Emmy Watch: Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 12:20PM 
Like its counterpart lead actress race, the supporting actress in a miniseries category has seen several programs receive multiple nominations over the past decade. In fact, on three occasions, three women from the same miniseries have all been cited. This year, there’s one series that may well shatter that record, with more possible contenders than there are slots in the category! That, of course, is Hulu’s Mrs. America…
The past four years:
Two past Emmy winners may well be at the head of the pack for their historical impersonations: Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug and Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm. Past nominee Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem and past winner Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan also feel likely to win votes. Though her role isn’t as prominent as theirs, Sarah Paulson, who plays a composite character based on a few real people, is a seven-time nominee, with four bids in this category alone, so she shouldn’t be underestimated. I’d personally love to see Elizabeth Banks and Ari Graynor honored for their portrayals of Jill Ruckelshaus and Brenda Feigen-Fasteau, respectively, but will Emmy voters make space for them too? Kayli Carter, a Spirit Award nominee for her role in Netflix’s Private Life a few years ago, would also be a fantastic choice -- the possibilities are endless from a single series -- but to imagine anyone getting all the way to her after scrolling through so many big names as options is difficult.
There are three actresses who feel like formidable competition to Team Mrs America: Toni Collette (Unbelievable) as a no-nonsense detective investigating a series of rapes, Jean Smart (Watchmen) as an FBI agent with a complicated past, and Allison Janney (Bad Education) as a corrupt school administrator. All three have Emmy trophies already and their strong performances won't hurt either. And despite heavy competition you can't count out other past winners like Emma Thompson (Years and Years) and Cherry Jones (Defending Jacob) either.
Two other programs boast a few contenders who might break through if any of them can stand out from the rest. I Know This Much Is True has Melissa Leo, Archie Panjabi, Kathryn Hahn, and Rosie O’Donnell (they've all been nominated before). Hollywood is expected to dominate the supporting actor field, so don’t be surprised if a supporting actress coasts in, too. But will it be Laura Harrier, Samara Weaving, Patti LuPone or Holland Taylor?
I wish there was room for a slate of young performers, including the talent from Little Fires Everywhere, especially Lexi Underwood (Pearl), Jade Pettyjohn (Lexie), and Megan Stott (Izzy). It may actually be likelier that the two actresses who portray the younger versions of the characters played by Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, AnnaSophia Robb and Tiffany Boone, find their way in. I’d personally be ecstatic if Eve Lindley (Dispatches from Elsewhere) was honored for her terrific work.
Predictions
Half of this category – or even more – might be taken up by just one show, but it’s anyone’s guess which Mrs America cast members make the cut and who is getting snubbed? It's really an embarassment of riches for Emmy voters to choose from.
- Uzo Aduba (Mrs America)
- Rose Byrne (Mrs America)
- Toni Collette (Unbelieveable)
- Allison Janney (Bad Education)
- Margo Martindale (Mrs America)
- Jean Smart (Watchmen)
Who are you rooting for in this very stacked competition?
ALL DISCUSSIONS THUS FAR
- Best Series, Drama
- Best Actress, Drama
- Best Actor, Drama
- Best Supporting Actress, Drama
- Best Supporting Actor, Drama
- Best Series, Comedy
- Best Actress, Comedy
- Best Actor, Comedy
- Best Supporting Actress, Comedy
- Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
- Best Limited Series
- Best Made for TV Movie
- Best Actress, Movie or Miniseries
- Best Actor, Movie or Miniseries
- Best Supporting Actress, Movie or Miniseries
- Best Supporting Actor, Movie or Miniseries
Reader Comments (34)
Wouldn't be surprised if the category gets expanded to seven or eight nominees. Your predictions feel spot on, but the Emmy's usually get at least one unknown. Maybe Geraldine Viswanathan will get in for Bad Education.
I would vote they make two categories. One for supporting women on Mrs. America and the other for those who aren't. Seriously every actress on Mrs. American is stunning and could fill the category twice over. The actresses who have episodes named after them are so great and deserving. Those who don't namely Lynskey, Carter, Nash & Tripplehorn are also deserving of recognition but have no chance. So many exciting possibilities with this category. Currently I think the nominees will be:
Uzo Aduba
Rose Byrne
Toni Collette
Allison Janney
Margo Martindale
Sarah Paulson
Jean Smart
Tracy Ullman
I do think there will be 6+ nominees in this category. If supporting actress in comedy managed to have 8 twice in the last decade why not this category when there are so many deserving choices
Beyond sad that The Plot Against America isn't getting more attention. Winona Ryder was Steller in the slow burn of a miniseries. Would love to see her nominated.
Mrs. America is good, Hollywood is beyond terrible.
Jean Smart was amazing in Watchmen and Allison Janney is so good in Bad Education - I very much hope they both get in.
I also want to add, as great as so many of these choices are, that Watchmen was one of the absolute best things I've seen in years, and along with Jean Smart, Hong Chau shouldn't be overlooked in supporting for adding so muchcomplexity to an already nuanced character.
I really fear that Toni Collette gets shut out ... and she shouldn't!
Toni's in, and may win. She's terrific.
Toni managed to get a SAG nom in a field of combined supporting and leading women. I believe she's good for a nom. I think she could pull of a win as I'd be excited to Toni colleting another emmy
I don't know how much Juliette Lewis is in I Know this much is True and whether she qualifies or not, but that one scene in the first episode was one of the most electric performances I've ever seen. It was cringy, painful and hilarious.
