SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Elle Fanning (The Great), Sandra Oh (The Chair), Jean Smart (Hacks), Juno Temple (Ted Lasso), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)

For your information: This is not the first SAG nomination for any of these actresses, but it is the first for these roles. Fanning, Temple, and Waddingham were all nominated as part of their ensembles for their shows’ first seasons last year, and Fanning has an additional previous bid for the “Trumbo” cast back in 2015. Smart was up as part of the “24” cast in 2006 and has another nomination this year for her performance in “Mare of Easttown.” Oh has won two individual prizes, for “Killing Eve” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and two ensemble wins, for “Sideways” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” with two additional bids for the latter. All but Oh are also nominated as part of their ensembles. Supporting actresses have won this prize eleven times in twenty-six years. Out of ten times that two women from the same show have contended for this prize, only twice did it lead to a win, in 2018 for Rachel Brosnahan and last year for Catherine O’Hara. Waddingham beat Temple at the Emmys for season one of her show, and Smart won the lead actress prize.

Who should win? This is a terrific list. I’d love to see Fanning win but everyone else would be great too.

Who will win? I think Smart should be able to win this.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Christina Applegate (Dead to Me), Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me), Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant), Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek)

None of last year’s nominees are eligible again, which should hopefully make room for someone who should have been nominated last year, Elle Fanning (The Great). Past nominees Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) and Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) are probably eligible this year for the four episodes their show aired, but that’s it for previously-honored comediennes. She’s never been nominated by SAG outside the ensemble race, but Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) might earn her first bid now. The same goes for Issa Rae (Insecure), whose show has now finished its run. New options include Jean Smart (Hacks), Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Sandra Oh (The Chair), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), and Juno Temple (Ted Lasso). There’s also Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That), who earned four nominations and one win two decades ago for the same role on “Sex and the City.”

Current predictions:
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
Elle Fanning (The Great)
Issa Rae (Insecure)
Jean Smart (Hacks)
Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso)

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Christina Applegate’s angry widow (Dead to Me), Linda Cardellini’s well-intentioned friend (Dead to Me), Kaley Cuoco’s frazzled flight attendant (The Flight Attendant), Annie Murphy’s PR guru (Schitt’s Creek) and Catherine O’Hara’s eccentric actress (Schitt’s Creek).

For your information: Both eligible nominees from last year are back. In addition to last year’s bid, O’Hara was nominated in 2010 for “Temple Grandin” and as part of her ensemble last year, along with Murphy, who earns her first solo bid this year. In addition to last year, Applegate was nominated three times in a row in this category for “Samantha Who?” a decade ago. She’s joined by costar Cardellini, who was nominated as part of the “Brokeback Mountain” ensemble in 2005. Cuoco contended six times as part of the “Big Bang Theory” ensemble, most recently in 2016. O’Hara and Murphy both won Emmys this past fall, and O’Hara won the Golden Globe. Supporting actresses have won this prize eleven times in twenty-six years. Out of nine times that two women from the same show have contended for this prize, only once did it lead to a win, in 2018 for Rachel Brosnahan. This is only the third time in SAG history, after 2003 and 2018, that two shows have earned two nominations each in the same year. All three shows represented here also have their ensembles nominated.

Who should win? Cuoco was terrific, but I’d choose Cardellini for her incredible and underappreciated work.

Who will win? I don’t see how O’Hara loses this.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Christina Applegate (Dead to Me), Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag)

Waller-Bridge’s show ended, and Borstein and Brosnahan will surely compete when their show eventually returns to air its fourth season. The other two nominees from last year, Christina Applegate (Dead to Me) and Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), should be set to return, and the question is whether they’ll be joined by their costars Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me) and Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek). Previous nominees Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie), Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie), Debra Messing (Will and Grace), and Megan Mullally (Will and Grace) could garner votes, but I think new blood is likelier. Issa Rae (Insecure) and Pamela Adlon (Better Things) have never been nominated but their shows have recently earned renewed accolades. Emmy voters chose Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) again, so she could be nominated here too. The Critics Choice Association honored Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows), who might show up here. I’ll bet on two new contenders, Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) and Elle Fanning (The Great), and I would be legitimately surprised if Jane Levy (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) got selected here since I think she has a much better shot at the Golden Globes.

Current predictions:
Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)
Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)
Elle Fanning (The Great)
Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek)
Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek)

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Christina Applegate’s angry widow (Dead to Me), Alex Borstein’s sarcastic manager (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Rachel Brosnahan’s budding comic (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Catherine O’Hara’s eccentric actress (Schitt’s Creek), and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s excitable café owner (Fleabag).

