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 Lead Actress in a Drama Series.2018 Nominees:
Claire Foy for Netflix's The Crown (WINNER)
Tatiana Maslany for BBC America's Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
Sandra Oh for BBC America's Killing Eve
Keri Russell for FX's The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood for HBO's Westworld
Tatiana Maslany for BBC America's Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
Sandra Oh for BBC America's Killing Eve
Keri Russell for FX's The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood for HBO's Westworld
This category is really up for grabs at the moment. Sandra Oh is the only returning nominee. That's shocking and could essentially open the door for many newcomers in this race. Sure, it could also mark the return of some perennial favorites amongst Emmy voters like Robin Wright, Laura Linney, Viola Davis or Christine Baranski. Some of them are deserving. But it could also be a category full of exciting newcomers. Oh's Killing Eve co-star Jodie Comer could actually enter the field as well. That could show the continued strength of BBC America in this particular category. Of course, the big question might be if Emilia Clarke manages to get a nomination. Her character arc in the final season of Game of Thrones was divisive. Most people agree that she gave a strong performance even if the plotting was wobbly. That may be enough to earn her a farewell nomination. But the voters could easily rally their support around someone else they are much more excited and passionate about too.
So now, here are the actors most likely to be nominated:
- Sandra Oh for BBC America's Killing Eve
- Julia Roberts for Amazon's Homecoming
- Laura Linney for Netflix's Ozark
- Jodie Comer for BBC America's Killing Eve
- Emilia Clarke for HBO's Game of Thrones
- Mj Rodriguez for FX's Pose
Next are some serious threats that could break into the list:
- Mandy Moore for NBC's This Is Us
- Robin Wright for Netflix's House of Cards
- Christine Baranski for CBS All Access' The Good Fight
- Maggie Gyllenhaal for HBO's The Deuce
- Sarah Paulson for FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse
- Viola Davis for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
- Caitriona Balfe for Starz's Outlander
- Sarah Snook for HBO's Succession
- Ruth Wilson for Showtime's The Affair
- Elizabeth Olsen for Facebook Watch's Sorry For Your Loss
- Suranne Jones for HBO's Gentleman Jack
- Taylor Schilling for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
Here are some considerable long-shots:
- Sonya Cassidy for AMC's Lodge 49
- Olivia Williams for Starz's Counterpart
- Brit Marling for Netflix's The OA
- Taraji P. Henson for FOX's Empire
- Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace for HBO's My Brilliant Friend
- Christina Hendricks, Retta and Mae Whitman for NBC's Good Girls
- Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba for Spectrum's L.A.'s Finest
- Kiernan Shipka for Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
- Esme Creed-Miles for Amazon's Hanna
- Sivan Alyra Rose for Netflix's Chambers
- Jodie Whittaker for BBC America's Doctor Who
- Toni Collette for Netflix's Wanderlust
- Alfre Woodard for Netflix's Luke Cage
- Sonequa Martin-Green for CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery
And finally, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:
- Angela Bassett for FOX's 9-1-1
- Niecy Nash for TNT's Claws
- Stella Maeve for Syfy's The Magicians
- Diane Guerrero for DC Universe's Doom Patrol
- Amanda Schull for Syfy's 12 Monkeys
- Dawn-Lyen Gardner and Rutina Wesley for OWN's Queen Sugar
- Kathryn Newton for Netflix's The Society
- Jenna Coleman for PBS' Victoria
- Dianne Doan for Cinemax's Warrior
- Anna Paquin for Pop's Flack
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!
