There are over 1,200 actresses on the Emmy ballots across all of the various categories. More contenders mean more deserving potential nominees, and I want to spotlight some of the best female performances I saw this past season. We’ll assume that, though a nomination isn’t by any means guaranteed for any of them, moderately high-profile names like Shira Haas (Unorthodox), Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show) don’t need the boost even though they should certainly have their work honored. Here are 20 performances you may not have noticed (and where to watch them) that are absolutely worthy of thinking about while filling out those Emmy ballots...
Lexi Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere)
Reese Witherspoon and Underwood’s onscreen mother Kerry Washington are the bigger names, but the sixteen-year-old actress was the true breakout of this limited series. As Pearl, she maturely conveyed the wonder of being opened up to previously unseen luxury and remaining true to her principles and friendships in spite of its allure. (Hulu)
Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson (Pose)
Billy Porter made history as the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy last year, and he should definitely be joined this year by three of his costars – authentically portraying trans characters Blanca, Angel, and Elektra – each of whom evoked incredible passion this season as they navigated illness, success, and tragedy. (FX / Netflix)
Esther Smith (Trying)
As Nikki, one half of a couple pursuing adoption, Smith was completely earnest and genuine, wearing her enthusiasm and hopefulness on her face as she struggled to maintain a positive attitude. (Apple TV Plus)
Aisling Bea (Living with Yourself)
Acting opposite someone playing two roles is never an easy task. Bea made Kate, the wife of a man who cloned himself (Paul Rudd), a formidable presence, not content to accept the status quo and determined for her often incredulous voice to be heard. (Netflix)
Elle Fanning and Phoebe Fox (The Great)
Fans of the Oscar-winning film The Favourite will delight in the twisted humor present on this show. As Empress Catherine, Fanning effortlessly conveyed rage and disdain with the stupidity of those around her. As her miserable maidservant Marial, Fox brought a deeply sarcastic and frustrated approach to every biting line she uttered. (Hulu)
Eve Lindley (Dispatches from Elsewhere)
This show’s outlook on purpose and relationships was fascinating, and there was no better encapsulation of that attitude than Lindley’s layered work. As Simone, she wrestled with letting her guard down and opening herself up to the possibly of getting hurt in pursuit of something life-changing. (AMC)
Hong Chau (Watchmen)
After coming close to an Oscar nomination a few years ago for Downsizing and a more prominent role in season two of Homecoming, Chau stood out here as an enigmatic scientist with extraordinary reach and a brazen fearlessness, immediately capturing all attention when she first appeared on screen as Lady Trieu. (HBO)
Rosa Salazar (Undone)
I’m so glad that the Alita: Battle Angel star’s rotoscoped performance ended up on the ballot. Salazar embraced the unexplainable and leaned right in to unanswered questions as Alma, a young woman whose dead father, played by Bob Odenkirk, begins to teach her to time travel. It was a real breakthrough that transcended its animated format. (Amazon Prime)
Andy Allo and Allegra Edwards (Upload)
These two women played characters who were nothing alike but both had a large part in the (after)life of protagonist Nathan. Allo demonstrated a quiet warmth and sensitivity in her digital afterlife liaison, Nora, while Edwards skillfully imparted the surface airheadedness of Nathan’s girlfriend, Ingrid, while occasionally revealing the surprising depth she possessed. (Amazon Prime)
Daisy Haggard (Breeders)
Previously best known in the U.S. for making faces as a TV executive on Episodes and the BBC-Showtime series Back to Life (which doesn’t appear on the Emmy ballot), Haggard brought a range of emotions to Ally, a harried mother trying to keep it together. Alongside costar Martin Freeman, Haggard impressively balanced comedy and drama throughout this show’s freshman series run. (FX on Hulu)
Bel Powley (The Morning Show)
The size of her part likely won’t attract much attention, but Powley enhanced her role as Claire, a production assistant, by making sure to convey both her excitement about working in television and her need to make her opinion known, providing comic relief while simultaneously tapping into her show’s more serious themes. (Apple TV Plus)
Hunter Schafer and Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria)
Supporting their famous costar Zendaya, who was also excellent, Schaefer and Sweeney dug into their rich, complicated characters, Jules and Cassie, both navigating troubled histories and trying to forge their own paths forward in the often hurtful world of high school. (HBO)
Lolly Adefope (Shrill)
As Fran, the freewheeling best friend of main character Annie, Adefope, who also appears on the Emmy ballot for her scene-stealing turn as an opinionated nun on Miracle Workers: Dark Ages, refused to let any moment go without making it count, responding with a snide remark or show-stopping musical number at every opportunity. (Hulu)
Hiam Abbass and May Calamawy (Ramy)
Their screen time was limited overall, but Abbass and Calamawy each anchored a fantastic episode from their show’s second season. As Ramy’s mother Maysa and his sister Dena, they represented the nuances of living as Muslim women in America, confronting (and sometimes accidentally perpetuating) ignorance and processing what they could do in return. (Hulu)
Who’s on your list of underrated Emmy-worthy actresses from this past season?