For your information: Only two nominees are back from last year despite them all being eligible: defending champion Brosnahan and her costar Borstein. They both shared in the ensemble prize last year. Borstein took home a Critics’ Choice Award for the third season of her show. Applegate was nominated three times in a row in this category for “Samantha Who?” a decade ago. O’Hara was nominated in 2010 for “Temple Grandin.” This is the first nomination for Waller-Bridge, who won the Emmy, Globe, and Critics’ Choice Award. All but Applegate are also nominated as part of their ensembles. Out of nine times that two women from the same show have contended for this prize, only last year resulted in a win.

Who should win? I’m a big fan of this list even if my enthusiasm for O’Hara is less strong than most I know. Honestly, I’d be happy with any of the other four winning, though it’s the last hurrah for Waller-Bridge, who really was excellent.

Who will win? I’m tempted to predict Brosnahan to repeat but Waller-Bridge feels like a lock.

SAG Nominees: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 3/5, missing Applegate and O’Hara
Who’s missing? Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Alison Brie (GLOW), Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie), Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie), Kirsten Dunst (On Becoming a God in Central Florida)

Three of last year’s eligible nominees are out, replaced by the star of one new show and two that haven’t previously been honored by this group. I’m most excited by the inclusion of Christina Applegate (Dead to Me), though I really wish that her costar Linda Cardellini was also getting the credit she deserves. I didn’t even note until now the omission of Louis-Dreyfus in favor of Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), someone whose inclusion surely delights many more than it does me. Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) is a wonderful choice, and she joins Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), who still managed to score a spot despite missing out on a Golden Globe bid yesterday. Everyone but Applegate is also nominated as part of their ensembles.

Who will win? I think this goes to Waller-Bridge.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Alison Brie (GLOW), Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie), Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)

Like the corresponding male category, all five women are eligible again. That said, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), who took home this award three times out of five nominations, should be back after her show took a year off. Last year’s winner Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and her costar Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) should both be back, while it’s not as clear that they’ll be room for Alison Brie (GLOW), Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie), and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie). It’s all but guaranteed that Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) will make the cut, and she may be joined by Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) and a past nominee in this category, Christina Applegate (Dead to Me). It’s possible that Olivia Colman (Fleabag) could score here too, but I doubt it.

Current predictions:
Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag)

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Alex Borstein’s sarcastic manager (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Alison Brie’s wrestler actress (GLOW), Rachel Brosnahan’s budding comic (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Jane Fonda’s retired executive (Grace and Frankie), and Lily Tomlin’s eccentric artist (Grace and Frankie).

For your information: This is the third consecutive nomination for both Fonda and Tomlin, who was previously nominated for “The West Wing.” This is the second consecutive bid for Brie. Brosnahan, who took home the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Award, was previously nominated as part of the “House of Cards” ensemble in 2014. Borstein contended as part of the ensemble for the film “Good Night, and Good Luck” in 2005. Brie, Brosnahan, and Borstein are nominated as part of their ensembles this year. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the two-time defending champ in this category, is not nominated because her show doesn’t return until later in 2019. Out of eight times that two women from the same show have contended for this prize, none have resulted in wins, but this is the first time that two shows have multiple nominees.

Who should win? Though I haven’t seen any of this season of Brie’s work, I liked her a lot in season one. Fonda and Tomlin are great as usual, but Borstein and Brosnahan were particularly excellent this season, and I’d be happy to see either of them win.

Who will win? I think Brosnahan will take this since her role is the most clear lead one.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Alison Brie (GLOW), Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)

Just one of these women – Tomlin – was nominated in the corresponding Emmy category this past year. Two-time winner Louis-Dreyfus won’t be back since her show doesn’t return until 2019. Another two-time winner – Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) – probably won’t return given her diminished role on her show, but she did make it in the past two years, so maybe she’ll be back again. Alison Brie (GLOW) saw her show be just as popular in year two, and Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) could just as easily be snubbed as they could be included again. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) missed out last year when her show had just debuted – don’t expect the same to happen this year. Kristen Bell (The Good Place) finally got a Golden Globe nomination and might earn a SAG bid too since the guild is all for established series. Debra Messing (Will and Grace) and Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) each got Golden Globe nominations and have two SAG bids from the first runs of their show, and Megan Mullally (Will and Grace), a three-time SAG winner, earned an Emmy nomination this past year. Other possibilities include Emmy nominees like Issa Rae (Insecure), Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and Laurie Metcalf (The Conners), though she’d likely contend for that show rather than the original “Roseanne” that earned her the Emmy bid.

