Who will win the Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Drama?
Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 3:00PM
By Spencer Coile
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Like in year’s past, Game of Thrones came back into the Emmy conversation by steamrolling the competition with an historic nomination count of 32. Amidst a plethora of technical categories and despite its middling reception for its eighth and final season, the HBO juggernaut still managed to score a whopping four nominations in the Supporting Actress in a Drama Series race. With The Handmaid’s Tale largely ineligible this Emmy cycle, it felt inevitable that another show would swoop in and dominate this category, a trend that's been growing given the new nomination procedures.
Still, this does not guarantee that the Iron Throne secures an easy victory. With two first-time Emmy nominees outside of Game of Thrones (can you believe Fiona Shaw has never been nominated?!) in scene stealing roles, might this race be more unpredictable than we once thought?
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominees:
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Gwendoline Christie as “Brienne of Tarth” on Game of Thrones: “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
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Julia Garner as “Ruth Langmore” on Ozark: “The Gold Coast”
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Lena Headey as “Cersei Lannister” on Game of Thrones: “The Bells”
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Fiona Shaw as “Carolyn Martens” on Killing Eve: “Nice and Neat”
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Sophie Turner as “Sansa Stark” on Game of Thrones: “Winterfell”
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Maisie Williams as “Arya Stark” on Game of Thrones: “The Long Night”
Will Win: I recently finished Game of Thrones and I completely understand the criticisms of its final season. It plays rushed, almost like a parody of its previous seasons. But that is through no fault of the four nominees here. That said, Sophie Turner’s nomination feels like the reward when you compare her role to the others. Maisie Williams, while getting one of the most satisfying arcs in “The Long Night,” is sidelined until her “big” moment. And despite being the most nominated actor in this category, if Lena Headey couldn’t win for much stronger seasons, does she really stand much of a shot with a glorified cameo?
Fiona Shaw is quite a foil to Sandra Oh’s intensity on Killing Eve, but the series' Emmy narrative is still more about Oh than anyone else. There is something to be said for Gwendoline Christie, who submitted herself when HBO wouldn’t, and was then nominated. Brienne is an incredibly sympathetic character with a touching scene in “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.” However, vote-splitting might prove to be a challenge for the Game of Thrones women. Quietly lurking, though, is Julia Garner on Ozark. After scoring nominations from Critics’ Choice and SAG, Garner’s momentum keeps growing. I’m guessing it’s enough to snatch that trophy.
Should Win: It really is a shame Headey didn’t have more to do in the final season of Game of Thrones. Any other year, she would have been my vote. When all is said and done, one of the best television scenes this year came from Gwendoline Christie - and she barely said a word in it. She gave a complete, beautiful performance and if my beloved Indya Moore couldn’t get in for Pose, I’m hoping Christie can pull an upset.
Could Spoil: Again, they didn’t get a lot to do, but Maisie Williams still was center-stage for one of the most buzzed about TV moments this year and Lena Headey could be seen as overdue in this last chance for the statue.
In other words, this race is a mess! But the best mess, because it's a real race. Whoever wins, it will be their first Emmy, so we can celebrate any victory.
Reader Comments (23)
I'm still so upset that Indya Moore was not nominated because she'd easiy by my winning choice.
Julia Garner should win this easily. She's been a revelation on two of the best drama series of the last decade now.
Not to mention her supporting role is meatier and more fully developed than the others, especially on this season of Game of Thrones where nobody got a serious arc to play—just some key scenes.
Hard to find a 25-year-old with so much talent.
I think Williams has the best chance of winning. She became a cultural meme with her episode but also delivered a great performance in The Bells - Heady's submission. Williams was good in all her episodes and she appeared more than Christie so I give her a slight edge.
Yup - Garner, though Rhea Seehorn should've been winning this in a rout.
Julia Garner is outstanding... IO j hope she wins, but I think a GT lady will win.
Another vote for Julia Garner. She is already good and has so much potential to become a great actress.
I haven't seen Garner, but of other five I'm 100% Team Maisie. She's been so compelling throughout the season and she is one of the few who actually had a fantastic final season on GOT (though Christie did too).
Maisie should win. For her quieter scenes with the Hound and Gendry. For her family loyalty scenes. For her berserk warrior. For her physicality, poise and for putting up with all the sh*** she got from fanboys.
P.S. I haven't seen Ozark so I can't judge Julia, but I would be happy for Fiona Shaw if not Maisie.
GoT actresses split the vote and the Emmy goes to Fiona Shaw.
FIONA SHAW def deserves it.
Another Fiona Shaw voter here!!!
I don't believe in vote-splitting to the extent some do. It's the easiest and laziest thing to assume. Either Williams for one of the most thrilling scenes in series. Or Christie for the heroic work she did without uttering a word (her submission narrative can only help).
I'm happy you mentioned Indya Moore. She is very good. I just watched Pose this week. While I found it moving and fun to watch, it's also a little cheesy and poorly written - the dialogue seems inauthentic. I'm a little surprised it is getting critical acclaim for Billy Porter & the show. But that's just me! :) Indya is very, very good though.
As for this line up, I'm rooting for Fiona.
Fiona Shaw!
Fiona Shaw. FUCK GAME OF THRONES!!!!!
I don't watch Game of Thrones or Ozark, and I haven't seen season two of Killing Eve yet, but Fiona Shaw was actually my favourite part of season one (moreso than even Oh and definitely more than Komer who I admit I don't quite understand the rhapsodic plaudits for).
I think Williams wins as the culmination of her growth in arguably the most beloved role in GOT. But Christie absolutely deserves it.
I get that Lena Headey didn't get to do much this season, but I really think this line-up is tops and wouldn't jettison any of the GoT ladies - problems with the show itself aside.
Count me in as Garner fan too. She has been a revelation on Ozark, so good and by far the best arc of the 6 actresses this season.
The 4 ladies from GoT are great, but they weren't giving much to do this season. If GoT sweeps might as well give it to Lena.
Fiona Shaw prob gonna win, she is in my second place in the balot. She has 2 individual nominations, and Emmy winner Fiona Shaw has a nice ring to it.
Whoever the winner turns out to be, I’d expect howls of protest for the lack of diversity in this category...
I'm rarely a fan of giving a statue for someone's previous work, but Lena Headey deserves an Emmy for carrying so much of that show on her back - and flawlessly.
I'd love for Gwendoline to win but I think it will be Shaw. I'm not a fan of Ozark but I would love it if Garner won too because she's incredible. I figured Shaw would win over her because she's an industry vet.
Team Maisie! She's the only one deserving from the "GOT" ladies. Vote-splitting though will likely rear its ugly head, and in the minds of voters, Fiona Shaw > Julia Garner. There you have it.