of the Emmy races for The Film Experience this year. Click here to read my detailed analysis and predictions for this category.

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 5/8

Here we have eight slots and only three shows, which is a bit startling even if it was somewhat expected. I’m glad to see Madeline Brewer (The Handmaid’s Tale) recognized alongside past nominees Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale), besting the show’s previous three-nomination get in this category. Next up was Emerald Fennell (The Crown), getting a boost from her Oscar win for “Promising Young Woman” to join Gillian Anderson (The Crown) and Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown), sadly leaving Erin Doherty out in the cold. And, most surprisingly, Aunjanie Ellis (Lovecraft Country) was her show’s nominee rather than Wunmi Mosaku. There really is a lot of talent here even if I wouldn’t have chosen all of these performers over others.

Who should win? Anderson
Who will win? This should still go to Anderson without much trouble.

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

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

This is the eighth category of the 14th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2019-2020 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Nazanin Boniadi, April Bowlby, Keeley Hawes, Susan Kelechi Watson, Maisie Williams

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

Finalists: Laura Dern (Big Little Lies), Holly Hunter (Succession), Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), Janet McTeer (Ozark), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show), Indya Moore (Pose), Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria), Stephanie Allynne (The L Word: Generation Q), Julia Garner (Ozark), Sarah Snook (Succession), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things)

The nominees:

Bel Powley (The Morning Show)
Dominique Jackson (Pose)
Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown)
Thandie Newton (Westworld)

The winner:

Hunter Schafer (Euphoria) crafted one of the most intriguing characters on a show filled with mesmerizing personalities, putting up shields to protect herself while allowing Jules to be vulnerable even knowing the risks it brought.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

I've had the pleasure of covering some of the Emmy races for The Film Experience this year. Click here to read my detailed analysis and predictions for this category.

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 6/8, missing Shaw and Wiley

There was so much room in this category to make sure that Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) finally got nominated after so many consecutive snubs. I can’t take issue with the inclusion of Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) since she really was fantastic this season, but I can’t understand the selection of past guest acting winner Samira Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale) over her costars Ann Dowd and Yvonne Strahovski, or over my other prediction, Janet McTeer (Ozark). Despite their show being snubbed pretty much everywhere else, both Laura Dern (Big Little Lies) and Meryl Streep (Big Little Lies) did get in. The same goes for past winner Thandie Newton (Westworld), who was excellent this season. The other three nominees have strong support for their shows: Sarah Snook (Succession), Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown), and last year’s winner Julia Garner (Ozark). Not a bad list overall, even if I would have included a handful of other actresses.

Who should win? Carter, Dern, or Newton
Who will win? I give the edge to Carter over Streep and Snook.

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

This is the sixth category of the 13th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2018-2019 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Alexis Bledel, Ann Dowd, Thandie Newton, Yvonne Strahovski, Susan Kelechi Watson

Emmy nominees: Gwendoline Christie, Julia Garner, Lena Headey, Fiona Shaw, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams

Finalists: Julia Garner (Ozark), Sarah Snook (Succession)

The nominees:

April Bowlby (Doom Patrol)
Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us)
Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones)
Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard)

The winner:

Nazanin Boniadi (Counterpart) masterfully kept a handle on opposing forces threatening to tear her life apart.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth, Game of Thrones (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms)
This is the first nomination for Christie, who submitted her own name for consideration when HBO didn’t include her in its campaign. She’s a fan favorite who’s done reliable work throughout the years, but nothing matches her emotional turn in a dialogue-heavy episode close to the show’s end that sees her achieving an unexpected rank as mortal danger looms. It’s a formidable submission, and may just be what she needs to defeat her three costars with bigger roles.

Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore, Ozark (The Gold Coast)
This is the first nomination for Garner, who also contended for an individual SAG Award this past year. She’s definitely a very memorable part of her show, demonstrating a real inner rage that manifests itself externally multiple times an episode. I was actually more impressed with her work in earlier episodes, while the season finale emphasizes a dramatic arc relevant to her character that might have seemed like good awards bait. With four actresses from one show likely to split the vote, she’s got a good shot, but she’s far from a sure thing.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Bells)
This is Headey’s fifth consecutive nomination, with a staggering three costars nominated alongside her after she was her show’s sole female nominee last time. I thought she was definitely going to win for the show’s fifth season finale, but now she has the chance to be rewarded for all of her work for the swan song. Many seem to think she can win, but I don’t think that her final showcase is all that strong since she plays such a minimal, inactive role in her submitted episode, which I believe features stronger performances from her nominated costars Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams.

