Emmy Review: Supporting Actress in a Drama
Sunday, August 30, 2020 at 10:48AM
The nominations in this category were mostly expected save for the snub, once again, of Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul. Julia Garner, Thandie Newton, Samira Wiley, and Laura Dern have all won Emmys for these roles but only Newton and Wiley have ever competed against each other (and both lost). There’s no clear frontrunner but a handful of possibilities who could win here in a category that features a lot of very strong choices.
I’ll try to avoid major plot details in my analysis – but if you’d like more spoiler-filled descriptions, click on the episode titles. Let’s consider each nominee…
Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in The Crown (Netflix)
Episode: “Cri de Coeur”
Carter has three previous Emmy nominations, for TV movies Burton and Taylor and Live from Baghdad and miniseries Merlin. She took over the role of the Queen’s younger sister from Vanessa Kirby, a nominee in this race two years ago. I was ready to hand-deliver the Emmy to Carter after seeing her work in the second episode of this season, “Margaretology,” which is all about her public persona. She decided instead to go with the season finale, which is also costar Olivia Colman’s submission, which still finds her doing compelling dramatic work as she reexamines her marriage. She could still win since she’s a real scene-stealer and does a great job with this role.
Laura Dern as Renata Klein in Big Little Lies (HBO)
Episode: “Tell-Tale Hearts”
Dern has been nominated seven times in the past, winning once – for the first season of this show back when it was considered a limited series in 2017. I think some people are experiencing a bit of Dern fatigue after she took home the Oscar last year for playing a cutthroat divorce attorney in Marriage Story. As one of the few people who liked the second season of Big Little Lies more than season one, I firmly believe that Dern was the best part and absolutely deserves another Emmy. Lashing out at her husband and declaring “I will not not be rich” are moments made for Emmy clips. Her biggest hurdle will be convincing voters that she’s worth choosing over costar Meryl Streep.
Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark (Netflix)
Episode: “In Case of Emergency”
Garner is the defending champ in this category. Since season three only premiered in March of this year, she hasn’t had a chance to sweep all the other TV awards, but that doesn’t reduce her chances of repeating at the Emmys (a leading role in the acclaimed indie film The Assistant helps to boost her profile). Garner has an incomparably angry attitude as the talented and opinionated Ruth, and in season three she became even more embedded in her criminal organization. In her submitted episode, she faces off with law enforcement and rival mobsters and manages to maintain her same defiant nature, which is both entertaining and intense. Her costars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney might win this year, and there’s no reason to expect that voters won’t choose her again.
Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay in Westworld (HBO)
Episode: “The Winter Line”
Newton was a strong contender to win this prize for season one of her show but lost to an actress from The Handmaid’s Tale (Ann Dowd), then rallied to defeat three stars of that show the next year. Her show took last season off, and now it’s back with only half the nominations it had for each of its first two rounds. Newton is just as good as she’s ever been, and her performance in the second episode, which marks her submission, is simply incredible. The world presented here can be extremely confusing, and the fact that Maeve is able to figure out what’s going on only makes her performance more mesmerizing. Without her show up for Best Drama Series, I think Newton’s chances are much weaker, but her submission is excellent.
Fiona Shaw as Carolyn Martens in Killing Eve (AMC)
Episode: “Management Sucks”
Shaw was a double nominee last year, for this show and her guest spot on Fleabag. Most didn’t expect her show to do as well as it did this year, and while I didn’t predict Shaw, I do think that she does a fantastic job with this part. As a seasoned MI6 supervisor, Shaw is best when she’s reacting bluntly and often unkindly to the emotions of those around her, which is amplified in her submission, where she’s reeling from a loss of her own. I suspect Emmy voters will place Shaw about where I did below in my personal rankings, but that’s only because this category features multiple knockout performances.
Sarah Snook as Siobhan “Shiv” Roy in Succession (HBO)
Episode: “The Summer Palace”
When I first assessed this category, Snook wasn’t being campaigned here since she really is a lead along with the show’s two Best Actor nominees, Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong. But switching to this race was a smart strategic decision that earned her an inaugural Emmy nomination, and her significant screen time probably helped her beat out other legitimate contenders from her show like Holly Hunter and J. Smith-Cameron. Snook is a force as the only daughter of a dynasty, and most episodes of this season would showcase her work very well. The season premiere, in which she observes the behavior of her family and is given surprising news, is as good as any other, and general enthusiasm for her show this year could easily propel her to a win.
