2015 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Like its drama counterpart, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series is a crowded field this year. Three-time winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) returning to the race, overdue industry and fan favorite Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), and veteran actresses Lily Tomlin and (Grace and Frankie) co-starring in a new (which is red-hot at the Emmys) already make the category heavy enough. However, now comes the process of fitting in the new stars and the perennially nominated women.

With and backing her star-vehicle, Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) should be in no matter how her quirky show does at the Emmys.

Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) seems to have some momentum going for her, and considering her acclaim and success early in the year it's obvious that the often ignored CW will be campaigning hard.

With two new actresses possibly joining the lineup, that would mean that Emmy favorite Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) could be pushed out. It might be unwise to predict that such a no brainer nominee would be snubbed, however I could see scenario where the category is expanded to 7 with a tie somewhere in the voting.

Another new nominee that could pop up is Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback), a favorite from Friends who self parodies in her new show, which is the actually be her comeback.

Check out all of our 2015 Emmy Predictions here!

Strong Frontrunners
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
2. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

The Veterans
3. Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
4. , Grace and Frankie

Could be any of them
5. Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
6. Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
7. Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
8. Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback

Other Contenders
9. Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
10. Lena Dunham, Girls

Karl Delossantos

Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.

Leave a Comment
Published by
Karl Delossantos

Recent Posts

No Other Land is the most important documentary of our time | movie review

No Other Land follows a Palestinian activist as he documents the destruction of his community… Read More

1 month ago

Surreal dramedy The Life of Chuck ponders life and death | TIFF 2024

TIFF 2024 | The Life of Chuck follows an enigmatic man starting as a surrealist… Read More

2 months ago

Diabolically fun horror Heretic will make you believe | TIFF 2024

A pair of young Mormon missionaries find themselves at the center of a sinister plot… Read More

2 months ago

Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield charm and fall in love in We Live In Time | TIFF 2024

Moving back and forth in their history, We Live In Time follows a couple through… Read More

2 months ago

Strange Darling, a thriller to die for | movie review

While it begins as a cat-and-mouse thriller, Strange Darling evolves (and genre-bends) into a psychological… Read More

2 months ago

Dìdi is a love letter to an Asian-American childhood | movie review

Dìdi is an autobiographical romp through the life of a shy 13-year-old Taiwanese-American as he… Read More

3 months ago