Emmy Category Analysis: Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Sunday, August 21, 2022 at 9:00PM
Previous winner Zendaya in her standout episode of Euphoria
Though none of last year’s Lead Drama Actress nominees were eligible this year, the shortlist for 2022 is actually pretty close to what this category was like two years ago albeit with a different actress from The Morning Show in contention. Two Emmy seasons ago, Zendaya was the big winner for her buzzy freshman show, and now her fiercest competition is also in a buzzy freshman show. Melanie Lynskey is hot off a win from the Hollywood Critics Association. While it’s possible that the other four will factor into the race, it feels like a race between those two.
But let’s dig deeper. Brief descriptions of the nominees below - click on the episode titles for spoiler-filled reviews…
Laura Linney in Ozark
NOMINEES
-
Jodie Comer - Killing Eve - Episode: “Don’t Get Eaten” (Season 4, Episode 2)
-
Description: Villanelle ends her religious charade and goes back to her old ways.
-
-
Laura Linney - Ozark - Episode: “Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin’” (Season 4, Episode 11)
-
Description: Wendy stands her ground and refuses to compromise.
-
-
Melanie Lynskey - Yellowjackets - Episode: “Doomcoming” (Season 1, Episode 9)
-
Description: Shauna moves to protect herself and unveils the truth about book club.
-
-
Sandra Oh - Killing Eve - Episode: “Making Dead Things Look Nice” (Season 4, Episode 7)
-
Description: Eve is haunted by the ghosts of her past in the show’s penultimate episode.
-
-
Reese Witherspoon - The Morning Show - Episode: “Confirmations” (Season 2, Episode 8)
-
Description: Bradley grapples with her struggling brother and having to report some major news.
-
-
Zendaya - Euphoria - Episode: “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird” (Season 2, Episode 5)
-
Description: Rue goes through withdrawal and runs from those trying to help her.
-
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in Killing Eve
ANALYSIS
It’s worth noting that this is the farewell nomination for half of this slate, for these roles. While Sandra Oh has been nominated for all four years of Killing Eve, only her costar Jodie Comer has won for the show’s second season. This year, they’re the lone representatives of their show, which earned considerably more recognition for seasons two and three, so it’s highly unlikely that either of them would win. Linney, on the other hand, has won Emmys for every role she’s been nominated for except for Ozark, and she also directs the installment she’s submitted for consideration. I wish the show had a better chance in categories like this, but Garner three-peating in supporting actress is its best bet. And then there’s Witherspoon, whose inclusion over costar Jennifer Aniston made me very happy since she had the much stronger season two arc. She also lost every awards season prize to a costar on her previous nomination, Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies, so it’s nice to see her recognized. Can she win? Definitely not.
Reese Witherspoon with a past winner in this category, Julianna Margulies, in The Morning Show
That brings us to Zendaya and Lynskey. Objectively speaking, Zendaya feels like the frontrunner. Her show has more than double the nominations Lynskey’s does (16 vs. 7), and Zendaya herself is up for four different prizes (music & lyrics for two different songs and as an executive producer for the series). But those sixteen are mostly acting and technical bids, whereas Yellowjackets picked up a directing mention and two writing nominations. Ultimately, it’s about these two performers, and I think it’s hard to pick. Episode-wise, Zendaya’s is a formidable showcase of the struggle with addiction, but Lynskey is absolutely terrific in hers, too. In 2020, I picked Zendaya to upset since voters would be torn between Aniston, Colman, and Linney. This year, a repeat win is certainly possible, but I’d give the edge to Lynskey.
Melanie Lynskey with Warren Kole in Yellowjackets
Will Win: Melanie Lynskey - Yellowjackets
Should Win: Melanie Lynskey - Yellowjackets
Spoiler: Zendaya - Euphoria
WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR?
MORE ANALYSIS
- Supporting Actress – Comedy Series
- Supporting Actress – Drama Series
- Supporting Actress – Limited Series
- Supporting Actor – Drama Series
- Guest Acting - Comedy Series
- Guest Acting - Drama Series
- Writing/Directing – Comedy Series
- Writing/Directing – Drama Series
- Writing/Directing – Limited Series
- Costume Design – Contemporary
- Costume Design – Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Costume Design - Period
Reader Comments (16)
Go Lynskey!
Definitely Lynskey. Emmy seems to go by freshest buzz these days, and Lynskey is an old pro who deserves it
Zendaya is astonishing here. In the designated episode, the camera rarely leaves Rue. And in that constant spotlight Zendaya is phenomenal. There is no vanity in this performance. Rather it is a depiction of desperation, a full bore effort to show how the illness of addiction has decimated this young woman. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
After watching Stand Still Like the Hummingbird, I am in awe of this 25 year old life force. When I think of the many great performances that explore addiction on film including, Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream, Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend, Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, Susan Hayward in I’ll Cry Tomorrow, and Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born, I am of the firm opinion that Zendaya can stand shoulder to shoulder with these magnificent actors.
More than 40 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Surat, etc., participated in the 1,804 interviews that were done nationwide. The results of the Outlook-Toluna Youth Survey are as follows:
https://dgcustomerfirstu.shop/
www.dgcustomerfirstu.shop
dgcustomerfirstu.shop
dgcustomerfirst
click here dgcustomerfirst
Official website for dgcustomerfirst
This category has been full of upsets recently, including each of the last four years, so this category is a ton of fun. Claire Foy, Jodie Comer, Zendaya, and Olivia Colman were not seen as the frontrunners going into the Emmys and all won. Tatiana Maslany in 2016 as well.
