Emmy Winner Predictions: Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie

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

Next up: Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie

Emmy Nominees: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

My predictions: 4/6

Starting this category alphabetically with Toni Collette (The Staircase) gave the absolute wrong impression of how that series would fare with voters, since only she and costar Colin Firth got nominated in the end. I should have stuck with my inclination that Sarah Paulson (Impeachment: American Crime Story) would be for what was a skilled and transformative performance, one of a handful of lower-profile bids for the show. Lily James (Pam and Tommy) and Julia Garner (Inventing Anna) are here but with much stronger support for their shows than I had expected. Margaret Qualley (Maid) did manage to get in even though her show quite surprisingly missed the top category, while Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout) saw her show do very well and Jessica Chastain missed out as her costar Oscar Isaac was her show’s lone nominee.

Who should win? I have to finish watching “Maid” but otherwise I think I’d give this to Garner.
Who will win? This feels like a Seyfried win but it could be competitive.

Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

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: Michaela Coel, Cynthia Erivo, Elizabeth Olsen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winlset

The competition: While there are many women in contention this year, a few stand out as ahead of the pack. Margaret Qualley (Maid), Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout), Lily James (Pam and Tommy), Jessica Chastain (Scenes from a Marriage), and Julia Garner (Inventing Anna) seem like good bets. Past Emmy enthusiasm for Sarah Paulson (Impeachment: American Crime Story), Olivia Colman (Landscapers), Claire Danes (The Essex Serpent), and Claire Foy (A Very British Scandal), even if their projects haven’t been spectacularly received. It’s hard to choose between Michelle Pfeiffer (The First Lady), Viola Davis (The First Lady), and Gillian Anderson (The First Lady), and I think that Pfeiffer has the best shot from those three. Watch out for other big names like Jessica Biel (Candy), Julia Roberts (Gaslit), Renée Zellweger (The Thing About Pam), Julianne Moore (Lisey’s Story), Anne Hathaway (WeCrashed), Beanie Feldstein (Impeachment: American Crime Story), Elle Fanning (The Girl from Plainville), and Toni Collette (The Staircase), who could easily score. I’m pulling for Jane Levy (Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas), Wunmi Mosaku (We Own This City), Jenna Ortega (The Fallout), and Alison Oliver (Conversations with Friends), but I’m not optimistic about their chances.

The predicted nominees: Biel, Chastain, Garner, James, Qualley, Seyfried

The predicted winner: I think Seyfried wins this.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Performers in this category don’t submit specific episodes, but I’ve watched the entirety of their shows to best assess their chances.

The nominees: Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha), Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)

Erivo, Olsen, and Taylor-Joy earn their inaugural Emmy bids this year, along with Coel, who is also contending for writing, directing, and producing her show. Winslet, who is also up for producing her show, won this prize a decade ago for “Mildred Pierce” and was also nominated in 2006 for guest-starring on “(Extras.” This is a formidable competition where almost anyone could win, though Erivo would be a real surprise and Coel would be a considerable upset. Winslet is a veteran while the others are relative newcomers who have been building reputations over the past few years. If nominations totals are relevant, then Olsen might have the best shot, but I think this comes down to Taylor-Joy and Winslet, and I’m tempted to go with the former, who won the Golden Globe and the SAG before Winslet was in the mix, even if maybe that’s not the smartest idea.

Who should win: Coel, Olsen, or Taylor-Joy
Who will win: I’m going with Taylor-Joy.

Emmy Nominees: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

My predictions: 4/5, missing Erivo

It’s too bad that Thuso Mbedu didn’t get in here, but none of her castmates on “The Underground Railroad” did either. Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha) was the one I didn’t predict though she was my alternate, and she joins an expected list that includes Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), and Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown).

Who should win? Olsen or Taylor-Joy
Who will win? This is no longer the major lock it once was for Taylor-Joy but I still think she prevails.

Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

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: Cate Blanchett, Shira Haas, Regina King, Octavia Spencer, Kerry Washington

The competition: This category may be one of the most competitive fields this year, and there’s no way that at least a few deserving women don’t get left off once nominations are announced. It’s likely going to be a battle between Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) and Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown), but it doesn’t stop there. Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision) and Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You) will also have their supports, as will Cynthia Erivo (Genius: Aretha), Nicole Kidman (The Undoing), and Kata Mara (A Teacher). It’s hard to imagine anyone watching Thuso Mbedu (The Underground Railroad) and not feeling compelled to vote for her, but I’m just not sure how that series is going to play with voters. I wish there was room for TV movie stars like Tessa Thompson (Sylvie’s Love) and Jessica Barden (Pink Skies Ahead), but since those both started as festival films, and it’s likelier that Danielle Brooks (Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia) or Bette Midler (Coastal Elites) can get in for productions that were always meant for TV.

