20 Underrated Actresses as Emmy Contenders
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 7:12PM 
There are over 1,200 actresses on the Emmy ballots across all of the various categories. More contenders mean more deserving potential nominees, and I want to spotlight some of the best female performances I saw this past season. We’ll assume that, though a nomination isn’t by any means guaranteed for any of them, moderately high-profile names like Shira Haas (Unorthodox), Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show) don’t need the boost even though they should certainly have their work honored. Here are 20 performances you may not have noticed (and where to watch them) that are absolutely worthy of thinking about while filling out those Emmy ballots...
Lexi Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere)
Reese Witherspoon and Underwood’s onscreen mother Kerry Washington are the bigger names, but the sixteen-year-old actress was the true breakout of this limited series. As Pearl, she maturely conveyed the wonder of being opened up to previously unseen luxury and remaining true to her principles and friendships in spite of its allure. (Hulu)
Mj Rodriguez, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson (Pose)
Billy Porter made history as the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy last year, and he should definitely be joined this year by three of his costars – authentically portraying trans characters Blanca, Angel, and Elektra – each of whom evoked incredible passion this season as they navigated illness, success, and tragedy. (FX / Netflix)
Esther Smith (Trying)
As Nikki, one half of a couple pursuing adoption, Smith was completely earnest and genuine, wearing her enthusiasm and hopefulness on her face as she struggled to maintain a positive attitude. (Apple TV Plus)
Aisling Bea (Living with Yourself)
Acting opposite someone playing two roles is never an easy task. Bea made Kate, the wife of a man who cloned himself (Paul Rudd), a formidable presence, not content to accept the status quo and determined for her often incredulous voice to be heard. (Netflix)
Elle Fanning and Phoebe Fox (The Great)
Fans of the Oscar-winning film The Favourite will delight in the twisted humor present on this show. As Empress Catherine, Fanning effortlessly conveyed rage and disdain with the stupidity of those around her. As her miserable maidservant Marial, Fox brought a deeply sarcastic and frustrated approach to every biting line she uttered. (Hulu)
Eve Lindley (Dispatches from Elsewhere)
This show’s outlook on purpose and relationships was fascinating, and there was no better encapsulation of that attitude than Lindley’s layered work. As Simone, she wrestled with letting her guard down and opening herself up to the possibly of getting hurt in pursuit of something life-changing. (AMC)
Hong Chau (Watchmen)
After coming close to an Oscar nomination a few years ago for Downsizing and a more prominent role in season two of Homecoming, Chau stood out here as an enigmatic scientist with extraordinary reach and a brazen fearlessness, immediately capturing all attention when she first appeared on screen as Lady Trieu. (HBO)
Rosa Salazar (Undone)
I’m so glad that the Alita: Battle Angel star’s rotoscoped performance ended up on the ballot. Salazar embraced the unexplainable and leaned right in to unanswered questions as Alma, a young woman whose dead father, played by Bob Odenkirk, begins to teach her to time travel. It was a real breakthrough that transcended its animated format. (Amazon Prime)
Andy Allo and Allegra Edwards (Upload)
These two women played characters who were nothing alike but both had a large part in the (after)life of protagonist Nathan. Allo demonstrated a quiet warmth and sensitivity in her digital afterlife liaison, Nora, while Edwards skillfully imparted the surface airheadedness of Nathan’s girlfriend, Ingrid, while occasionally revealing the surprising depth she possessed. (Amazon Prime)
Daisy Haggard (Breeders)
Previously best known in the U.S. for making faces as a TV executive on Episodes and the BBC-Showtime series Back to Life (which doesn’t appear on the Emmy ballot), Haggard brought a range of emotions to Ally, a harried mother trying to keep it together. Alongside costar Martin Freeman, Haggard impressively balanced comedy and drama throughout this show’s freshman series run. (FX on Hulu)
Bel Powley (The Morning Show)
The size of her part likely won’t attract much attention, but Powley enhanced her role as Claire, a production assistant, by making sure to convey both her excitement about working in television and her need to make her opinion known, providing comic relief while simultaneously tapping into her show’s more serious themes. (Apple TV Plus)
Hunter Schafer and Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria)
Supporting their famous costar Zendaya, who was also excellent, Schaefer and Sweeney dug into their rich, complicated characters, Jules and Cassie, both navigating troubled histories and trying to forge their own paths forward in the often hurtful world of high school. (HBO)
Lolly Adefope (Shrill)
As Fran, the freewheeling best friend of main character Annie, Adefope, who also appears on the Emmy ballot for her scene-stealing turn as an opinionated nun on Miracle Workers: Dark Ages, refused to let any moment go without making it count, responding with a snide remark or show-stopping musical number at every opportunity. (Hulu)
Hiam Abbass and May Calamawy (Ramy)
Their screen time was limited overall, but Abbass and Calamawy each anchored a fantastic episode from their show’s second season. As Ramy’s mother Maysa and his sister Dena, they represented the nuances of living as Muslim women in America, confronting (and sometimes accidentally perpetuating) ignorance and processing what they could do in return. (Hulu)
Who’s on your list of underrated Emmy-worthy actresses from this past season?
