Emmy Predictions 2017: Who Will Likely Get Nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series?

From June 12 to June 26, voting is taking place for The 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. To add to the excitement of the past year in television, I'm providing analysis on which shows and performers are likely to get nominated this year. Next up is Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

2016 Nominees:

        Claire Danes for Showtime's Homeland
        Viola Davis for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
        Taraji P. Henson for FOX's Empire
        Tatiana Maslany for BBC America's Orphan Black (WINNER)
        Keri Russell for FX's The Americans
        Robin Wright for Netflix's House of Cards

Last year's winner, Tatiana Maslany, is the only actress not eligible again this year because the final season of Orphan Black didn't start until last weekend. The remaining five all have solid shots of returning as well. And yet, they are on aging series as well. After awhile, veteran performers are tossed aside to reward the new. That could happen this year because there is a huge influx of new shows and talent this year in a number of the drama races. So nominations may not come as easy to performers who've been in this category for years now. There are some new shows that deserve recognition as well.

So now, here's my thoughts on the actors must likely to be nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

1. Robin Wright for Netflix's House of Cards
2. Claire Foy for Netflix's The Crown
3. Elisabeth Moss for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
4. Viola Davis for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
5. Keri Russell for FX's The Americans
6. Evan Rachel Wood for HBO's Westworld

And now, for some serious threats that could break into the list:

1. Claire Danes for Showtime's Homeland
2. Christine Baranski for CBS All Access' The Good Fight
3. Taraji P. Henson for FOX's Empire
4. Carrie Coon for HBO's The Leftovers
5. Mandy Moore for NBC's This Is Us
6. Katherine Langford for Netflix's 13 Reasons Why
7. Taylor Schilling for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
8. Kerry Washington for ABC's Scandal
9. Rachel Keller for FX's Legion
10. Queen Latifah for FOX's Star
11. Brit Marling for Netflix's The OA
12. Eva Green for Showtime's Penny Dreadful
13. Shiri Appleby for Lifetime's UnREAL
14. Ellen Barkin for TNT's Animal Kingdom
15. Michelle Dockery for TNT's Good Behavior

Some considerable long-shots:

1. Jurnee Smollett-Bell for WGN America's Underground
2. Michelle Monaghan for Hulu's The Path
3. Jenna Coleman for PBS' Victoria
4. Ruth Negga for AMC's Preacher
5. Ruth Wilson for Showtime's The Affair
6. Connie Britton for CMT's Nashville
7. Geena Davis for FOX's The Exorcist
8. Mariska Hargitay for NBC's Law & Order: SVU
9. Rutina Wesley and Dawn-Lyen Gardner for OWN's Queen Sugar
10. Kerry Bishé and Mackenzie Davis for AMC's Halt and Catch Fire
11. Gillian Anderson for Netflix's The Fall
12. Jennifer Lopez for NBC's Shades of Blue

And now, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:

1. Anika Noni Rose for BET's The Quad
2. Christina Ricci for Amazon's Z: The Beginning of Everything
3. Samantha Morton for Hulu's Harlots
4. Melissa Benoist for The CW's Supergirl
5. Abigail Spencer for NBC's Timeless
6. Alice Braga for USA's Queen of the South
7. Natasha McElhone for ABC's Designated Survivor
8. Gretchen Mol for Hulu's Chance
9. KaDee Strickland for Hulu's Shut Eye
10. Amybeth McNulty for Netflix's Anne With an E

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!