I think Linney has a great shot at being the upset this year. Some thought she should've won last time, she's spectacular on Ozark, the Emmys love her, and it's the final season of a beloved show.
Hoping Lynskey indeed takes it but I suspect it's Zendaya again. The Witherspoon nom is wild.
Even though I have yet to see her show (I know!) I'm easily rooting for Lynskey to win, because well.. it's her! She's been so under-rewarded and appreciated for so long and this would be so amazing. Plus Zendaya (who I'd vote next) already has her win and she's SO young and very MUCH appreciated currently.
But this category was rotten from the start. I *love* Oh and Comer, but woof... they did nothing new in their final (and frankly reviled) season. Either of their spots should've gone to Mandy Moore who anchored a very popular broadcast show that actually had a satisfying ending. Nevermind the "snub" of the excellent Carrie Coon in THE GILDED AGE, the perennially ignored Christine Baranski in THE GOOD FIGHT or the exciting newcomer Britt Lower in SEVERANCE. Maybe next year!
I really like Lynskey but I have to agree with Finbar McBride - Zendaya is astonishing in her submitted episode. I usually am not in favor of repeat wins, but in this case, it feels justified.
I wonder if Lynskey could suffer in voting because her show is more of ensemble show, whereas Zendaya feels like the clear lead of the show. I felt that this might have been the reason it took so long for Jon Hamm to win for Mad Men years ago.
Count me in as another vote for Zendaya. I'm usually with Nathaniel here in that I don't like it when winners repeat, but Zendaya kills it in her submitted episode this season (an episode I think should have been nominated for both writing and directing), and it's one of those instances where it would feel inevitable if she wins again just for the sheer magnetism of her every move in that episode.
As for Melanie Lynskey, I adore her, but I do feel her material is seldom the most interesting in Yellowjackets. In general, I find Yellowjackets way more enthralling when we're spending time with the younger versions of these characters, and it does annoy me that there wasn't really much of an awards push for Sophie Nélisse (whom I had never imagined as a young Melanie Lynskey, but here we are), or Sophie Thatcher, or Jasmin Savoy Brown or Sammi Hanratty, all of whom are phenomenal and all of whom feel like credible younger versions of their older counterparts (which is why I'm hoping Yellowjackets wins the Emmy for Casting).
Not sure the industry loves her like we do.
her - Melanie
we - the gays
Sometimes the Emmys realize- hey this person hasn't won yet and we will look stupid in hindsight if we don't give them one- Hamm, Rhys, and Chandler are recent examples. Sandra Oh doesn't have an Emmy and this is the last chance to reward her. If the last season was better and more recent, she would be the frontrunner, but for now I think she will continue to be trophyless for a while.
Sad that Christine Baranski isn't here for the Good Fight. What she does is, I think, really difficult, and yet she delivers in every episode. I also loved Carrie Coon this season, who is in a ridiculously soapy show, but gives a ferocious performance. She makes Mrs. Russell rootable without ever compromising on the characters flaws. There's no sympathy in the performance, yet she's able to make you on her side.
I haven't seen all the nominees, but this really does feel like it's between Lynskey and Zendaya. Normally, I would think that Zendaya has the edge. Her episode sees her giving a more complex performance than the last time she won, and voters usually reward that (see Candice Bergen and Allison Janney, who were masters of submitting in this way). The problem, though, is I don't think Euphoria has as much respect and voters don't need to watch episodes. Lynskey has had buzz all season, is the type of veteran that Emmy rewards, and is her Network's prioriity. My vote goes to her.
I will say, that I'm a bit sad Sandra Oh is unlikely to win. If Angela Lansbury is the Emmys Deborah Kerr, than Sandra is the emmy player still in the game, but without an actual win. Her karaoke scene was one of the best of the final season, and some of the best work she's done as Eve since the first season. I think if voters watched episodes she'd be a dark, but unlikely, horse.I also think she should have, easily, won in 2006 and 2007, so I'm still miffed about that.
I love Lynskey and love the moment she's having. Would be nice to see her being rewarded...
BUT
I agree with those who say Zendaya killed it in her episode. I'm not the biggest Euphoria fan, but that fifth episode on its own is better material than what Lynskey got all season. Zendaya is scary good in the opening scene, showing a side of addiction I had never seen portrayed that nakedly. I think that if she won for season 1 when she wasn't a frontrunner, she'll win again for her best work yet.
Melanie deserves it, just for suffering through some thankless roles since her breathtaking debut alongside Kate Winslet in "Heavenly Creature." Winslet went on to have THE career and Lynskey was regulated to guest spots and "Two and a Half Men." She is fantastic in "Yellowjackets" and deserves the recognition.
As for Zendaya, she is magnificent. However, with an adorable boyfriend and the world at her fingertips, it's her world and we just live in it. I think she will be okay.
Thank you very much for these great cake recipes, I have learned a lot from your web blog spanish to english
I agree with those who say that Zendaya killed it in her episode. I'm not the biggest fan of Euphoria, but just that fifth episode is better than what Lynskey got the whole season. In the first scene, Zendaya is scary good. She shows a side of addiction that I had never seen shown so openly before. I think she'll win again for her best work yet, since she won for season 1 even though she wasn't the favorite. snow rider