Emmy Predictions 2019 - Who Will Likely Be Nominated for Guest Actress in a Drama Series?

From June 10 to June 24, 2019, voting is taking place for The 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. As such, it's fun to look at which actors and shows have the best chances of actually being nominated this year. So, here is how I see the race for Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

2018 Nominees:

        Viola Davis for ABC's Scandal
        Kelly Jenrette for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
        Cherry Jones for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
        Diana Rigg for HBO's Game of Thrones
        Cicely Tyson for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
        Samira Wiley for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (WINNER)

The Emmys decided this year that FX's American Horror Story had to move over to the drama categories because it featured continuing characters and stories from previous seasons. Because it never had that previously, it could always resubmit as a limited series. Now, this may have been a down year for the show overall simply because of how competitive the limited series categories are. Plus, it may not get a ton of traction even in a wide open drama race because there are more exciting newcomers. However, this could really be the category that welcomes the performers from the show this year. In fact, the Apocalypse season featured Connie Britton and Jessica Lange returning in roles that previously garnered them Emmy nominations - with Lange ultimately winning as well. As such, that could be a strong narrative for both of them in this race, with Joan Collins as another serious contender. That should be the story to look out for here. The rest seems like a mix of those perennial favorites amongst voters and performers from shows that are bound to get a ton of nominations elsewhere.

So now, here are the actors most likely to be nominated:

1. Cherry Jones for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
2. Jessica Lange for FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse
3. Phylicia Rashad for NBC's This Is Us
4. Cicely Tyson for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
5. Connie Britton for FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse
6. Carice van Houten for HBO's Game of Thrones

Next are some serious threats that could break into the list:

1. Laverne Cox for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
2. Malin Akerman for Showtime's Billions
3. Sandra Bernhard for FX's Pose
4. Joan Collins and Stevie Nicks for FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse
5. Sanaa Lathan, Zazie Beetz, Rhea Seehorn, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jessica Williams and DeWanda Wise for CBS All Access' The Twilight Zone
6. Andrea Martin, Jane Curtin and Keesha Sharp for CBS All Access' The Good Fight
7. Lauren Cohan for AMC's The Walking Dead
8. Harriet Walter for HBO's Succession

Here are some considerable long-shots:

1. Hong Chau for Amazon's Homecoming
2. Natalie Morales, Judy Greer and Katie Aselton for HBO's Room 104
3. Michelle Forbes and Debbie Allen for ABC's Grey's Anatomy
4. Maria Doyle Kennedy for Starz's Outlander
5. Amy Irving, Caralina Sandino Moreno and Julia Goldani Telles for Showtime's The Affair
6. Devery Jacobs and Laura Bell Bundy for Starz's American Gods
7. Allison Tolman and June Squibb for NBC's Good Girls

And finally, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:

1. June Squibb and Lisa Edelstein for ABC's The Good Doctor
2. Racher Keller for Netflix's The Society
3. Tig Notaro and Rebecca Romijn for CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery
4. Hari Nef for Lifetime's You
5. Kate Walsh for Netflix's The Umbrella Academy
6. Gretchen Mol for Paramount's Yellowstone

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!