Emmys: Lead Actress (Comedy) — How Quinta Brunson or Ayo Edebiri Could Make History for Black Actresses
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2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 6, 2024): “Abbott Elementary” star and creator Quinta Brunson has made history at the Primetime Emmys for the past two years; the show’s inaugural season made her the first Black woman to be nominated for comedy series, writing and acting in the same year. She became the second Black woman to win the writing award.
For the sophomore season, despite the egregious writing snub (better not happen this time around), she became the second Black woman to win for acting after Isabel Sanford for “The Jeffersons.” This third season is her best outing yet as the bubbly and commanding teacher Janine Teagues. Can she double up again this year?
(Watch Brunson’s powerful Variety Actors on Actors conversation)
Meanwhile, at “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri became the third Black woman to win in supporting comedy actress last year for her remarkable turn as young chef Sydney Adamu in FX’s critically acclaimed series. This year, she shifts her campaign gears into the lead category for the show’s sophomore season, already basking in the glow of Golden Globe and SAG awards.
If either Brunson or Edebiri claims victory, they would be only the second Black woman to win an Emmy acting prize for the same character twice. Uzo Aduba won two Emmys for her portrayal of “Crazy Eyes” on Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” but in two separate categories—guest comedy actress in 2014 and supporting drama actress in 2015. While Edebiri would mimic a similar win map, Brunson would be the first in the same category.
Note: Regina King won two Emmys for the anthology crime drama “American Crime” in 2015 and 2016. However, she played different characters during the seasons.
And one piece for the history books — if Brunson and Edebiri are nominated alongside Maya Rudolph (“Loot”), it would mark the most Black women ever nominated in the same year for lead comedy actress. We should point to the other acclaimed performers in the race, such as Jaz Sinclair (“Gen V”), Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Girls5eva”), Diarra Kilpatrick (“Diarra from Detriot”) and Folake Olowofoyeku (“Bob Hearts Abishola”)
Primetime Emmy nomination voting begins on June 13.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.
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Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Performer and Series 1 Jean Smart — “Hacks” (Max) 2 Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX) 3 Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) 4 Maya Rudolph — “Loot” (Apple TV+) 5 Selena Gomez — “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series -
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple Next in Line
Rank Performer and Series 6 Kristen Wiig — “Palm Royale” (Apple TV+) 7 Harriet Dyer — “Colin From Accounts” (Paramount+) 8 Devery Jacobs — “Reservation Dogs” (FX) 9 Renée Elise Goldsberry — “Girls5eva” (Netflix) 10 Natasia Demetriou — “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX) 11 Jaz Sinclair — “Gen V” (Prime Video) 12 Sarah Lancashire — “Julia” (Max) 13 Diarra Kilpatrick — “Diarra from Detroit” (BET+) 14 Sara Bareilles — “Girls5eva” (Netflix) 15 Kaley Cuoco — “Based on a True Story” (Peacock) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series -
Image Credit: Courtesy of Max Also in Contention
Rank Performer and Series 16 Rose McIver — “Ghosts” (CBS) 17 Rose Byrne — “Platonic” (Apple TV+) 18 Courteney Cox — “Shining Vale” (Starz) 19 Amy Schumer — “Life and Beth” (Hulu) 20 Sara Gilbert — “The Conners” (ABC) 21 Rhea Seehorn — “Cooper’s Bar” (AMC) 22 Sarah Jessica Parker — “And Just Like That” (Max) 23 Edi Patterson — “The Righteous Gemstones” (Max) 24 Michelle Yeoh — “The Brothers Sun” (Netflix) 25 Folake Olowofoyeku — “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series -
Eligible Performances (Lead Comedy Actress)
Image Credit: HBO / Max **The list below is not complete and have been confirmed as officially submitted. All information is subject to change. Grouped by network that airs each series.
- Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
- Sara Gilbert — “The Conners” (ABC)
- Gina Rodriguez — “Not Dead Yet” (ABC)
- Tiffany Haddish — “The Afterparty” (Apple TV+)
- Gabrielle Dennis — “The Big Door Prize” (Apple TV+)
- Maya Rudolph — “Loot” (Apple TV+)
- Kristen Wiig — “Palm Royale” (Apple TV+)
- Rose Byrne — “Physical” (Apple TV+)
- Rose Byrne — “Platonic” (Apple TV+)
- Diarra Kilpatrick — “Diarra from Detroit” (BET+)
- Ms. Pat — “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+)
- Folake Olowofoyeku — “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS)
- Rose McIver — “Ghosts” (CBS)
- Marcia Gay Harden — “So Help Me Todd” (CBS)
- Nicola Coughlan — “Big Mood” (Channel 4)
- Awkwafina — “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens” (Comedy Central)
- Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX)
- Daisy Haggard — “Breeders” (FX)
- Devery Jacobs — “Reservation Dogs” (FX)
- Natasia Demetriou — “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)
- Amy Schumer — “Life and Beth” (Hulu)
- Selena Gomez — “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
- Sarah Jessica Parker — “And Just Like That” (Max)
- Jean Smart — “Hacks” (Max)
- Sarah Lancashire — “Julia” (Max)
- Heléne Yorke — “The Other Two” (Max)
- Edi Patterson — “The Righteous Gemstones” (Max)
- Mayan Lopez — “Lopez vs. Lopez” (NBC)
- Melissa Rauch — “Night Court” (NBC)
- Siobhán Cullen — “Bodkin” (Netflix)
- Michelle Yeoh — “The Brothers Sun” (Netflix)
- Sara Bareilles — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)
- Renée Elise Goldsberry — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan — “Never Have I Ever” (Netflix)
- Harriet Dyer — “Colin From Accounts” (Paramount+)
- Kaley Cuoco — “Based on a True Story” (Peacock)
- Stephanie Beatriz — “Twisted Metal” (Peacock)
- Anjana Vasan — “We Are Lady Parts” (Peacock)
- Jaz Sinclair — “Gen V” (Prime Video)
- Miranda Richardson — “Good Omens” (Prime Video)
- Ophela Lovibond — “Minx” (Starz)
- Courteney Cox — “Shining Vale” (Starz)
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More Information (Lead Comedy Actress)
Image Credit: ALYSSA LONGCHAMP/Netflix 2023 category winner: Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — Season 2
2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)
- Eligibility period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
- Feb. 29: Submissions open
- May 9: Deadline for programs identifying as Primetime programming to upload all entry materials.
- June 13: Nominations-round voting begins
- June 24: Nominations-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PT
- June 28 – July 8: Voting for peer group-specific top ten rounds panels (if applicable)
- July 17: Primetime Emmy nominations are announced.
- July 24: Deadline for errors and omissions to the nominations.
- August 5: Find-round videos available for viewing.
- August 15: Final-round voting begins.
- August 26: Final-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PST.
- Sept. 7-8: Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala
- Sunday, Sept. 15: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to air on ABC.
Emmy Prediction Categories
2024 Primetime Emmy Prediction Categories About the Primetime Emmy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.