SubscribeInside track: Emmy race for lead actress in a drama
Since the Emmys have ditched the judging panels to determine nominees, letting the lineups be chosen strictly by an outright popular balloting of the TV academy's acting branch, that means the outcome should be more predictable than usual.
Expect last year's champ Glenn Close ("Damages") and 2007 winner, 2008 nominee and double Oscar victor Sally Field ("Brothers & Sisters") to return. Ditto perennial nominees Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: SVU") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer").
Voters usually drive a stake through the Emmy hopes of the stars of vampire shows (poor "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Sarah Michelle Gellar was never nommed despite shrieks of outrage from every TV critic), but Anna Paquin ("True Blood") has two pluses: being on HBO and owning an Oscar ("The Piano"). Past Oscar champ for the same film, Holly Hunter, was nominated last year for "Saving Grace," so she'll probably be back.
That leaves one more slot open, considering the Emmys have expanded the list of nominees to six contenders from the usual five. If an African American actress gets in and wins, it'll be the first time that a black star's ever claimed this category. Three are seriously in the running: Angela Bassett ("ER"), Regina King ("Southland") and Jill Scott ("The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency").
However, given the Emmy popularity of last year's winner of best drama series, "Mad Men," that bid may go to either January Jones or Elisabeth Moss.
* = Top 10 Semi-Finalist in 2008
** = Nominee in 2008
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
(Front-runners)
Patricia Arquette, "Medium" *
Angela Bassett, "ER"
Glenn Close, "Damages" ** (Winner in 2008)
Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters" **
Calista Flockhart, "Brothers & Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: SVU" **
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace" **
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"
Mary McDonnell, "Battlestar Galactica" *
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" *
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Jill Scott, "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" **
Jeanne Tripplehorn, "Big Love" *
(Possible)
Eliza Dushku, "Dollhouse"
Calista Flockhart, "Brothers & Sisters"
Marg Helgenberger, "C.S.I."
Jennifer Love Hewitt, "Ghost Whisperer"
Regina King, "Southland"
Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"
Amber Tamblyn, "The Unusuals"
Anna Torv, "Fringe"
Mary McCormack, "In Plain Sight"
Kate Walsh, "Private Practice"
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"Hunter's portrayal of Grace Hanadarko--an adult character taking responsibility for her own choices"
blues, that comment deserves an Emmy nomination for best comedy writing. I nearly busted a gut laughing.
Posted by: blues is an imbecile | July 15, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I'm tired of actresses being rewarded for playing an emotion rather than a full three dimensional character.
Examples:
January Jones Quiet Desperation
Glenn Close: Anger
Sally Field: Confusion
Mariska Hargitay: Valor
Kyra Sedgwick: southern ( lol, not really an emotion but she plays it like it was, lol)
there are a lot of three dimensional characters on tv that are real and people can relate to.
Examples
Patricia Arquette: Even with psychic powers and a deadly job, she is still more relatable than January Jones.
Ellen Pompeo: A simple average woman playing a simple average woman. u would think that with all this average her performance would be that too, but Ellen truly gives a powerhouse performance as Meredith Grey by being subtle. i know, very paradoxical and complex, just like a human should be.
Anna Paquin: Way better than Kyra Sedgwick at being Southern, and more charming. also, is complex without being unbelievable.
Posted by: SLEIEMR | July 11, 2009 at 05:22 PM
How can anyone put Anna Paquin in the same sentence as Holly Hunter?
Hunter's portrayal of Grace Hanadarko--an adult character taking responsibility for her own choices--speaks a clear, concise language that Paquin's character would not recognize.
Posted by: blues | July 08, 2009 at 05:59 AM
Awesome see Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin being nominated in the same category.
Posted by: seo india | July 07, 2009 at 06:21 PM
My pick for the Top 5 -
Glenn Close
Sally Field
January Jones
Elisabeth Moss
Anna Paquin
Interesting choices in the longlist.
Some certainly have no chance -
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Amber Tamblyn
Eliza Dushku
Some may have had a longshot many moons ago -
Calista Flockhart - overshadowed by Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths (who I would have swapped for Calista's place on the list). Forever Ally McBeal.
Ellen Pompeo - Competent and bland, but certainly not Emmy-worthy. Couldn't snag a nom for the past 4 seasons, doesn't stand a chance now.
Some are 'To Watch' for the future -
Anna Torv - started off as the weakest player but has risen when given the material. Better chance in the supporting category ?
Regina King - best thing about 'Southland'.
Kate Walsh - rare actress that can play both high drama and broad comedy , but currently wasted on Private Practice (see Sally Field also). Respected amongst peers (elected to SAG board) and no stranger to the official Top 10 in the past (supporting). Dark horse in waiting.
Posted by: Ken Jenkins | July 07, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Kate Walsh is a real dark horse & is a great actress, but sadly Private Practice gave her limited chance to showcase it last season. Here's hoping the writing improves next season.
Hopefully both of the Mad Men nominees will make the list.
Posted by: Matthew | July 07, 2009 at 12:37 PM
for some reason, Emmys hate Battlestar Galactic so... I don´t expect a nom for Mary. Very sad because she deserves that.
Posted by: Trinity | July 07, 2009 at 04:02 AM
I think it's also worth noting that Anna Paquin took home the Golden Globe in 2008 as Best Actress in a Drama for "True Blood." That's gotta mean something in terms of her getting in as a nominee for an Emmy.
Posted by: Ryan | July 06, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Anna Paquin is the worst thing from True Blood, so no please... no nomination for her.
Posted by: Teresa | July 06, 2009 at 02:44 AM
I think Ellen Pompeo is going to be the dark horse. She did an amazing job in Grey's Anatomy, and that saying a lot because im not a fan of Grey's. she is one of the few character's out there that are a "real' person, not a caricature. You get characters like the woman from mad men and yeah, they are good, but they are not real. same with characters of Desperate Housewives, they are all three demensional within a two dimential platform. ellen truly played a real character.
Posted by: Edgar | July 05, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Some of the people from the "Possible" category have no chance at all. I'm surprised that they are even mentioned. E.g. Kate Walsh. Does anybody really believe that she has any chance? She doesn't deserve it (say what you want, but Emmys still recognize rather talent, not popularity) plus Private Practice doesn't have enough positive buzz.
Posted by: S. | July 05, 2009 at 06:30 AM
This is Mary McDonnell's final shot at being nominated for Battlestar PLUS her character had cancer and was on the long list last year. I think she might sneak in. And one of the African American women MUST also get in! I say Bassett!
Posted by: Matt Mazur | July 04, 2009 at 08:22 PM
Close, Field, Hargitay, Sedgwick, Paquin, Hunter...by my count that leaves zero slots open, not one.
Posted by: Rob | June 30, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Calista Flockhart did such an amazing job that she should be nominated this year with the heart attack/birth episode.
Posted by: john | June 30, 2009 at 05:51 PM
Anna and Holly already clashed in the supporting actress category at the Oscars then. Hunter was nominated for the Firm.
Posted by: Nemo Niente | June 30, 2009 at 05:22 PM
That would be awesome seeing Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin returning and being nominated in the same category. I hope so!
Posted by: Xavi Rodriguez | June 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Calista flockhart is in the front runners and possibilities list. I am guessing she is in the possibilities list.
Posted by: cliff | June 30, 2009 at 09:45 AM