Current predictions:
Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Alison Brie (GLOW)
Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie)
Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Uzo Aduba’s excitable inmate (Orange is the New Black), Alison Brie’s wrestler actress (GLOW), Jane Fonda’s retired executive (Grace and Frankie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ bitter politician (Veep), and Lily Tomlin’s eccentric artist (Grace and Frankie).

For your information: This is Aduba’s fourth consecutive nomination, and she won in 2014 and 2015. This is the second consecutive nomination for both Fonda and Tomlin, who was previously nominated for “The West Wing.” This is the fifth consecutive nomination for Louis-Dreyfus, who also received five nominations for “Seinfeld” and two for “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” She won twice for “Seinfeld” and twice for “Veep,” in 2013 and 2016. This is Brie’s first nomination. Aduba, Brie, and Louis-Dreyfus are all also nominated as part of their ensembles.

Who should win? Aduba is far from the best performer on her show these days. I like Brie but don’t watch her show. Fonda and Tomlin are both fun, as is Louis-Dreyfus, so I don’t really have a favorite from this list.

Who will win? I think that Louis-Dreyfus will take it again.

SAG Nominees: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/5, picking only Aduba and Louis-Dreyfus
Who’s missing? Ellie Kemper, Pamela Adlon, Issa Rae, Rachel Brosnahan, Frankie Shaw

Well, this wasn’t my best category. Interestingly, we have just one nominee who’s also contending for a Golden Globe, and that’s Alison Brie (GLOW), whose show I didn’t watch past the pilot but did enjoy in its initial hour. She’s also the only new nominee here, unfortunately bumping Kemper. Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) are clearly popular with SAG voters, as is Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), who is hardly the best part of her terrific ensemble these days. And then we have Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), rebounding from a Globe snub and looking to win her third award for this show and fifth SAG trophy overall.

Who will win? I don’t see why it wouldn’t be Louis-Dreyfus again.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Uzo Aduba’s hyperactive inmate (Orange is the New Black), Jane Fonda’s retired socialite (Grace and Frankie), Ellie Kemper’s impressionable cult escapee (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sarcastic vice-president (Veep), and Lily Tomlin’s frou-frou senior citizen (Grace and Frankie).

For your information: Aduba has won this award the past two years. This is Kemper’s second nomination. This is Louis-Dreyfus’ fourth consecutive nomination for this role, and her eleventh overall. She won in 2014 for “Veep” and twice for “Seinfeld.” Tomlin was nominated in 2002 for “The West Wing.” Surprisingly, this is Fonda’s first nomination. Aduba and Louis-Dreyfus are both nominated as part of their ensembles.

Who should win: I like Aduba or Kemper.

Who will win: I think Aduba makes it three in a row.

SAG Nominees: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 4/5, picking Parker over Fonda
Who’s missing: Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Tracie Ellis Ross (Black-ish), Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin)

Like the male comedy actor race, this category held true to SAG standards in stark contradiction to the drama fields. This list includes all three eligible nominees from last year: Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), snubbed by both Emmy and Globe voters this past year, Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), not yet nominated for a Globe, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), the one actress on this list who was also nominated for a Globe this year. Joining them we have not one but two stars of a show in its second season: Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) and Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie). Only Tomlin has earned accolades thus far for the show, so it’s fun to see them both included in a lineup that was never going to have Bloom or Rodriguez in it and therefore is actually pretty good in my book.

Who could win? It’s been two in a row for Aduba, and I think she could easily win again.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation).

The rundown: Count out two of last year’s nominees, Falco and Poehler, because their shows are over. It’s possible that past nominee Julie Bowen could be back again, or that some new blood might show up in the form of Tracie Ellis Ross (Black-ish), Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie), or Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin). Even though it’s a freshman series, I think that Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce) has a good shot, and my hope is that SAG voters don’t cave to Emmy and Globe pressure and ditch Aduba since her show continues to be excellent. I’m not confident about this category, but hopeful for some good surprises.

