Emmy Category Analysis: Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Monday, August 29, 2022 at 3:49PM
Lily James in Pam and Tommy
This is quite a lineup, though just one of its six nominees is from an anthology series and none are from TV movies (Jenna Ortega would have made a phenomenal choice for HBO Max’s The Fallout). Every character portrayed is based on a real person, with only Margaret Qualley’s Alex Russell adapted from author Stephanie Land into someone slightly fictionalized. Exactly half of these women star in projects nominated for Best Limited or Anthology Series, but there’s still support for the other three even if their projects underperformed. Only Lily James and Amanda Seyfried are brand-new to the Emmys, and, of the rest, all but Qualley have actually won before. I think it’s likely a race between the newbies, but let’s examine the lineup...
Toni Collette in The Staircase
NOMINEES:
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Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson - The Staircase
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Julia Garner as Anna Delvey - Inventing Anna
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Lily James as Pamela Anderson - Pam and Tommy
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Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp - Impeachment: American Crime Story
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Margaret Qualley as Alex Russell - Maid
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Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes - The Dropout
ANALYSIS:
Sarah Paulson with Beanie Feldstein in Impeachment: American Crime Story
The only actress previously nominated in this category and for the same anthology series is Paulson. From her seven past nominations, six have been for collaborations with creator Ryan Murphy, and her one win comes from the first iteration of American Crime Story, when she played Marcia Clark. The People v. O. J. Simpson contended for 22 Emmys, The Assassination of Gianni Versace was up for 18, while the third season, Impeachment, in comparison, is in the running for just 5 Emmys. Paulson did win the Hollywood Critics Association TV prize, but she was in her own category with most of her competition at the Emmys in a separate race. I’ll admit that when I watched the first episode of Impeachment, I was struck by Paulson’s transformative performance, burying herself in the character more than just in a controversial fat suit.
Margaret Qualley in Maid
There is certainly passion around Margaret Qualley and her performance, but the show’s big miss in the top category and the absence of her costar and real-life mother Andie MacDowell suggests she doesn’t have the momentum to win. The same goes for Collette, a previous victor for United States of Tara, who died admirably on the titular stairs so many times, since her show received just two nominations.
I don’t think we should underestimate Garner, though, who I’ve already predicted to win her other nomination (Supporting Actress, Drama Series). This role is completely different, so voters will naturally be impressed with her range.
Anthony Edwards with Julia Garner in Inventing Anna
But, barring a Paulson or Garner upset, I think the race is down to Lily James and Amanda Seyfried. The latter, who did win the HCA prize, might have been the surefire frontrunner had James’ series not made a surprisingly strong showing with mentions for costar Sebastian Stan as well as for the top prize. Surprisingly The Dropout scored fewer nominations in total than Pam & Tommy thanks to a few technical nominations. James does a physical transformation but also excels in the part, and so it’s hard to say which of them is ahead. The fact that both shows are on Hulu makes it even more difficult to get behind one of them. I think it will ultimately be Seyfried, but I’m far from confident.
Amanda Seyfried in The Dropout
Will Win: Amanda Seyfried - The Dropout
Should Win: Julia Garner - Inventing Anna
Spoiler: Lily James - Pam and Tommy
WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR?
MORE ANALYSIS
- Supporting Actress – Comedy Series
- Supporting Actress – Drama Series
- Supporting Actress – Limited Series
- Supporting Actor – Drama Series
- Writing/Directing – Comedy Series
- Writing/Directing – Drama Series
- Writing/Directing – Limited Series
Reader Comments (12)
The nominations are all fine but IMO only two of these performances are worthy of the actual award, and I would be happy with either one winning. Would probably be okay with James winning too, because she does some extraordinary work with a difficult subject.
Margaret Qualley as Alex Russell - Maid
Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes - The Dropout
Spoiler: Lily James as Pamela Anderson - Pam and Tommy
James, Qualley, and Seyfried show how good they can be with great material. James has gotten lost in period dramas, Seyfried has often been a bit bland and Qualley has approached Kristen Stewart levels of dourness in other roles. But all three are terrific in their Emmy-nominated turns.
Colette and Garner can do no wrong. Neither of them have ever turned in a bad performance. No exception this year.
It would be nice to reward Seyfried, James or Qualley as encouragement to keep taking chances. Seyfried is the senior member of this group, but James was a revelation, capturing Pamela Anderson's sex appeal and vulnerability. She and Sebastian Stan were acting dynamite in an underwhelming docuseries.
For me, Julia Garner was woefully miscast in this terribly presented series. Everything about "Inventing Anna" was awful. I think I'd rather be forced to watch "Green Book" a dozen times back to back.
Post Oscar nomination, it feels like this is Seyfried’s time. She also proved she can deftly handle being the lead in a dramatic prestige project. I think she’ll easily take this home. Like Michelle Williams a few years ago, she has so much industry good will.
I think Margaret Qualley could upset. She’s well liked, has proven herself a good limited series player and her project feels socially relevant.
Very happy Sarah Paulson was the surprise nominee here. I would say she’s the darkest of horses if there is one absolute shock. She’s that good, and plays a complicated woman who is close to power and so desperately wants to be on the inside. She also plays the loneliness of her character really well.
But Seyfried!
I'm rooting for everyone. Mostly Seyfried for that awful dance.
I wish Qualley was more in the running, but I think Seyfried takes this. I still can’t believe Toni Collette made it in — she’s barely in the show! (even if it does revolve her death)
I would’ve made room for Mackenzie Davis in Station 11, Jessica Chastain in Scenes from a Marriage, and certainly Michelle Pfeiffer in the First Lady (who would’ve been my winner) — the mastectomy episode was stunning.
Sorry.. double post
Emmy not getting a nomination was ridiculous. She and her stories carried the show last season. But since they're not specifically honoring the show Get Wiki Page, I don't think it's surprising. Emmy, it's not surprising.
I suspect it's indeed Seyfried, though could fathom a Garner upset. So happy Paulson made it!
Rooting for Collette or Garner. Collette gave another magnificent performance (I don't get the criticism that she's "barely in the show" at all) and Garner's gonzo megawatt star turn (she's really something in that trashy show) got me too.
I was not impressed by either Lily James or Sarah Paulson (and normally I LOVE Paulson - her Marcia Clark is one of my favorite tv performances ever). I felt like they let their outrageous make-up/costumes do the work. In the case of Impeachment, the real great performance was from Edie Falco, who transformed into Hillary Clinton despite not looking or sounding like her at all. That's the mark of a truly great biopic performance, someone who understands the soul of the character.
I agree that Garner was completely miscast in Inventing Anna.
Qualley was great in Maid, but I understand the antipathy toward the series; I couldn't finish it.
That leaves both Collette and Seyfried. While Collette is great in The Staircase, it does feel like the nomination is her reward, and Colin Firth is really the star of that series. Seyfried carried every episode of The Dropout and showed impressive range. Interesting that she wasn't even the original star of the show but now it's hard to imagine the first choice, Kate McKinnon, in the part, because Seyfried's mark is so indelible.
I do wish that Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, and Michelle Pfeiffer were here. The voters didn't watch enough shows this year.
I would vote for Qualley.
I usually don't like prosthetics, fat suits, wigs, and all that crap, but I loved Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp. I think it's her best work. I devoured the miniseries. Don't get the muted response, well I do, but I don't want to go there.