Emmys 2021: Lead Actress In A Limited Series — Our 8 Dream Nominees!
MICHAELA COEL, I MAY DESTROY YOU
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: In her lauded HBO dramedy, TVLine's vivacious Performer of 2020 didn't just give one exceptional performance after another, veering wildly from mischievous comedy to devastating drama; she also gave us an unforgettable experience. As it dawned on Arabella that she had been roofied and raped, her portrayer took us on a journey that was as harrowing as it was revelatory, in the process leaving us feeling shattered, outraged and — miraculously, ultimately — restored.
CYNTHIA ERIVO, GENIUS: ARETHA
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: The Tony- and Grammy-winning Brit already has an Emmy, but she could nab another for her turn as the incomparable Queen of Soul. Despite being four inches shorter than the late Aretha Franklin, Erivo gave her all with knowing little smiles and an "up-south" Detroit way of speaking that made her a thrill to watch throughout various stages of the singer's storied and sometimes tumultuous life. Erivo also gracefully belted out Franklin's hits, even playing the piano a lot like the original.
NICOLE KIDMAN, THE UNDOING
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: As Grace Fraser's life collapsed around her and the scope of her husband Jonathan's (Hugh Grant) betrayal came to light, Kidman skillfully dramatized every beat of her alter ego's rapid descent into hell, from denial to despair to, ultimately, utter devastation. Episode 2 was a particular standout for the Oscar winner. In that hour's closing moments, when Jonathan resurfaced and professed his innocence to Grace, Kidman was a marvel, toggling effortlessly between relief, fear, fury and hysteria.
THUSO MBEDU, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: The endless longing of the relatively new thespian's soulful eyes immediately drew us into her character Cora with the same alluring power of a young Ruby Dee. Every pain and triumph lingered on Mbedu's face, compelling us to keep watching. Cora was a woman who had experienced great loss, but in Barry Jenkins' 10-part limited series, the South African actress used her boundless range to convey how an abandoned Cora also grasped for joy with her love interests Caesar and Royal and her "adopted" children Grace and Molly.
ELIZABETH OLSEN, WANDAVISION
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: After previously wowing us in Facebook Watch's Sorry for Your Loss, Olsen proved with WandaVision that her range is even more expansive and formidable than we previously thought. The actress gave a fearlessly committed comedic performance as WandaVision hurtled through the history of sitcoms, channeling (but never beat-for-beat mimicking) funny ladies like Mary Tyler Moore and Julie Bowen with remarkable ease. And later in the show's run, her dramatic work was equally compelling, imploring us all to feel the heavy weight of Wanda's seemingly bottomless grief.
ANYA TAYLOR-JOY, THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: A miniseries that dives deeeep into chess theory and stratagem simply does not work without an engaging lead actor, and Taylor-Joy wonderfully surpassed every expectation as Beth Harmon. Whether assigning the socially stilted Beth a specific speaking cadence and gait, carefully surveying every chess board with her saucer-like, all-seeing eyes, or grappling with her adoptive mother's own demons, Taylor-Joy inhabited the complicated prodigy from head to toe, and the totality of the performance was no less than engrossing.
LYDIA WEST, IT'S A SIN
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: It was Jill Baxter's rallying cry that shattered her chosen gay family's omnipresent denial in Russell T. Davies' searing HIV/AIDS limited series, and West infused her character with unfaltering warmth and steely determination throughout. But it was in the finale — when Jill was informed with brutal nonchalance that her BFF Ritchie had died before she was able to say goodbye — that the Years and Years actress' deep well of artistry was on full, heartbreaking display.
KATE WINSLET, MARE OF EASTTOWN
WHY SHE DESERVES A NOD: At first, we admit we were a little distracted by the accent — it's good, actually! — but Winslet soon proved that her portrayal of tough-as-nails detective Mare Sheehan wasn't just a small-town caricature. She dazzled us with the wide array of tones she brought to Mare's personality, from dogged investigator to grieving mother to prolific hoagie-eater. And when the shock from the murder mystery's twists and turns wore off, she provided the sturdy emotional backbone that made Mare way more than a simple whodunit.
Emmy's Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie category is so unbelievably stacked that we're expanding the field by adding an eighth Dream nod. Such an unprecedented embarrassment of riches calls for a little rule breaking.
Oh, and if there are any Academy bigwigs reading this, you should probably follow our lead on this one.
Scroll through the list below to review all eight of our Dream Nominees (remember, these aren't predictions; they're wish lists) and then tell us if our picks warrant a "Hell, yes!," "Um, no" or "How could you leave off so-and-so?!"
For the record, 2021 Emmy nominations will be voted on from June 17-28, and unveiled on July 13. The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on Sunday, Sept. 19 on CBS.
Scroll down for links to our previous Dream Emmy categories:
Outstanding Drama Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Our 8 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Our 8 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Our 7 Dream Nominees