Emmy Predictions 2018 - Who Will Likely Be Nominated for Supporting 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 Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

2017 Nominees:

        Uzo Aduba for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
        Millie Bobby Brown for Netflix's Stranger Things
        Ann Dowd for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale (WINNER)
        Chrissy Metz for NBC's This Is Us
        Thandie Newton for HBO's Westworld
        Samira Wiley for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale

A year ago there were five newcomers in the race for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. It was one of the categories with the most turnover year-to-year. And now, it's going to be one of the most competitive races because five of the nominees are once again fighting for a slot. Samira Wiley is competing as a guest star this year. However, Alexis Bledel has moved up to supporting actress after winning last year in the guest field. Moreover, Game of Thrones is back in the running with two actresses who have previously been nominated here - Lena Headey and Maisie Williams. As such, it should be very fascinating to see how many performers The Handmaid's Tale and Game of Thrones will be able to get into this race. Both series could see multiple nominees once more. But that means someone else will be pushed out. In that regard, are Uzo Aduba, Millie Bobby Brown and Chrissy Metz vulnerable? It's certainly possible.

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

1. Ann Dowd for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
2. Thandie Newton for HBO's Westword
3. Lena Headey for HBO's Game of Thrones
4. Chrissy Metz for NBC's This Is Us
5. Alexis Bledel for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
6. Millie Bobby Brown for Netflix's Stranger Things

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

1. Yvonne Strakovski and Madeline Brewer for Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale
2. Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner for HBO's Game of Thrones
3. Vanessa Kirby for Netflix's The Crown
4. Hilary Swank for FX's Trust
5. Margo Martindale and Holly Taylor for FX's The Americans
6. Susan Sarandon and Paula Malcomson for Showtime's Ray Donovan
7. Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Kate Mulgrew and Natasha Lyonne for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
8. Susan Kelechi Watson and Lyric Nicole Ross for NBC's This Is Us
9. Nazanin Boniadi and Sara Serraiocco for Starz's Counterpart
10. Anna Torv for Netflix's Mindhunter
11. Mary-Louise Parker, Holland Taylor, Kelly Lynch and Justine Lupe for Audience's Mr. Mercedes
12. Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman and Condola Rashad for Showtime's Billions
13. Audra McDonald, Cush Jumbo, Sarah Steele and Rose Leslie for CBS All Access' The Good Fight
14. Portia Doubleday, Grace Gummer and Carly Chaikin for USA's Mr. Robot
15. Alisha Boe and Kate Walsh for Netflix's 13 Reasons Why
16. Michelle Yeoh for CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery
17. Tessa Thompson and Katja Herbers for HBO's Westworld

Some considerable long-shots:

1. Constance Zimmer and Caitlin FitzGerald for Lifetime's UnREAL
2. Aubrey Plaza and Jean Smart for FX's Legion
3. Julia Garner and Jordana Spiro for Netflix's Ozark
4. Bellamy Young for ABC's Scandal
5. Elizabeth Marvel, Amy Hargreaves and Sandrine Holt for Showtime's Homeland
6. Dominique Fishback, Margarita Levieva and Emily Meade for HBO's The Deuce
7. Tiffany Boone, Yolonda Ross and Sonja Sohn for Showtime's The Chi
8. Fiona Shaw for BBC America's Killing Eve
9. Laura Prepon, Selenis Leyva, Taryn Manning and Dascha Polanco for Netflix's Orange Is the New Black
10. Janet McTeer, Carrie-Anne Moss and Rachael Taylor for Netflix's Jessica Jones
11. Margo Martindale, Alison Wright and Marin Ireland for Amazon's Sneaky Pete
12. Ellen Barkin for TNT's Animal Kingdom
13. Susanna Skaggs, Anna Chlumsky and Annabeth Gish for AMC's Halt and Catch Fire
14. Diana Rigg for PBS' Victoria
15. Maria Doyle Kennedy for BBC America's Orphan Black
16. Ashley Judd, Keke Palmer and Michelle Forbes for Epix's Berlin Station
17. Aisha Hinds for FOX's 9-1-1

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

1. Antonia Thomas for ABC's The Good Doctor
2. Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Jenn Lyon and Karrueche Tran for TNT's Claws
3. Tina Lifford for OWN's Queen Sugar
4. Parker Posey for Netflix's Lost in Space
5. Dichen Lachman and Renée Elise Goldsberry for Netflix's Altered Carbon
6. Naya Rivera for YouTube Premium's Step Up: High Water
7. Sophie Skelton for Starz's Outlander
8. Meghan Markle for USA's Suits

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