Fiona Shaw as Carolyn Martens, Killing Eve (Nice and Neat)
This is the first time Shaw has been nominated for an Emmy, and she also contends for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for “Fleabag.” Though she’s not one of the two lead characters on her show, Shaw still stands out as the savvy, sarcastic boss who knows much more than she’s letting on. Shaw smartly submitted an episode that demonstrates her deadpan skill, especially in sharing scenes with Sandra Oh. A nomination for Shaw makes sense, but a win seems like a bit of a stretch in this crowd.

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones (Winterfell)
This is the first nomination for Turner, who has been a series regular on her show since the beginning. Turner, facing competition from three of her costars, picked a smart episode to showcase Sansa, the season premiere in which she puts on a steely front to the arriving queen who wants to take over her kingdom. She’s definitely not the strongest of the actresses of her show, and it would be pretty shocking if she managed to eclipse any of them to take this award home despite a solid episode choice.

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, Game of Thrones (The Long Night)
This is the second nomination for Williams, who was previously nominated in 2016 for the sixth season of her show. I personally think she was the most valuable player next to Peter Dinklage, and she could have chosen a few different episodes to showcase her superb work. Her selection of the intense extended third hour was very smart since she plays a key role in its final scene. For some reason, she doesn’t seem to have the buzz she needs to win, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if she won for a deserving and impressive final effort.

Who should win (based on entire season):
Williams or Garner Who should win (based on individual episodes): Williams
Who will win: I’ve been wanting to say Williams, or maybe even Garner, but I think that Christie is going to pull it off.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 4/6, missing Christie and Turner

I read the nominees in this category too quickly, and didn’t notice the sad fact that, despite four male performers getting nominated, Rhea Seehorn still couldn’t manage a nomination. Instead, there are four nominees from the year’s most popular show, with fan favorite Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) joining Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) and past nominees Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). They were good, sure, but I don’t know that they needed to dominate this category, especially with the deserving female cast members of “This Is Us” left out while their male costars continue to be nominated. Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), who also scored a guest acting nomination for “Fleabag,” got swept up in the popularity of her show, which I’m all for since she’s very good in it. Rounding out the category is Julia Garner (Ozark), an actress I like a lot on a show I don’t watch, and I’m happy she made the cut following her SAG bid.

Who should win? Williams put in the most effort in my mind for this season, but I’m not too behind any one nominee here.
Who will win? Vote-splitting seems likely to impact the GOT stars, but I still think Williams can triumph.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting 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: Alexis Bledel, Millie Bobby Brown, Ann Dowd, Lena Headey, Vanessa Kirby, Thandie Newton, Yvonne Strahovski

The competition: This category is the craziest of all, with literally one nominee from last year eligible. Defending champ Thandie Newton will contend again once her show returns, whenever that may be, Vanessa Kirby won’t be part of the next iteration of her show, and Alexis Bledel, Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski, and Millie Bobby Brown will all have the chance to be praised again once their new seasons, airing this summer, are up for consideration next year. That leaves Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) all but certain to return, along with her previously nominated costar Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), as well as another costar submitted by HBO, Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones). It’s also possible that fan favorite Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) can break through from a crowded ensemble. Watch out for two nominees from two years ago to return, Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) and Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), though Aduba hasn’t been the standout player on her show for a while and Metz should be joined by Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us), her very deserving costar. She has yet to be nominated, but this seems like the time for Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) to finally be honored alongside her male costars. It’s questionable whether Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) and Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard) will be cited along with the showier stars of their shows. Hiam Abbass (Succession) could also be nominated. SAG honoree Julia Garner (Ozark) is probably a good bet, even if voters don’t embrace her show as much as that guild.

