Emmys 2012: The Drama Actress Race In Review, Including Our Dream Nominees

By Team TVLine June 1, 2012 10:19 am EST

emmy-2012-lead-actress-drama-big

gal_emmys_sarah-wayne-callies

Sarah Wayne Callies, The Walking Dead Pro: Not only is AMC's zombie thriller a monster hit, but Season 2 put Callies' heroine through a wringer that would have killed a lesser actress.  Con: A lot of people dislike her character. Even worse, some of them are probably Emmy voters who would already be disinclined to spotlight a genre show.

Sarah Wayne Callies, The Walking Dead

Pro: Not only is AMC's zombie thriller a monster hit, but Season 2 put Callies' heroine through a wringer that would have killed a lesser actress. 

Con: A lot of people dislike her character. Even worse, some of them are probably Emmy voters who would already be disinclined to spotlight a genre show.

gal_emmys_close

Glenn Close, Damages Pro: She's won twice before for her work as Patty Hewes, the last time in 2009. Con: That didn't seem to matter last year, when she was left off the ballot altogether. (Now would be a good time to reuse that "I'm not going to be ignored!" line from Fatal Attraction.)

Glenn Close, Damages

Pro: She's won twice before for her work as Patty Hewes, the last time in 2009.

Con: That didn't seem to matter last year, when she was left off the ballot altogether. (Now would be a good time to reuse that "I'm not going to be ignored!" line from Fatal Attraction.)

gal_emmys_danes

Claire Danes, Homeland Pro: Her performance as terrorist hunter Carrie Mathison was one of the most celebrated of the year – in ANY medium. Her Golden Globe win in January only further cemented her frontrunner status.  Con: Voters might resent the perception that she's a lock and throw their support behind Mad Men's long-overdue Elisabeth Moss.

Claire Danes, Homeland

Pro: Her performance as terrorist hunter Carrie Mathison was one of the most celebrated of the year – in ANY medium. Her Golden Globe win in January only further cemented her frontrunner status. 

Con: Voters might resent the perception that she's a lock and throw their support behind Mad Men's long-overdue Elisabeth Moss.

gal_emmys_dockery

Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey Pro: One of the six best actress slots will undoubtedly go to a leading "Lady" from PBS' exclamation-pointed period piece. And none of them are more deserving than the ingenue who makes Mary such a memorable study in corseted sadomasochism.   Con: However deserving Dockery may be, the nod is still likelier to go to the show's matriarch, Elizabeth McGovern.

Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey

Pro: One of the six best actress slots will undoubtedly go to a leading "Lady" from PBS' exclamation-pointed period piece. And none of them are more deserving than the ingenue who makes Mary such a memorable study in corseted sadomasochism.  

Con: However deserving Dockery may be, the nod is still likelier to go to the show's matriarch, Elizabeth McGovern.

gal_emmys_enos

Mireille Enos, The Killing Pro: Since she received her first nomination last year, the up-and-comer's career has gained considerable momentum (she's bagged roles in World War Z opposite Brad Pitt and Devil's Knot opposite Reese Witherspoon). Con: If Emmy voters are half as frustrated with the drawn-out Rosie Larsen murder mystery as regular viewers are, she's in trouble.

Mireille Enos, The Killing

Pro: Since she received her first nomination last year, the up-and-comer's career has gained considerable momentum (she's bagged roles in World War Z opposite Brad Pitt and Devil's Knot opposite Reese Witherspoon).

Con: If Emmy voters are half as frustrated with the drawn-out Rosie Larsen murder mystery as regular viewers are, she's in trouble.

GINNIFER GOODWIN

Ginnifer Goodwin, Once Upon a TimePro: Playing both the prim and proper (and sometimes improper) Mary Margaret and the headstrong Snow White, Goodwin is the beating heart of Once Upon a Time that no Evil Queen can crush. That could earn her big love from voters..   Con: The freshman drama's fairytale foundation could very well keep Academy traditionalists from giving either the show or its actors their happily ever after.

Ginnifer Goodwin,
Once Upon a Time

Pro: Playing both the prim and proper (and sometimes improper) Mary Margaret and the headstrong Snow White, Goodwin is the beating heart of Once Upon a Time that no Evil Queen can crush. That could earn her big love from voters..