Reader Comments (21)
Diana Maria Riva was great in the last few eps of Dead to Me. Hopefully her character gets more time/arc next season.
Over 1200 submitted? Some of these streaming series... if you made up a fake one and hid it on this list I don't think I would know. If you told me Analeigh Tipton was doing great work in a Coinstar Premium event series, I'd probably just go along with it.
Angelica Ross for POSE/AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984
Leslie Grossman for AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984
Lily Rabe for AMERICAN HORROR STORY: 1984
Christina Hendricks, Retta and Mae Whitman for GOOD GIRLS
Claire Danes for HOMELAND
Anna Faris for MOM
I'm a huge fan of Dominique Jackson's character in Pose and I hope she gets the spin-off she deserves.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph in HIGH FIDELITY. You can't take your eyes off her. She eats up every scene she's in and your left wanting when she's not around.
I know it was eligible (and nominated) for last years Emmys, and the second season isn't coming out until Sept, but I still want PEN15 nominated for everything it deserved but wasn't nominated for last year.
I would add Helen McCrory in Quiz for supporting actress in a miniseries/movie
Allison Pill for DEVS
Glad to see the shout out for Eve Lindley. She's really quite special. I think we could be seeing a lot more of her in the future.
Thought I was the only one who watched Undone. Rosa Salazar gives an amazing performance. After the first episode, I immediately looked her up.
Indya Moore was great, again, this year. However, it felt like her storyline this year required her to play less notes than season 1, which was disappointing. I'd be happy to see her there on nomination morining.
Even though Gugu Mbatha-Raw is a bigger name, I think she should be on this list. Her work this year was sensational, and although the Morning Show had a lot of issues, she was a highlight.Her, Aniston, Crudup, and Pittman really were interesting to watch, even when the show was finding its footing. She's my pick for supporting actress of the year.
Hong Chau is so good. But she's in a stacked category, and if she couldn't get in for her performance in Forever last year than I don't know that she will this year. Awards voters seem to be sleeping on her.
Hiam Abass seems to be in a better position than many people here. At least Ramy's on the radar.
Never Have I Ever deserves some nods.
The women of Euphoria deserve so much praise. Zendaya, Hunter, Sydney, and Alexa all portrayed their characters with such lived-in history, specificity, and honesty. It would be such a shame if they were all looked over (likely because of age/content bias).
The same goes for the women of Pose. They are the beating heart who have woven so much complexity and richness into the women they play.
I don't think Shira Haas is that high profile, I really hope she gets a nomination.
There's a lot of talent here. I hope some of these ladies make it in.
Poorna Jagannathan deserves something for Never Have I Ever as the lead character's mom. She really soars in the back half of the season.
Kathleen Turner in These Old Bones!
Did anyone from "The Good Fight" get nominated? Because Cush Jumbo and Audra McDonald are killing it.
Bel Powley is always good, glad she caught your eye too!
Totally agree with Aisley Bea. It has been a second since "Living With Yourself," but she was the beating heart of that show, especially with the charm machine that is Paul Rudd.
The women (and men) of "Sex Education" are also not in the conversation nearly like they should be. The great Gillian Anderson is perfection and Emma Mackey brings real depth to her role as Maeve.
And seriously, if "The Good Fight" was on CBS and not a streaming channel, it would almost have to be a front runner in multiple categories. Totally agree with LadyEdith in Jumbo and McDonald getting nominations.
Winona Ryder! The Plot Against America. The ultimate slow burn!
Just here for some love for
Maria Doyle Kennedy, Outlander
Karoline Eichhorn, Dark
Nimrat Kaur, Homeland
Daisy Edgar Jones, Normal People
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
God bless Andy Allo. She was SO GOOD in Upload