The predicted nominees: Garner, Headey, Seehorn, Shaw, Watson, Williams

The predicted winner: I think Williams takes it.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

This is the sixth category of the 12th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2017-2018 season. This year, I’m including a shorter list, with just nominees and a few finalists, if applicable. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Nina Arianda, Carly Chaikin, Grace Gummer, Thandie Newton, Aubrey Plaza

Emmy nominees: Alexis Bledel, Millie Bobby Brown, Ann Dowd, Lena Headey, Vanessa Kirby, Thandie Newton, Yvonne Strahovski

Finalists: Jane Adams (Sneaky Pete), Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), Aubrey Plaza (Legion)

The nominees:

Thandie Newton (Westworld)
Ann Dowd (Good Behavior)
Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid's Tale)
Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us)

The winner:

Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) transformed a character who had been an unapologetic villain into someone far more complex and full of contradictions that made her question her life choices.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Alexis Bledel as Emily, The Handmaid’s Tale (Unwomen)
Bledel won for this role in the Best Guest Actress category last year, and now swaps places with Samira Wiley for the show’s second season. With more screentime and an expanded role this year, Bledel was equally impressive, and her submission is just as strong as it was in season one. Tracking how she went from an out college professor to inmate in a totalitarian work camp is incredible, and Bledel will surely get votes for her performance. She’ll just have to contend against her costars in this category.

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Stranger Things (Chapter Three: The Pollywog)
This is the second consecutive nomination for the fourteen-year-old breakout star of HBO’s supernatural hit, which wasn’t quite as popular in its second season with Emmy voters, dropping from nineteen bids to twelve. Her submission gives Eleven a great opportunity to see what life is like without her in it, showcasing Brown’s strengths as an actress. If she was going to win, though, it would have been last year when her show was red-hot.

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, The Handmaid’s Tale (June)
Dowd was doubly nominated last year, up for her guest role on “The Leftovers” and taking home the trophy for this part. Dowd is back with a powerful submission, the season premiere in which she gets to exact punishment on the handmaids for their rebellious actions. I think that one of her two nominated costars deserves the win this year, but historically Emmy voters have gotten attached to one cast member and given them trophy after trophy. She surprised last year, and don’t count her out this year.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones (The Dragon and the Wolf)
This is Headey’s fourth consecutive nomination, making a return to the category after her show sat last season out. It’s the first time since her first bid that she’s the lone contender from her show in this category, with her two onscreen brothers also nominated. While the two of them have softened over time, Cersei hasn’t at all, and her submission of the season finale is a strong one, showing her at her most unforgiving. That said, she didn’t win for the season five finale that seemed like a shoo-in, and so I’d be surprised if she won now without that same buzz.

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, The Crown (Beryl)
Kirby wasn’t a sure thing to earn her first Emmy nomination, but it’s easy to understand why Emmy voters were impressed by her very memorable – and angry – portrayal of the sister of the queen who isn’t at all happy with the rules she has to follow. Her episode really is a knockout, as she gets close to someone and lets go in a way she hasn’t before. I don’t know that she has enough momentum to pull off a win, but it would be a deserved upset that could happen.

Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay, Westworld (Akane No Mai)
I was sure that Newton was going to win last year and then she didn’t, so I’m not eager to predict her again. That said, her episode is one that makes a case for Maeve as the most powerful character on this show, and Newton is terrific in it, finding her voice and realizing just how much of a threat she truly is to those who oppose her. It’s a crowded category, and the only thing she has going against her is that her show isn’t as beloved as that of her costars.

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford, The Handmaid’s Tale (Women’s Work)
It’s great to see Strahovski here, joining last year’s winners Bledel and Dowd. The onetime “Chuck” star has created a very hateable character in Serena, who treats the title handmaid cruelly because of the way she perceives the world. Seeing what Serena does when she briefly gets power is incredible, and though I might have chosen the next episode that takes her on a trip to Canada, this is a fantastic submission that would have me voting for Strahovski and I imagine will have many voters picking her as well.

Who should win (based on entire season): Strahovski, Bledel, Newton, or Brown
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Strahovski or Bledel
Who will win: This is a very competitive category. I’m worried it will be Dowd again but for now I’ll pick Strahovski over Bledel, though I suppose someone from another show could win too.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 5/7, picking Chrissy Metz over Kirby and Strahovski

There are seven nominees in this category, but most notable is the omission of a sure thing from last year who had more than ample material this year: Chrissy Metz. This is the first time since “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2007 that one show has three nominees, with last year’s winner in this category, Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), last year’s winner in the guest category, Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale), and a very worthwhile new addition, Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) representing the third-place nominations leader. I’m not sure that Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) needed to be on the list this year, while Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) and Thandie Newton (Westworld) were indisputably vital holdovers from last year. Rounding out the list is the one actress who won’t play the same role again in the future, Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), who definitely made the most of her time on the show.