 
Con: The freshman drama's fairytale foundation could very well keep Academy traditionalists from giving either the show or its actors their happily ever after.

gal_emmys_mariska-hargitay

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU Pro: She's been nominated eight years in a row for her role as Det. Benson, which makes the odds of a ninth pretty good. Con: Voters may be of the opinion that eight is enough.

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

Pro: She's been nominated eight years in a row for her role as Det. Benson, which makes the odds of a ninth pretty good.

Con: Voters may be of the opinion that eight is enough.

gal_emmys_margulies

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Pro: Last year's winner used Season 3 to remind us why she won.  Con: None. She's a lock for a nod.

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Pro: Last year's winner used Season 3 to remind us why she won. 

Con: None. She's a lock for a nod.

gal_emmys_mcgovern

Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey Pro: The veteran actress was nominated for an Emmy for this role last year, albeit in the miniseries category.   Con: Since Downton daughter Michelle Dockery decided to enter the lead race as well, vote-splitting could leave them both as out of luck as poor Lady Edith at a singles mixer.

Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey

Pro: The veteran actress was nominated for an Emmy for this role last year, albeit in the miniseries category.  

Con: Since Downton daughter Michelle Dockery decided to enter the lead race as well, vote-splitting could leave them both as out of luck as poor Lady Edith at a singles mixer.

gal_emmys_messing

Debra Messing, Smash Pro: She's a six-time nominee and a 2003 winner for Will & Grace.  Con: Some argue that, in spite of her star status, she belongs in the supporting actress category. Others argue about which of her character's subplots was worse (the adoption storyline, the teen son drama, the adulterous affair?).

Debra Messing, Smash

Pro: She's a six-time nominee and a 2003 winner for Will & Grace. 

Con: Some argue that, in spite of her star status, she belongs in the supporting actress category. Others argue about which of her character's subplots was worse (the adoption storyline, the teen son drama, the adulterous affair?).

JENNIFER MORRISON

Jennifer Morrison, Once Upon a Time Pro: While her cast mates have the fun and fantastical elements of the fairytale fare to brighten and lighten their load, Morrison has in a way shouldered the heavier lifting, playing Emma Swan, a skeptical outsider struggling to make sense of Storybrooke's possibly magical origins.   Con: The comparative gravity of Emma's storyline -- plus her existence in only one of the show's dual narratives -- could give co-star Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret/Snow White) the edge in netting a nod here, if Once is to make any grab at unspun gold.

Jennifer Morrison,
Once Upon a Time

Pro: While her cast mates have the fun and fantastical elements of the fairytale fare to brighten and lighten their load, Morrison has in a way shouldered the heavier lifting, playing Emma Swan, a skeptical outsider struggling to make sense of Storybrooke's possibly magical origins.

 
Con: The comparative gravity of Emma's storyline — plus her existence in only one of the show's dual narratives — could give co-star Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret/Snow White) the edge in netting a nod here, if Once is to make any grab at unspun gold.

gal_emmys_moss

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men Pro: Blessed with a very eventful season for her Peggy, Moss has delivered time and time again. And again. And again. Seriously, she doesn't miss a beat.   Con: Co-star Jessica Pare is also entering the lead actress race, meaning she could siphon some votes away. That is, if voters are blind, deaf and dumb. Moss should be unbeatable, "Zou Bisou Bisou" be damned.

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Pro: Blessed with a very eventful season for her Peggy, Moss has delivered time and time again. And again. And again. Seriously, she doesn't miss a beat.

 
Con: Co-star Jessica Pare is also entering the lead actress race, meaning she could siphon some votes away. That is, if voters are blind, deaf and dumb. Moss should be unbeatable, "Zou Bisou Bisou" be damned.

gal_emmys_paquin

Anna Paquin, True Blood Pro: The Southern-fried vampire saga remains HBO's biggest hit; its Oscar-winning star, as enchanting as ever. Con: As much as Emmy hates soap operas, it hates horror/sci fi/fantasy type shows more.

Anna Paquin, True Blood

Pro: The Southern-fried vampire saga remains HBO's biggest hit; its Oscar-winning star, as enchanting as ever.

