Emmys 2013: The Lead Comedy Actress Race In Review, Including Our 6 Dream Nominees

Christina Applegate, Up All Night

Beth Behrs, 2 Broke Girls

Courteney Cox, Cougar Town

Kat Dennings, 2 Broke Girls

Laura Dern, Enlightened (Lead Actress)

Though the veteran actress' underdog HBO series was cancelled, her insecurious Amy — and viewers — still got their happy endings. So, shouldn't the four-time nominee (for other projects) who kept us rooting for the character get one, too – in the form of a nice, shiny Emmy nod? We think so.

Zooey Deschanel, New Girl (Lead Actress)

It's easy to dismiss the Fox hit's leading lady as "quirky." It's also wrong. A deceptively sly actress, she's blessed with timing any comic would kill for. Plus, as the show finally "went there" with Jess and Nick, she revealed a heart big enough for two love stories!

Lena Dunham, Girls (Lead Actress)

Season 2 of the triple threat's HBO series may have been... let's say "uneven." But even when it was off, its star remained right on, transitioning from funny to fragile as deftly as we change channels. In addition, she just won the Golden Globe — a great omen, come Emmy night.

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Sutton Foster, Bunheads (Lead Actress)

Just as Lauren Graham never received a nod for nailing Amy Sherman-Palladino's rapid-fire Gilmore Girls dialogue, Foster seems destined to be an also-ran. And, just like with Graham, it's a shame, because the Tony winner doesn't just infuse AS-P's patter with hilarity and heart, she does it without breathing... much.



Patricia Heaton, The Middle

Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project

Jane Levy, Suburgatory

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (Lead Actress)

Last year's victor is no less deserving of the accolade this go-'round. And, in fact, since her HBO laffer has really started to gel in its sophomore season, the Seinfeld alum may be even better positioned for a win now than she was then.



Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly

Lea Michele, Glee

Mary-Louis Parker, Weeds

Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (Lead Actress)

What is it going to take to get this woman a friggin Emmy? Seriously. She's been nominated in this category three times already, and, defying all the laws of probability, she just keeps getting better. Maybe another appearance on TVLine's dream Emmy ballot will do the trick?

Ashley Rickards, Awkward