Meryl Streep as Mary Louise Wright in Big Little Lies (HBO)
Episode: “I Want to Know”
Twenty-one-time Oscar nominee Streep only has four previous Emmy nominations, three of which she won – in 1978 for Holocaust, in 2004 for Angels of America, and in 2017 for narrating Five Came Back. I know it’s probably illegal in certain states to criticize her performances or rank her last on any list, but this is not her best work. When she was cast a few years ago, it was big news, but her show already features fantastic A-list talent led by Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. As a grieving mother who’s more predatory than endearing, her turn was a bit over-the-top, and the season finale doesn’t even present her in the best light. That doesn’t mean she’ll lose since her awards track record is unlike anyone else’s, but I think this category has much more notable performances albeit from admittedly less notable performers.
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand in The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Episode: “Sacrifice”
Wiley’s inclusion this year is a bit of a head-scratcher. She contended in this category for season one of her show when many, including me, thought she should have instead been nominated for Orange is the New Black, and then she was considered a guest star for season two, and won that award. I barely remember her being in season three, but apparently she was in seven out of thirteen episodes, just like season one. It’s still surprising to see her here over past winner Ann Dowd and previous nominee Yvonne Strahovski, both of whom gave very strong performances. Looking at her submitted episode, she does have a few impactful scenes, which help to explain how she got nominated. I didn’t expect her to win before and she did, but I still think a victory this time would be a real shock.
Personal Ranking:
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Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
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Thandie Newton, Westworld
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Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
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Julia Garner, Ozark
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Sarah Snook, Succession
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Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve
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Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale
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Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
Predicted Winner: Sarah Snook – Succession
Potential Spoiler: Helena Bonham Carter – The Crown
All Categories Covered:
DRAMA: Actress | Actor | Supporting Actor | Guest Actress | Guest Actor
COMEDY: Actress | Actor | Guest Actress | Guest Actor
MISC: TV Movie | Costumes, Fantasy | Costumes, Period
Reader Comments (24)
I agree that there might be a Dern fatigue. People forgot how iconic Renata became in season 2 and that they were using quotes and gifs of her all over the internet. Dern leaned into her character's over the top quality as if her life depended on it, but there was a method to that madness. She's my winner.
Laura Deen is a one note actress. I would put her last.
What a disappointing lineup. If Rhea Seehorn doesn't get in next year we riot.
Streep and Dern were both terrible in BLL2
Dern seems to be stuck on repeat in most of her roles,same mannersims,same voice calibration,same gestures and all ringing false.
Not for 1 second and the twee way Meryl played it did i believe she could possibly be Skarsgaard's mother.The clothes,the hair and the teeth all rang untrue from the moment she appeared.
Why did no one single out Adam Scott,he was the only one trying to crate a character we cared about.
I think HBC takes it, but I wouldn't be surprised with a Snook win.
Even though I am a huge Succession fan, I agree that Helena Bonham-Carter gives the best performance of these very distinguished nominees. She was the highlight of The Crown's third season for me. I know that some felt she didn't imitate Princess Margaret very well, but her performance was incredibly compelling on its own terms (if I want to see Princess Margaret, I can watch old news clips or a documentary).
I really wish J. Smith-Cameron had been recognized here. She's been one of my favorite character actresses for years and has been overlooked for awards recognitions a number of times (most notably before now in Rectify and Margaret).
I love Helena Bonham Carter's work in 'The Crown' and really want to see her win the Emmy. She is every bit as talented as her more celebrated peers, including the fabulous Olivia Colman, but is always the bridesmaid, never the bride at awards shows. It's mind boggling that in a 30+ year film and TV career filled with many outstanding performances (including 'The Wings of the Dove,' which should have earned her an Oscar), her sole major televised win is a BAFTA for 'The King's Speech.'
If Margaret were played the same way by, say, Kate Winslet, or Helen Mirren 20 years ago, they would have the Emmy on lock. It's like voters see certain names and automatically think "winner!" while others are destined to always be respectable names used to fill out a category, but never end up winning.
MY Personal Ranking would go like this:
1-Julia Garner, Ozark : Ruth requires a tour de force and Garner delivers it fiercely.
2-Laura Dern, Big Little Lies: I don't think it's even possible to "experiencing a bit of Dern fatigue", she's the MVP of a weak second and unnecessary season.
