Emmy Predictions 2018 - Who Will Likely Be Nominated for Guest Actress in a Drama Series?

From June 11 to June 25, 2018, voting is taking place for The 70th 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 Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

2017 Nominees:

        Alexis Bledel for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (WINNER)
        Laverne Cox for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
        Ann Dowd for HBO's The Leftovers
        Shannon Purser for Netflix's Stranger Things
        Cicely Tyson for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
        Alison Wright for FX's The Americans

Cicely Tyson and Laverne Cox were nominated last year and could very well return to the race this year. And yet, it may be very difficult for them to do so considering the contenders in the field. In fact, this may be yet another race that The Handmaid's Tale just completely dominates in by getting three nominations. Last year Bledel was the frontrunner throughout the entire process. And now, that honor seems to be for Samira Wiley. Yes, she's still a supporting character on the show who is only forced into this category because she appeared in less than seven episodes. But it's still a powerful performance that may sail her to an easy victory. Of course, Diana Rigg is also back in this category after being a staple for many years before the rule change forced her into the supporting category where she failed to get a nomination. That too is a very significant threat. Elsewhere, it should be very fascinating to see if This Is Us or The Good Fight can make an impression here. They simply have the numbers when it comes to viable candidates who deserve nominations.

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

1. Samira Wiley for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
2. Diana Rigg for HBO's Game of Thrones
3. Cherry Jones for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
4. Marisa Tomei for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
5. Cicely Tyson for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
6. Pam Grier for NBC's This Is Us

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

1. Viola Davis for ABC's Scandal
2. Kerry Washington for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
3. Margo Martindale, Jane Lynch, Carrie Preston, Judith Light, Andrea Martin and Keesha Sharp for CBS All Access' The Good Fight
4. Laverne Cox for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
5. Jodi Balfour for Netflix's The Crown
6. Alfre Woodard for FOX's Empire
7. Kate Burton and Elizabeth Perkins for NBC's This Is Us
8. Gloria Reuben for USA's Mr. Robot
9. Jacqueline Bisset and Sarah Bolger for Starz's Counterpart

Some considerable long-shots:

1. Stephanie March, Brooke Shields and Melora Walters for NBC's Law & Order: SVU
2. Martha Plimpton for NBC's The Blacklist
3. Katie Aselton and Lily Rabe for FX's Legion
4. Rinko Kikuchi for HBO's Westworld
5. Debra Jo Rupp and Joy Brunson for NBC's This Is Us
6. Anika Noni Rose for Starz's Power
7. Alysia Reiner for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
8. Kim Raver and Candis Cayne for ABC's Grey's Anatomy
9. Uma Thurman for Bravo's Imposters

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

1. Zoe Kazan for HBO's The Deuce
2. L. Scott Caldwell for ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
3. Marla Gibbs for ABC's Station 19
4. Marlee Matlin for Syfy's The Magicians
5. Sharon Lawrence and Michael Michele for OWN's Queen Sugar
6. Lotte Verbeek for Starz's Outlander
7. Nicollette Sheridan for The CW's Dynasty
8. Naomi Campbell for FOX's Star

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