@George I completely agree about Lewis. She wasn’t listed on HBO’s submissions, and I think that Ruffalo may end up being the series’ only representative. It’s a miserable show that’s hard to get through, and I’m not seeing much redeeming value in it just yet aside from the performances.
cancel the lacklustre limited series supporting actor category and double this one
Allison Janney is supporting?!!?
abe, i've been loving your smart commentary on all the categories and hope/expect from you both a reaction column the morning of the nominations, and then another picking your favorites.
both collette and smart give heart-stopping performances. and all the ladies from MA are exemplary. what an exciting year in this category!!!
TV is turning into a close circuit. They're using the same actresses over and over again.
I kind of wish the Emmys could pull a 2006 Cannes Best Actress here and give the trophy to the entire female supporting cast of Mrs America. I mean just a couple years they nominated (and gave the win to) Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as a pair for Guest Actress in a Comedy... soooo why not?
The most recent episode of Mrs. America is a compelling case for Sarah Paulson getting in also. Easily a 7+ category this year.
Owen -- i would think so. She's only really in the first half hour of Bad Education and returns for short little bits only twice more i think in the last hour. Definitely a one lead film (Jackman)
Hmmm. I guess so. But Nathaniel, you're so tough on some cases and then so lackadaisical on others.
Owen -- i am surprised you would think that as I generally am very hard on myself about being TOO strict about this. But I honestly see no argument that she's a lead in that movie. It's about Hugh Jackman's character from start to finish and abandons her pretty quickly in the narrative. It's a classic (rich) supporting role, important to the plot in a few big scenes and rich in stuff for the actor to chew on, but not the focal point in any way.
peggy sue -- i agree. I'm assuming this has something to do with the big star agency being so powerful. They have these packages of performers and the faces get really familiar. In a way it's like how the streaming services do it... always rotating the same group of like 200 movies and never thinking about any of the others ;)
THIS may be the most competitive category this year.
Anyway, IED MUBARAK!
Toni Collette is my golden horse here!
Then rooting for Tracey Ullmann, Sarah Paulson and Rose Byrne
Even if HOLLYWOOD perhaps doesn't deserve much glory I hope Holland Taylor won't be overlooked
In regards to Juliette Lewis : she does not have enough screentime to qualify for a nomination.
Really hoping this category doesn't just turn into the MRS. AMERICA show. Also, Jade Pettyjohn in the finale of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE is Emmy worthy. She went toe to toe with Reese Witherspoon.
That chart depressingly reminds me that Patricia Clarkson somehow didn't win an Emmy for SHARP OBJECTS. How?!
Parker - I agree on Paulson. In fact, while I think all the Mrs. America actresses are excellent, she would easily be my winner based on that episode.
All through the series, I wondered why an accomplished actress like Paulson was playing such a thankless role... and episode 8 answered my question. It was fantastic.
I think Winona Ryder should be nominated as well. She played a very complex character with so much nuance. Ryder and Zoe Kazan were the highlights of The Plot Against America, but as a whole, the series was my second favorite limited series of the year, after Mrs. America. I hope it gets recognized.
Janney’s performance was spectacular; The best she’s ever been in a movie, TV or otherwise.
If I had my way, I would nominate most of the supporting actresses from Mrs. America: Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson, Uzo Aduba, Ari Gaynor, and Margo Martindale. This show is terrific and it is one that should be celebrated for gathering a tremendous line-up of actresses and for turning what could have been a snoozefest into a riveting, intelligent, and absorbing portrayal of the birth of women’s rights in the US.
With that said, I would be extremely disappointed if Allison Janney and Toni Collette are bypassed for their performances in Bad Education and Unbelievable, respectively. Either of these two richly deserve an Emmy.
I second the across-the-board love for all the supporting actresses in MRS. AMERICA - can't they just win the Emmy collectively? They're all so excellent, but if I *had* to pick one, it would be a coin toss between Sarah Paulson and Margo Martindale.
I also second the regret that THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA is probably not getting any love in any category. Zoe Kazan (as probable lead) and Noni (as supporting) were both terrific.
Jean Smart in WATCHMEN and the kids in LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE were also very good, but as far as I'm concerned they take a back seat to the AMERICA ladies. Man, this *is* a stacked category...and I haven't even seen UNBELIEVABLE or BAD EDUCATION!
If there's any justice in the universe, they'll skip Uzo's work as Chisholm. That performance is TERRIBLE. She neither embodies the real woman nor shades her interpretation of Shirley with anything resembling convincing.
Go watch "Chisholm '72" and then come back and tell me Uzo is giving us any of Shirley's sharp wit or passion. They just put Uzo in a bad wig and costume and told her to go for it.
No. Just no.
The MVP of that show is Margo Martindale. Now THAT is how you do it.
My hunch is Collette, Janney, Martindale, Smart, Taylor and Ullman, with Smart emerging triumphant.
Love Colette and she's great in Unbelievable, but that's a leading performance.
I’m surprised Janney is going as supporting. Given her Emmy profile and the fact that she has shifted up in the past, somewhat questionably (season 3 of the west wing and mom), I could see her going lead and still getting a nom.
This category will have 7-8 noms. Is Holland Taylor good in Hollywood. If she is, then the fact that she’s well liked by the academy and generally gives scene stealing supporting performances should be enough to get her in.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this category was all of the Mrs. America women+Toni.
I'd definitely take Paulson over any of the other three from Mrs. America, Aduba being the weakest/most miscast.