By Spencer Coile
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Emmy voting is currently underway (ballots are due on the 27th), so it’s time to start digging into some of the more exciting categories this year has to offer. The Supporting Actress in a Drama field is always tricky to navigate – we hope for inspired wins, but end up with repeat winners, such as Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad or Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey.
That’s why it is exhilarating when an unexpected name is called on Emmy night, for instance: Archie Panjabi on The Good Wife or Ann Dowd last year for The Handmaid’s Tale. This year, Dowd is back. Will she repeat or will someone else be victorious?
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominees:
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Alexis Bledel as “Emily/ Ofglen” on The Handmaid’s Tale: “Unwomen”
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Millie Bobby Brown as “Eleven” on Stranger Things: “The Pollywog”
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Ann Dowd as “Aunt Lydia” on The Handmaid’s Tale: “June”
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Lena Headey as “Cersei Lannister” on Game of Thrones: “The Dragon and the Wolf”
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Vanessa Kirby as “Princess Margaret” on The Crown: “Beryl”
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Thandie Newton as “Maeve” on Westworld: “Akane no Mai”
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Yvonne Strahovski as “Serena Joy Waterford” on The Handmaid’s Tale: “Women’s Work”
Will Win: If Brown couldn’t win for her breakout performance on the first season of Stranger Things, it seems unlikely she takes it this time. The same argument could be made for Headey. It seemed as though the best time to award the queen of Game of Thrones was for her buzzed about season five performance in “Mother’s Mercy,” but she couldn’t even win that year (Uzo Aduba took her 2nd Emmy instead).
Bledel, Kirby, and Newton all seem to be in the middle of the pack. Bledel won Guest Actress in a Drama Series last year, but now she is bumped up to series regular. While her submission is fantastic, she doesn’t get much to do beyond it within the season. Newton remains the heart and soul of Westworld and Kirby definitely has the tape to win, but I predict this to be a battle between the two Handmaid’s Tale villains. Let’s count our lucky stars that Strahovski got in and although she seems to be building momentum…
The Emmy’s love repeat winners and Dowd is just as good as she was in the first season. My money is on a double Dowd victory (giving us a chance to hear her say “Hulu” again).
Should Win: In an ensemble full of impeccable and nuanced performances, Strahovski crafted one of the most complicated characters on television with her portrayal as Serena Joy on The Handmaid's Tale. One second you want so desperately to sympathize with her and the next you are repulsed by her. It’s a tricky role to pull off, and Strahovski makes it look effortless. That Emmy belongs to her.
Could Spoil: Even after an overwrought second season, Westworld still raked in a whopping 21 nominations, so never count out Newton. Same goes for Kirby – many are still raving about her performance in “Beryl.”
Your turn! Will Dowd repeat or will we see a new winner? Who do you think deserves it?