The predicted nominees: Coel, Mbedu, Olsen, Taylor-Joy, Winslet

The predicted winner: I think Taylor-Joy still takes this though it will be a fight.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

AFT Awards: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

This is the sixth 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 Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

Last year’s nominees: I’m excited to introduce this category for the first time this year after watching more limited series than ever in my life.

Emmy nominees: Cate Blanchett, Shira Haas, Regina King, Octavia Spencer, Kerry Washington

Finalists: Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America), Kathryn Hahn (Mrs. Fletcher), Kaitlyn Dever (Unbelievable), Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere), Zoe Kazan (The Plot Against America)

The nominees:
Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People)
Regina King (Watchmen)
Merritt Wever (Unbelievable)
Eve Lindley (Dispatches from Elsewhere)
The winner:

Shira Haas (Unorthodox) opened an extraordinary window into the life of someone who has felt like she never fit in, capturing and conveying the wonder and surprise with which Esty met new ideas and opportunities.

Next up: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

I've had the pleasure of covering some of the Emmy races for the brand new website Awards Radar this year. Click here to read my detailed analysis and predictions for this category.

Emmy Nominees: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

My predictions: 3/5, missing Spencer and Washington

I really can’t believe that Merritt Wever (Unbelievable) didn’t get nominated here. I worried that might be the case with her costar Kaitlyn Dever, but I thought Wever was safe. I’m ecstatic that Shira Haas (Unorthodox) made the cut and legitimately surprised that Octavia Spencer (Self Made) was included (though she was very good in the first episode of her series). Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere) did deliver a strong performance, and she got in over her costar Reese Witherspoon, who ended up with zero out of three possible acting nominations. Cate Blanchett (Mrs. America) and Regina King (Watchmen) remain the frontrunners here, but can Haas upset if they split the vote?

Who should win? Haas, Blanchett, or King
Who will win? I’m going to predict that Haas does eclipse Blanchett and King.

SAG Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

Last year’s nominees: Laura Dern (Big Little Lies), Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies), Jessica Lange (Feud: Bette and Joan), Susan Sarandon (Feud: Bette and Joan), Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies)

This category should contain representatives from more than just two programs this year, and Laura Dern (The Tale) is likely to return. Both Amy Adams (Sharp Objects) and Regina King (Seven Seconds) will probably be nominated for their film work, and so it’s likely they’ll both be here too, possibly along with another double nominee from the same category, Emma Stone (Maniac). Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects) and Penelope Cruz (The Assassination of Gianni Versace) are supporting stars with a good shot here, though they’ll have to compete against the likes of Patricia Arquette (Escape at Dannemora), Connie Britton (Dirty John), Florence Pugh (The Little Drummer Girl), and Emma Thompson (King Lear).

Current predictions:
Amy Adams (Sharp Objects)
Patricia Arquette (Escape at Dannemora)
Laura Dern (The Tale)
Regina King (Seven Seconds)
Emma Stone (Maniac)

Golden Globe Nominees: Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

My predictions: 4/5, missing O’Connor
Who’s missing? Cicely Tyson (The Trip to Bountiful)

We have a nice deviation from SAG today with Allison Tolman (Fargo) earning a very well-deserved nomination, with the unexpected consequence of Cicely Tyson being bumped. Globe voters seemed to have preferred Frances O’Connor (The Missing), and her miniseries also scored a top bid. Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Honourable Woman), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Freak Show), and Frances McDormand (Olive Kitteridge) are the other nominees.

Who will win? I think McDormand, but how cool would it be if it was Tolman?

Emmy Nominees: Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

My predictions: 4/5, picking Vanessa Redgrave over Catherine Keener

Interesting, Catherine Keener gets the lone Emmy mention for “An American Crime”. I guess I’d agree (though Ellen Page was pretty good too). Other nominees: Judi Dench (Cranford), Laura Linney (John Adams), Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun), and Susan Sarandon (Bernard and Doris). I’ve only seen the first three.

Who should win? Linney?
Who will win? I think this is a race between Dench and Rashad, though Sarandon could upset. I say Rashad.

Emmy Predictions: Best Lead Actress in a Mini-Series/Made-for-TV Movie

Contenders are pictured and listed in the order I think they’re likely to get nominated. I don’t have much to say here so I’ll save my commentary for the nominees.

Current predictions:
PHYLICIA RASHAD, A RAISIN IN THE SUN
JUDI DENCH, CRANFORD
LAURA LINNEY, JOHN ADAMS
SUSAN SARANDON, BERNARD AND DORIS
VANESSA REDGRAVE, THE FEVER

Alternates:
SISSY SPACEK, PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD, AS YOU LIKE IT
CATHERINE KEENER, AN AMERICAN CRIME
ELLEN PAGE, AN AMERICAN CRIME
ELLEN BURSTYN, FOR ONE MORE DAY