3--Sarah Snook, Succession: Loooove the show, love Snook, she's brilliant as is everybody in this masterpiece.
4-Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve: When is Shaw ever bad ? She's second best in show for this season of KE, only Comer ranks above her.
5-Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown: not a fan of season 3, love Colman but Foy was way better (or maybe her storyline was more interesting) but I gotta agree that Bonham Carter is thrilling to watch.
6-Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale : heartbreaking and collected performance. She shines every time she's on screen.
7-Thandie Newton, Westworld: not much for the very talented Ms. Newton to work with in this season but she's badass and love her cool one-liners.
8-Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies: not a fan of this performance, kinda OTT and the role feels like "let's make up something so Meryl can come and play with us". Her win for Angels in America was totally deserved though.
Meryl is great in "Big Little Lies". She has reached such levels in her acting work through the years that, for every new performance, there's always someone to say "it's not her best" or that she's over the top just because she isn't whispering all the time.
I’d be happy with either a Snook or an HBC win, but, honestly, my enthusiasm for this category hits an immovable wall with Rhea Seehorn in it.
Ann freaking Dowd. Yvonne freaking Strahovski. Where are they?
Janet McTeer.
My primary choice is Meryl Streep, superb as usual, she made that second season so worthwhile.
The season finale of The Crown is a way better submission for Helena than for Othiefia Boreman.
This is a powerhouse category and I hope HBC takes it, or Snook.
Janet McTeer and Rhea Seehorn should absolutely be here instead of Streep and Wiley. It would be an all-timer category if so.
Still mourning the absence of Janet McTeer and her fabulous blouses.
I'd vote for Carter...and actually think she might prevail, though Garner and Snook are right up there with her.
Dern was great on BLL season 1 but the whole season is a cautionary tale against too much of a good thing.
I didn't care for her in Marriage Story either, so I don't like the way her worst instincts are being encouraged! Hollywood spent decades failing to recognize when Dern was good and now they can't recognize when she's bad. Oh well.
Bonham Carter, Snook, Newton and Garner would all make worthy winners. And I agree with those who've cited McTeer.
I'm still baffled why Rhea Seehorn never gets nominated. Just based on the previous nominees left out, it's as if she's not even in any of these voter's top 10. WHY?!
I'm rooting for Snook or Garner as I love those actresses.
I'm surprised by all of the Mary Louise hate, but I also thought Season 2 of BLL worked pretty well. All of the "it's not as good as season 1" stuff felt overblown given that season 1 was probably one of the best/top seasons of television this past decade. Even though it dipped in quality, it was still complex and engaging. I also think, when it comes to Meryl, voters will ignore the buzz and focus on the performance. It's a good, but I think she should have gone with a nastier episode (maybe the penultimate or the one where she confronts Jane).
To me, this is between HBC and Laura Dern. Both get tons of big moments in their episodes, and they play their characters' emotions in interesting ways. Interestingly, both are fairly sympathetic in a way that you wouldn't expect with these characters given the marital issues they're dealing with. I'd give HBC the edge - there's something about the range she gets to show - from the fun she gets to have with her boytoy, her sharpness and haughtiness as they go around the small town to the moment with Elizabeth that's really powerful.
I wasn't impressed by Meryl's work in BLL, but I wouldn't be surprised if she won...because she's MERYL! lol
I think Laura Dern did her best with what she was given, I haven't heard anyone say they tired of her, but a lot of people kept (wrongly) conflating Renata with her Marriage Story character, so maybe folks are tired of seeing her in this specific mode? Either way I think she should just be happy for the nomination.
I agree, filmjunkie. I think Meryl is taking this one. It's such glorious ACTING.
I would also add that Meryl is great in BLL season 2; The horrible writing and direction is hellbent on making her character an evil villain but Meryl transcends it.
Mary Louise was a grandmother working to extract her grandkids from an objectively unsafe living situation with drug abuse, Ambien car accidents, mom running off to hook up in bathrooms in the middle of the night. I couldn't believe how much the writers kept from the viewers until the final episode and felt so deceived by the way Celeste had been depicted. It's a season where Mary Louise is gaslit by every other character and she's ultimately right about *everything*. Meryl got that and she played it, thank god.
Meryl absolutely saved the second season with her multi-layered performance. I think it's between her and HBC.