The Film Experience

By Nathaniel R

Whoopi Goldberg in "The Stand"

The Emmy nominations are just under two weeks away so soon we'll have actual shortlists to discuss rather than speculation. But let's wrap up the acting categories with a discussion of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Or Movie. This category isn't quite as heavy on honoring a single show as the parallel supporting actor category tends to be -- we'll generally get two nominees from one series here (though last year Mrs America took up half the list). According to Emmy ballots there are 116 women in the running which means there will be 6 nominees which has become the standard for this category.

MOVIES
Though this category includes stand-alone movies made for television, and stage shows that were filmed, there's generally little room in the nominee circle for performances that weren't in limited series. It's been three years since a live event muscled in here (Sara Bareilles in Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert) and four years since an actress from a standalone telefilm was nominated (Michelle Pfeiffer in Wizard of Lies)...

That doesn't bode well for the ladies of Hamilton in general but if someone does muscle in from that filmed stage show it's going to be Renée Elise Goldsberry via her dazzling Tony-winning turn as "Angelica Schuyler". We don't personally believe recorded Broadway shows should be eligible for Emmys (that's what the Tony Awards were for!) but the television Academy doesn't agree. Goldsberry's funny work on Girls5eva (different category!) won't hurt either.

Women in television movies will have more trouble finding footing. The always special Kaitlyn Dever was the standout in the quarantine-filmed monologue event Coastal Elites, but considering the field in general as well as her internal competition from past Emmy nominees or winners (Sarah Paulson, Issa Rae, and Bette Midler) not to mention her own very unfortunate snub for Unbelievable at the last Emmy Awards we're not hopeful. Other famous names on the ballot for stand-alone movies include Jenifer Lewis for Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square, Neve Campbell for Clouds, and Fran Drescher for The Christmas Setup.

EMMY FAVOURITES
Uzo Aduba is seeking a Lead Actress in a Drama Series nod for In Treatment but she's also eligible here for her role in Solos. She's got internal competition from other heavy hitters (Nicole Beharie, Anne Hathaway, Helen Mirren, Constance Wu) though the show hasn't been generating much buzz. Still, you should never count her entirely out as the industry loves her and she's almost always the first person listed on a ballot -- it helps to have a memorable name that begins with "A". She's won three of the four Emmys she's been up for including just last year in this very category for Mrs America.

Whoopi Goldberg, submitted for The Stand, has been nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys though curiously she's never won. Five time nominee Phylicia Rashad, who has also never won, is on the long list for Between the World and Me and nomination voting closed before she got in hot water for celebrating Bill Cosby's early release from prison.

Six time nominee and three-time winner Margo Martindale is on the ballot twice in this category for both Uncle Frank and Your Honor. Her lack of buzz for either is noticeable but then she was nominated one year for a super-duper brief bit in The Americans so you never know; when they love you they LOVE you.

Nine time nominee and three-time winner Jean Smart is the obvious frontrunner in another category -- Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Hacks) -- but she's heading for a double nomination since she brings such crucial levity to the very popular crime drama Mare of Easttown.

Smart and Rice in "Mare of Easttown"

MULTIPLE CONTENDERS FROM THE SAME SHOW

Smart isn't the only possibility from Mare, since Julianne Nicholson also won strong reviews as Mare's best friend while Sosie Bacon, as the mother of Mare's grandson, and Angourie Rice, as Mare's daughter, are also on the ballot.

The Haunting of Bly Manor got the greediest submitting 7 women in this category (the most of any show) though the only one with buzz appears to be T'Nia Miller. FX/Hulu similarly threw the whole Black Narcissus nunnery in. The three part series obviously pales in comparison to the 1947 feature film masterpiece but how many of the TV's voting Academy will have seen that? If any one of the half dozen actresses can muscle around the internal competition it will surely be the Irish-Italian actress Aisling Franciosi who has the meatiest role as "Sister Ruth" (you know, the nun who completely loses it).

Another arguably overexcited show with submissions is WandaVision which sends five women into this category. Curiously two of them have very small roles (Emma Caulfield and Deborah Jo Rupp) that would likely have been submitted in the "Guest" category had this been on continuing series. The other two (Kat Dennings, Teyonnah Paris) are endearing in their ways but it's difficult to imagine that Kathryn Hahn's very showcased and possibly career-elevating performance (we'll see how Hollywood reacts) as intrusive mischievous Agatha doesn't suck up every vote thrown at the show.

Ryan Murphy's Halston has submitted three actresses. Kelly Bishop has fun but her role is small. Rebecca Dayan and Krysta Rodriguez, on the other hand, get lots of screentime in the biographical mini, and either of them would make a worthy nominee as Halston's closest female friends, Elsa Perretti and Liza Minnelli respectively. Dayan and Rodriguez aren't yet high profile enough actors to work around possible indifference to the show, though. In Rodriguez's case, at least, that might not matter; awards shows love seeing famous celebrity impersonations more than they love just about anything.

Other shows (not a complete list) submitting multiple contenders include It's a Sin (Keeley Hawes and Lydia West, both wonderful), The Undoing (Lily Rabe and Noma Dumezweni), The Comey Rule (Holly Hunter, Amy Seimetz, Oona Chaplin, Jennifer Ehle), The Third Day (Katherine Waterston, Emily Watson), Small Axe (Letitia Wright, Amarah-Jae St Aubyn). But if any show doubles up beyond Mare of Easttown (unlikely but possible) with coattail nominations for multiple cast members, wouldn't it be the other limited series juggernaut, The Queen's Gambit? Marielle Heller feels likely (and deserving) as the boozy adoptive mother but they could also add in Moses Ingram as Beth Harmon's lifelong friend, or, more likely, Isla Johnston who is so memorable as the young secretive Beth in the orphanage scenes. She helps set up the mood and feel of the character before handing it off to the very capable Anya Taylor Joy.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

Weruche Opia has devoted fans for her performance in I May Destroy You but does she have enough of them given the early release date and the competition with much more famous actors? Jessie Buckley, a fast-rising star on screens big and small, could show up if voters are still watching Fargo (are they?). Sheila Atim (who also had a guest spot on The Nevers this season) is on the ballot for The Underground Railroad. The late and always great Helen McRory is also on the ballot for Masterpiece's Roadkill and could win some sentimental votes; it's a pity she didn't win for her spectacular work on Penny Dreadful some years back.

Finally, Marcia Gay Harden is still seeking an Emmy to complete her Triple Crown after her Oscar & Tony and she's submitted this year for the coming of age dramedy Pink Skies Ahead. But do Emmy voters watch MTV where that show aired?

PREDICTIONS

Jean Smart (Mare of Easttown) - LOCK
Julianne Nicholason (Mare of Easttown) - PROBABLY
Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision) - PROBABLY
Marielle Heller (The Queen's Gambit) - PROBABLY
Renee Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) - WILD GUESS...NOT CONFIDENT
Letitia Wright (Small Axe) -WILD GUESS...NOT CONFIDENT

Though part of me wanted to go no guts no glory and suggest that Krysta Rodriguez or Moses Ingram shows up. Who do YOU think scores here?

more on the upcoming Emmys