The Film Experience

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