Con: As much as Emmy hates soap operas, it hates horror/sci fi/fantasy type shows more.

gal_emmys_pompeo

Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy Pro: The death of her on-screen sis in the season finale afforded her a banner opportunity to redefine the term "good grief." Con: During the hospital sudser's eight-year run, its leading lady has been honored with a nod exactly zero times.

Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy

Pro: The death of her on-screen sis in the season finale afforded her a banner opportunity to redefine the term "good grief."

Con: During the hospital sudser's eight-year run, its leading lady has been honored with a nod exactly zero times.

gal_emmys_rossum

Emmy Rossum, Shameless Pro: Her omission from the lead actress race last year was met with rioting in the streets. Surely, at least a few Emmy voters bore witness to it. Con: That rioting that went on in the streets... may actually have gone on mainly in my head.

Emmy Rossum, Shameless

Pro: Her omission from the lead actress race last year was met with rioting in the streets. Surely, at least a few Emmy voters bore witness to it.

Con: That rioting that went on in the streets... may actually have gone on mainly in my head.

gal_emmys_sagal

Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy Pro: Creatively speaking, FX's biker drama popped a wheelie this season, which bodes well for the actress that many consider to be its "gateway nominee."  Con: Emmy doesn't seem to like motorcycles.

Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy

Pro: Creatively speaking, FX's biker drama popped a wheelie this season, which bodes well for the actress that many consider to be its "gateway nominee." 

Con: Emmy doesn't seem to like motorcycles.

gal_emmys_sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer Pro: Aside from the obvious -- she rocks -- she's won before. PLUS, the show is entering its final season.  Con: The competition is even stiffer this year than it was back in 2010, when she was last nominated.

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Pro: Aside from the obvious — she rocks — she's won before. PLUS, the show is entering its final season. 

Con: The competition is even stiffer this year than it was back in 2010, when she was last nominated.

gal_emmys_stowe2

Madeleine Stowe, Revenge Pro: The Golden Globes warmed to the ice queen from ABC's Hamptons-set hoot. Con: But Emmy has always been chilly toward serials. And, given how crowded this category is... Well, hate to say it, but she doesn't stand a snowball's chance.

Madeleine Stowe, Revenge

Pro: The Golden Globes warmed to the ice queen from ABC's Hamptons-set hoot.

Con: But Emmy has always been chilly toward serials. And, given how crowded this category is... Well, hate to say it, but she doesn't stand a snowball's chance.

gal_emmys_thorne

Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness Pro: Thanks to a surprise Golden Globe nom, this long shot got a little shorter.  Con: But only a little. USA still has a ways to go convincing Emmy voters that its jock-doc drama is an award-caliber.

Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

Pro: Thanks to a surprise Golden Globe nom, this long shot got a little shorter. 

Con: But only a little. USA still has a ways to go convincing Emmy voters that its jock-doc drama is an award-caliber.

gal_emmys_torv

Anna Torv, Fringe Pro: Emmy voters were wrong to snub her last year, and they know it.  Con: Unfortunately, they also know that she was more deserving of a nod last year.

Anna Torv, Fringe

Pro: Emmy voters were wrong to snub her last year, and they know it. 

Con: Unfortunately, they also know that she was more deserving of a nod last year.

gal_emmys_vancamp

Emily VanCamp, Revenge Pro: ABC's breakout primetime soap established its ass-kicking heroine as the TV superstar that Everwood fans already considered her to be.  Con: It also established that her more seasoned castmate, Madeleine Stowe, could pack an even bigger wallop without so much as making a fist.

Emily VanCamp, Revenge

Pro: ABC's breakout primetime soap established its ass-kicking heroine as the TV superstar that Everwood fans already considered her to be. 

Con: It also established that her more seasoned castmate, Madeleine Stowe, could pack an even bigger wallop without so much as making a fist.

gal_emmys_washington

Kerry Washington, Scandal Pro: Her ABC drama was the surprise watercooler hit of midseason; her gutsy performance, much discussed.  Con: Emmy voters will probably have to discuss the aforementioned gutsy performance for another season before she's invited to the party.

Kerry Washington, Scandal

Pro: Her ABC drama was the surprise watercooler hit of midseason; her gutsy performance, much discussed. 

Con: Emmy voters will probably have to discuss the aforementioned gutsy performance for another season before she's invited to the party.