Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is going to be a tough category to hash out. Emmy favorite Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) returns, unopposed by two-time winner Anna Gunn, as does perennial nominee Christine Baranski (The Good Wife).
Smith has already won twice for the role before being stopped when Anna Gunn won twice for Breaking Bad. However, with some Downton fatigue and a stronger focus on episode submissions she may not be the juggernaut she has been in past years.
Baranski, on the other hand, has the benefit of The Good Wife‘s creative resurgence and a slew of episode submissions to pick from.
Who they have to look out for is Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), who joins the race after OITNB was classified as a drama. With her strong awards history and extreme likability make her an instant threat in this race.
After these three women, the field widens up. Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) has been nominated for this award 5 times, which pushes her into overdue territory along with Christine Baranski. However, with Mad Men‘s waning nominations, she could be dropped. Of course, the potential buzz around the final season can keep her in the race.
If we’re going by buzz, then Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) will certainly have an extreme edge with the deafening noise that Game of Thrones causes whenever an episode airs. Also, based on the source material, she will have a plethora of episodes to choose from.
Other possibilities include Oscar winner Sissy Spacek (Bloodline) and this year’s Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey).
Check out our full 2015 Emmy Predictions here!
Strong Possibilities
1. Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
2. Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
3. Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
On shaky ground
4. Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
5. Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
6. Sissy Spacek, Bloodline
7. Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
The rest of the field
8. Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black
9. Alfre Woodard, State of Affairs
10. Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
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.