Current predictions: Aduba, Kemper, Louis-Dreyfus, Parker, Tomlin

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Uzo Aduba’s hyperactive inmate (Orange is the New Black), Edie Falco’s pill-popping nurse (Nurse Jackie), Ellie Kemper’s impressionable cult escapee (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sarcastic vice-president (Veep), and Amy Poehler’s dedicated government employee (Parks and Recreation).

For your information: Kemper is the only new addition to this race, and what a welcome one she is. Aduba won this award last year on her first try. This is Falco’s seventh consecutive nomination for this role, and she was previously nominated seven times for “The Sopranos.” She won three times for “The Sopranos.” This is Louis-Dreyfus third consecutive nomination for this role. She was previously nominated twice for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and five times for “Seinfeld.” She won in 2014 for “Veep” and twice for “Seinfeld.” This is Poehler’s third nomination. Aduba and Louis-Dreyfus are also nominated as part of their shows’ ensembles. Both Falco and Poehler’s shows went off the air this year. This category has a history of repeat winners, so don’t be shocked if Aduba or Louis-Dreyfus prevail.

Who should win: Poehler!

Who will win: I’d love to say it will be Poehler finally, but I’ll go with Aduba again.

SAG Nominees: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 3/5, picking Bowen and Janney over Kemper and Poehler
Who’s missing: Julie Bowen, Allison Janney

This category is actually a nice treat, swapping out one of last year’s perennial nominees and an overhyped SAG winner for two superb inclusions, one for her last hurrah and one for her first time. Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) was nominated last year and I didn’t expect her to return, so woohoo! And Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) scored here when Emmy voters nominated everyone else on the show, none of whom got recognized by SAG. They join last year’s winner Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) for her last nomination for this role, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep). I don’t regularly watch “Nurse Jackie,” but even so this is a great list.

Who could win? I’m going to optimistically say Poehler even though it probably won’t be her.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep), and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation).

The rundown: All of these nominees could be back again this year, and this is the last chance that Falco and Poehler will have to contend for these roles. The women who could take their spots have been recognized by other awards bodies, like Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), or Allison Janney (Mom). Could this be the group that finally recognizes Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)?

Current predictions: Aduba, Bowen, Falco, Janney, Louis-Dreyfus

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

The competition: Uzo Aduba’s hyperactive inmate (Orange is the New Black), Julie Bowen’s neurotic mother (Modern Family), Edie Falco’s pill-popping nurse (Nurse Jackie), Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ sarcastic vice-president (Veep), and Amy Poehler’s dedicated government employee (Parks and Recreation).

For your information: This is Falco’s sixth consecutive nomination, and she won three individual SAG Awards for her role on “The Sopranos.” Louis-Dreyfus won for this role last year and was nominated seven times before for two other TV roles, and won twice for “Seinfeld.” This is Bowen’s third nomination, and Poehler returns to the lineup for the second time after being snubbed last year. This is the first nomination for Aduba. Aduba, Bowen, and Louis-Dreyfus are also nominated as part of their ensemble casts. The Golden Globe winner in the corresponding category, Gina Rodriguez, isn’t nominated here.

Who should win: Poehler or Louis-Dreyfus

Who will win: I don’t see how it goes to anyone but Louis-Dreyfus since SAG voters like what they like.

SAG Nominees: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

My predictions: 2/5, picking only Bowen and Louis-Dreyfus
Who’s missing? Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), Allison Janney (Mom), Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory)

This ranks as one of my worst categories, since I bet on the wrong horses for scientific reasons that didn’t pan out. I think most people were surprised that Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) scored the lone nomination for her show in this category, especially since Kate Mulgrew would probably have been the best bet if star Taylor Schilling wasn’t going to make the cut. Last year’s nominee Mayim Bialik is out, while Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) is still in and Emmy winner Allison Janney is nowhere to be found. Julie Bowen (Modern Family) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) return, and, so fantastically, so does Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), who was snubbed last year after just one previous nomination. This is a fun list, and Poehler definitely still tops it for me.

Who could win? Probably Louis-Dreyfus, but I feel like Aduba could take it too.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)

The rundown: Fey is out since her show isn’t on anymore. The other four are still eligible and might well all be nominated again, but I think two new faces will be able to bump two of them, though I’m not completely sure which. Allison Janney (Mom) won two SAG Awards and was nominated for another three for “The West Wing,” and so she seems like a good bet to break into the crowd. Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black) hardly has the same pedigree, but I think that the appropriate genre classification should help this sophomore show earn some recognition.

Current predictions: Bialik, Bowen, Janney, Louis-Dreyfus, Schilling