Oscar may not love Laura Linney, but Emmy sure does
Wow! So many emotionally subdued roles are winning tonight!
Normally, Hollywood award voters are hungry for scenery chewers, but I guess everybody's on a diet these days. Phylicia Rashad's Tony-winning turn in the screen adaptation of "Raisin in the Sun"; and Susan Sarandon's rich performance as tobacco tycoon Doris Duke in "Bernard and Doris" were far more meaty than Laura Linney's fine, but cool-tempered performance as Abigail Adams in "John Adams," but she won best actress in a TV movie/mini.
Maybe it's another case of Hollywood award voters finding the role of long-suffering wife irresistible? Perhaps politically themed dramas in an election year will dominate the night.
Laura Linney is three for three with TV's top kudos. She won this category in 2002 for "Wild Iris" and took home guest actress in a comedy series for her work as the final love interest on "Frasier" in 2004.
Linney has lost at the Oscars three times — for lead actress in 2000 for "You Can Count on Me" (Julia Roberts won for "Erin Brockovich") and last year for "The Savages" (losing to Marion Cotillard for "La Vie en Rose") and for supporting actress in 2004 when her turn in "Kinsey" lost out to Cate Blanchett for "The Aviator."
Photo: Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney in HBO's miniseries "John Adams." Courtesy HBO.
Laura thank you for your community organizer comment. If only Ronald Reagan, the actor, had your intelligence.
Posted by: JAd | September 25, 2008 at 07:10 AM
I think Laura Linney is a wonderful actress. I especially loved her in John Adams. I lost respect for her when she made the comment about community organizers. She should keep her political views out of it. I will think twice about viewing any more films that she is in because of it. That's what I do w/ any entertainer who brings up politics. On the top of the list is Jane Fonda. Unfortunately the list is long. I am a college educated female in my mid 50's and besides being a healthcare professional, I also founded a business 13 years ago that I am still running, in addition to my professional work. Most entertainers do not have college degrees and the personal political remarks that come out of their mouths make it more apparent that these people do not have a clue what the average working American does.
Posted by: chris | September 22, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Laura, while i appreciate and applaud your achievements as an actress, i believe your use of the Emmys as a platform to espouse your political views is counterproductive. Your "community organizer" comments served only to alienate you from over half the people in this country.
Posted by: Vince | September 22, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Congratulations Laura. John Adams was fantastic and I loved your comment about community organizers.
Posted by: Diana | September 22, 2008 at 10:09 AM
It was an over-hyped piece of trash that was only acceptable because it was an election year! It's pacing was slow and Laura Linney's performance, in my opinion, was dead last to ALL the other actresses in that category. And I'll give her credit, she was the best thing about that pic. Basura!
Posted by: D. Johnson | September 22, 2008 at 05:32 AM
Great comment from Laura re: the "community organizers" that founded this country.
Posted by: John Adams Fan | September 21, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Why was John Adams trash, idiot?
Posted by: G. Snyder | September 21, 2008 at 08:41 PM
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT LAURA LINNEY WON FOR THAT TRASH "JOHN ADAMS" OVER PHYLICIA RASHAD! This show is a joke and a scam! Looks like once again HBO promotional dollars have bought them more Emmys! Disgusting!
Posted by: D. Johnson | September 21, 2008 at 06:54 PM