The nominations are in for the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards. Over the next few weeks, I'll be going through several of the major categories and offer my predictions on who will win this year. Next up, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
The nominees are: The Good Wife's Christine Baranski; Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt and Maggie Smith; Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn; Game of Thrones' Lena Headey; and Mad Men's Christina Hendricks.
1. ANNA GUNN - BREAKING BAD (AMC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "OZYMANDIAS"
The reigning champion in this category has yet another strong submission tape. The brutality of Skyler breaking down in the middle of the street as her husband kidnaps their baby daughter is heartbreaking. After a season of working alongside Walt, it was in this episode she truly became afraid of him. It's such a raw performance and she has the momentum to win two-in-a-row.
2. CHRISTINE BARANSKI - THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE LAST CALL"
For the past four years, Baranski got her obligatory Emmy nomination because she's Emmy winner Christine Baranski. But for Season 5 of The Good Wife, she totally deserves this nomination and most certainly is acceptable as a winner. Personally I thought she was better at the start of the season dealing with the firm split and the judgeship than the second half where she was reacting to that thing that happened to Will. Nevertheless though, she was fantastic all season long and gets plenty to do in her episode submission.
3. MAGGIE SMITH - DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "EPISODE EIGHT"
Smith has already won two Emmys for Downton Abbey and can't easily be written off of these winning predictions. She's Maggie Smith! Sure, she never gets a ton to do on her show and she almost never travels to the award ceremony. But as long as she's a nominee, she'll be a strong contender for the top prize.
4. JOANNE FROGGATT - DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "EPISODE FOUR"
Froggatt had a meaty storyline this season and voters responded to it positively as she was able to rejoin the field after dropping out last year. Because of co-star Smith, she also appears in two episodes that the voters will be viewing and screentime can be a major deciding factor.
5. LENA HEADEY - GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE LION AND THE ROSE"
As voters have slowly come to embrace Game of Thrones, they've wisely known when to nominate an actress in this field when the material warrants it. Emilia Clarke had a good Season 3 and Lena Headey had a good Season 4. So they were able to swap without much fuss. Like I said in the "Supporting Drama Actor" post, I haven't seen the fantasy series. So, Headey could be a major contender for the top prize. I don't know.
6. CHRISTINA HENDRICKS - MAD MEN (AMC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE STRATEGY"
I love Hendricks a ton on Mad Men and I'm glad she got nominated again. However, if she wasn't able to win two years ago for "The Other Woman," it doesn't seem like she'll ever be able to win in this field. That is such a shame too.