Who should win? Newton is always terrific, and Brown was great, but I think I’d go with Strahovski.
Who will win? I suppose it could be Dowd again, and Newton might win too. My pick right now is Strahovski, though Bledel could easily end up the winner also.

Emmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, July 12th. As always, chime in below in the comments with any thoughts of your own.

Last year’s nominees: Uzo Aduba, Millie Bobby Brown, Ann Dowd, Chrissy Metz, Thandie Newton, Samira Wiley

The competition: All but one of last year’s nominees are in the running again, with Wiley headed to the guest category and likely to have her spot filled by Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale), promoted from the guest race. Two-time winner Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) returned with a nomination last year after being snubbed the year before, and she’s the most vulnerable since her show has fallen out of favor with Emmy voters in almost all other categories. The other four nominees are pretty safe: winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), and Thandie Newton (Westworld), and so it’s hard to decide which of them will be knocked out. Though former nominee Emilia Clarke has been promoted to the lead category, her costars Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) are back in contention after their show took a season off last year. Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us) could also join previously nominated costars thanks to expanded plotlines this season, and the same goes for Vanessa Kirby (The Crown). Veteran guest nominee and winner Margo Martindale (The Americans) could also earn a farewell promotion to this category.

The predicted nominees: Bledel, Brown, Dowd, Headey, Metz, Newton

The predicted winner: I think Bledel wins this time.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

This is the sixth category of the 11th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2016-2017 season. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Last year’s nominees: Jamie Clayton, Regina King, Rhea Seehorn, Rachael Taylor, Maura Tierney

Emmy nominees: Uzo Aduba, Millie Bobby Brown, Ann Dowd, Chrissy Metz, Thandie Newton, Samara Wiley

Semi-finalists: Abigail Spencer (Rectify), Amy Brenneman (The Leftovers), Andrea Riseborough (National Treasure), Ann Dowd (The Handmaid's Tale), Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex), Cassidy Freeman (Longmire), Emily Berrington (Humans), Emily Hampshire (12 Monkeys), Floriana Lima (Supergirl), J. Smith-Cameron (Rectify), Jamie Clayton (Sense8), Julie Walters (National Treasure), Katee Sackhoff (Longmire), Katherine Parkinson (Humans), Katie McGrath (Supergirl), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Legends of Tomorrow), Margo Martindale (Sneaky Pete), Maria Bello (Goliath), Maura Tierney (The Affair), Melanie Liburd (Dark Matter), Molly Parker (Goliath), Olivia Thirlby (Goliath), Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), Samara Wiley (The Handmaid's Tale), Shannon Woodward (Westworld), Simone Missick (Luke Cage), Tania Raymonde (Goliath), Tena Desae (Sense8), Tessa Thompson (Westworld), Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid's Tale), Zoie Palmer (Dark Matter)

Finalists: Marin Ireland (Sneaky Pete) was a great sarcastic foil to the title character, much more tuned into what was going on around her than most of her family. Jean Smart (Legion) is wonderful in so many different roles, and her part here was perfect for her, full of confident wisdom yet still so in awe of what was happening around her. Betty Gilpin (Masters of Sex) changed her new workplace dramatically with her presence and became one of her show’s most interesting characters. Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) was a huge breakout thanks to her shy, focused performance contradicted so majestically by her immense power. Mallory Jansen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) turned what could have been a very one-note character into a formidable and dynamic entity overwhelmed by the amazing power of emotions and life.

The nominees:

Aubrey Plaza (Legion) made the leap from comedy to terrifying drama as a dangerous mental construct with frightening abilities. Grace Gummer (Mr. Robot) and Carly Chaikin (Mr. Robot) were incredibly watchable elements of a show dominated by a magnetic central character, each on opposite sides of a fierce battle for what they believed to be democracy. Nina Arianda (Goliath) was a fantastic and funny outspoken personality not consent to be stifled or trampled on and more than willing to let anyone know it.

The winner:

Thandie Newton (Westworld) captured the unknowable feeling of achieving consciousness from mind control, and watching her realize her surroundings and then take terrifying advantage of them was amazing.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.

Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes, Orange is the New Black (People Persons)
Aduba has won both times she was previously nominated, two years ago in this category and the year before that as a comedy guest actress back when this show was classified differently. After her show was almost completely shut out last year, Aduba is her back for her portrayal of endearing inmate Suzanne Warren, better known as Crazy Eyes. Her submitted episode explains her backstory in a very sympathetic and tragic way, and then shows her letting out her rage in the present. There’s no denying she’s good, but she wasn’t the best performer on her show this year and can’t really compare to the five fresh faces against whom she’s competing in this race.

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Stranger Things (The Bathtub)
Newcomer Brown is just thirteen years old and was nominated earlier this season for a SAG Award for her performance as telekinetic outcast Eleven, who, freed from a science experiment, befriends a few young boys searching for their missing friend. She’s an easy character to love, and in her submitted episode, she finally connects with everyone else, in addition to flipping a van over with her mind. It’s a competitive category, but don’t be surprised at all if her name is called.

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, The Handmaid’s Tale (Offred)
Dowd should have been nominated in this category two years ago for “The Leftovers” and for an Oscar for her performance in the film “Compliance” in 2012. Finally, she’s getting some recognition, including a bid for her guest turn on “The Leftovers” this year. I cited Dowd as the “strongest instance of casting in saw in the opening hour” of her show, and it’s true that “Aunt” Lydia, who leads the brainwashing and terrorizing effort on young woman forced into primitive religious servitude, is often worse than the men who dominate that society. She’d be a great choice for the win; I’m just not sure her part is large enough to garner a substantial percentage of votes.

Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson, This Is Us (Pilot)
This is the first Emmy nomination for Metz, who contended for a Golden Globe earlier in the season alongside costar Mandy Moore, who didn’t earn an Emmy mention. Metz plays a very sympathetic role on her show, which is beloved by viewers and apparently by voters too. Submitting the pilot is smart because that’s the episode everyone really loved, and it gives Metz a great platform since Kate is struggling with her weight and first meets Toby at a support group. I don’t think it’s enough for her to win against stronger contenders in this category, but it’s possible.

Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay, Westworld (Trace Decay)
I’ve made sure to write as often as I can that I’m fully behind Newton, who was nominated by both the Golden Globes and SAG earlier this season but didn’t win either award, being rewarded for her exceptional performance. I remember her from a lackluster turn in “Mission Impossible II” and much stronger work in “Crash,” but this is something on an entirely different level. Her submitted episode finds her testing out the limits of her newfound knowledge and power, and it’s an easy case for her to win, which I wish she would but I’m not sure because of the competitive nature of this category.

Samira Wiley as Moira, The Handmaid’s Tale (Night)
I might argue that first-time nominee Wiley should be here for another show, "Orange is the New Black,” instead, but there’s no denying that she’s also very good as a handmaid who made it out on this dystopian drama. Her selected episode is the season finale, in which she arrives in a new place and is overwhelmed by what she finds there. She can’t compare to costar Dowd based on this episode, so I think her nomination will serve as her reward.

Who should win (based on entire season): Newton, Brown, or Dowd
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Newton or Brown
Who will win: I’m torn. The easiest answer would be that Aduba would repeat, and Metz could also score a win. Brown will get votes, for sure, but I’m still going to go with my pick: Newton. Let’s see if it happens.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Emmy Nominees: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

My predictions: 3/7, missing Aduba, Dowd, and Wiley

This category is notable for a few reasons. The first is that, even though only two of last year’s nominees were eligible, this lineup is entirely different. Only one nominee, Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), who previously won twice, is from a returning show. She’s not necessarily the one I would have picked to honor from her show, though she is a good choice. One of the actresses I would have selected got nominated for another series, and that’s Samara Wiley (The Handmaid’s Tale), joining Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale) recognizing a terrific series and two superb supporting actresses in excellent roles. I still have to watch Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) to see what all the buzz is about, and Chrissy Metz (This Is Us) was an expected choice. I’m extremely relieved that Thandie Newton (Westworld) made the cut since she was so incredible on her show.

Who should win? I need to watch Brown, but I’m all about Newton right now.
Who will win? It’s a competitive category – I’ll give the edge to Brown but may change that after I’ve seen her show.