The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards will be airing (in some form!) on Sept. 20. Before the real nominees are unveiled on July 28, we at TVLine have come up with our own dream nominations in 15 major categories. Scroll down to see our ideal contenders for Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, then give us your thoughts!
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Image Credit: Courtesy of FX on Hulu UZO ADUBA, MRS. AMERICA
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: As Rep. Shirley Chisholm in the FX on Hulu drama, Aduba skillfully played the elected official’s frustration as she encountered mounting opposition to her historic presidential run. We got to watch the Orange Is the New Black alum channel Chisholm’s righteous anger (like when her fellow feminists deserted her just when she needed them most) as well as her tearful frustration (like when she lamented to husband Conrad how alone she felt in her aspirations). Chisholm may not have landed the nomination, but we think Aduba certainly should.
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MRS. AMERICA -- Pictured: Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem. CR: Sabrina Lantos/FX
Image Credit: Courtesy of FX on Hulu ROSE BYRNE, MRS. AMERICA
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: It isn’t easy to be the face of a feminist movement — and Byrne was mesmerizing as Gloria Steinem grappled with that hard truth in FX on Hulu’s miniseries. At first blush, Byrne’s performance was remarkable simply for the way she committed to Steinem’s mannerisms, completely nailing her low, casual tone of voice and heavy-lidded expression. But underneath the big hair and aviators was much more than an uncanny impersonation: Byrne also revealed the heartache and self-doubt that often came with being a feminist icon, adding fascinating shades to a woman we thought we knew.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix TONI COLLETTE, UNBELIEVABLE
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: We weren’t wild about Grace Rasmussen when she was first introduced in the Netflix mini. Whereas fellow police detective Karen Duvall (played by lead actress Dream Nominee Merritt Wever) was gunning to solve a co-ed’s rape, Rasmussen abided by the cold, hard reality of such cases. But between the lawmen’s differences and Rasmussen’s carefully navigated marriage, Collette found nuances to explore — and an arc for her character to travel, from steely skeptic to engaged investigator.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of AMC SALLY FIELD, DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: In this out-of-the-box drama about a group of strangers following a mysterious puzzle, Field provided the beating heart. Her acting prowess made it easy to empathize with the soon-to-be widow who was caught between caring for her comatose husband and reconciling her past regrets. When Janice gave herself over to the game in an attempt to discover her true identity, we cheered her on. Field’s performance — from Janice’s wistful, tender smiles, to her eagerness for new connections and purpose — was a beautiful one.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO JEAN SMART, WATCHMEN
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Even if Smart hadn’t turned in a cracking good performance, week in and week out, as costumed hero-turned-FBI agent Laurie Blake, she’d deserve some Emmy love for that Episode 3 monologue alone. While making a call to Laurie’s long-missing love Doctor Manhattan, Smart took the most outlandish of scenarios — an interstellar phone call to a giant, blue superhuman last seen on Mars — and rooted it in all of the bitterness, longing and regret that Laurie felt about how her romance ended. Out of this world, indeed.
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Seeds and All
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hulu LEXI UNDERWOOD, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington may have gotten top billing in Hulu’s limited series, but it was Underwood who stole the show as conflicted teenager Pearl Warren. The young actress brought a charming, sincere sense of wonder to Pearl as she basked in the joy of having her own bedroom, or the thrill of being welcomed into the Richardsons’ home. Meanwhile, Pearl’s clashes with her mom — especially that season-ending doozy after Pearl learned the truth about her birth — became the show’s most compelling scenes, as Underwood conveyed Pearl’s pain and rage with stunning authenticity.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix DOLLY WELLS, DRACULA
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: In Netflix’s attempt to mine a well-tapped vein, Sister Agatha described herself as the toothsome count’s “worst nightmare — an educated woman in a crucifix.” But thanks to Wells (and fang-sharp writing for her character), the vampire slayer was also spectacularly sardonic, as lethal with a zinger as ever Buffy was with a stake. Anytime the actress was on screen — and she was on so much, we’d have nominated her in the lead rather than supporting category — she gave the series real… well… bite.
