Emmys: Lead Actress (Drama) — Could Ella Purnell Become the Latest Actor From a Video Game Adapted TV Show to Get Nominated?
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
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2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 6, 2024): Bella Ramsay beat the odds to garner a nomination for their incredible performance in “The Last of Us.” Ella Purnell could be the newest addition to the list of actors from video game adaptations for her star-making turn in Prime Video’s “Fallout.” That is if the Television Academy members can get over its genre bias (as it illustrates from time to time). The nomination would be well deserved, especially when her co-star, Walton Goggins, could also attract attention. They could be sharing the same voting demographic and be a packaged deal.
Anna Sawai, portraying the dutiful translator Toda Mariko in FX’s “Shōgun,” moves to the forefront in the lead drama actress category, contending against Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”), Oscar laureate Emma Stone (“The Curse”), and Imelda Staunton (“The Crown”). Her remarkable performance, especially in episode nine, is the type of work that is hard to ignore and could make history if she goes the distance. She would be the first Asian lead drama actress to win in 76 years.
Speaking of Aniston, her Variety Actors on Actors conversation is sure to boost her campaign.
Emma Stone, fresh off her second lead actress Oscar win for her role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” is eyeing her first Emmy nod for the satirical thriller “The Curse.” Playing Whitney, the co-host of the couple’s show about eco-friendly homes, she’s been on fire lately, also vying for a guest comedy actress nod for her hilarious stint on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Winning in either category would make her the third woman to clinch both acting Oscars and Emmys in the same year, a feat previously achieved by Helen Hunt in 1997 and Helen Mirren in 2006.
And you can never count out another sweep for Netflix’s “The Crown,” despite Imelda Staunton’s Emmy snub last time.
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: Apple TV+ And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Performer and Series 1 Anna Sawai — “Shōgun” (FX) 2 Emma Stone — “The Curse” (Showtime) 3 Jennifer Aniston –“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+) 4 Imelda Staunton — “The Crown” (Netflix) 5 Reese Witherspoon –“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+) 6 Ella Purnell — “Fallout” (Prime Video) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series -
Image Credit: Zach Dilgard/NBC Next in Line
Rank Performer and Series 7 Carrie Coon — “The Gilded Age” (Max) 8 Maya Erskine — “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video) 9 Mariska Hargitay — “Law and Order: SVU” (NBC) 10 Rosario Dawson — “Ahsoka” (Disney+) 11 Carrie Preston — “Elsbeth” (CBS) 12 Jess Hong — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix) 13 Juliette Binoche — “The New Look” (Apple TV+) 14 Rebecca Ferguson — “Silo” (Apple TV+) 15 Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “Justified: City Primeval” (FX) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series -
Image Credit: HBO / Max Also in Contention
Rank Performer and Series 16 Ruth Wilson — “The Woman in the Wall” (Showtime) 17 Caitríona Balfe — “Outlander” (Starz) 18 Rosamund Pike — “The Wheel of Time” (Prime Video) 19 Noomi Rapace — “Constellation” (Apple TV+) 20 Angela Bassett — “9-1-1” (ABC) 21 Sonequa Martin-Green — “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+) 22 Shanola Hampton — “Found” (NBC) 23 Rachel Keller — “Tokyo Vice” (Max) 24 Melissa Benoist — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max) 25 Zoe Saldaña — “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series -
Eligible Performances (Lead Drama Actress)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Katie Yu/FX **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.
- Angela Bassett — “9-1-1” (ABC)
- Alisha Boe — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
- Kristine Froseth — “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+)
- Noomi Rapace — “Constellation” (Apple TV+)
- Anna Sawai — “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (Apple TV+)
- Juliette Binoche — “The New Look” (Apple TV+)
- Rebecca Ferguson — “Silo” (Apple TV+)
- Carrie Preston — “Elsbeth” (CBS)
- Queen Latifah — “The Equalizer” (CBS)
- Rosario Dawson — “Ahsoka” (Disney+)
- Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “Justified: City Primeval” (FX)
- Anna Sawai — “Shōgun” (FX)
- Carrie Coon — “The Gilded Age” (Max)
- Melissa Benoist — “The Girls on the Bus” (Max)
- Shanola Hampton — “Found” (NBC)
- Mariska Hargitay — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC)
- Jess Hong — “3 Body Problem” (Netflix)
- Imelda Staunton — “The Crown” (Netflix)
- Freya Allan — “The Witcher” (Netflix)
- Anya Chalotra — “The Witcher” (Netflix)
- Zoe Saldaña — “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)
- Sonequa Martin-Green — “Star Trek: Discovery” (Paramount+)
- Roma Downey — “The Baxters” (Prime Video)
- Ella Purnell — “Fallout” (Prime Video)
- Maya Erskine — “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video)
- Lili Taylor — “Outer Range” (Prime Video)
- Rosamund Pike — “The Wheel of Time” (Prime Video)
- Emma Stone — “The Curse” (Showtime)
- Ruth Wilson — “The Woman in the Wall” (Showtime)
- Caitríona Balfe — “Outlander” (Starz)
- Jennifer Tilly — “Chucky” (Syfy)
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More Information (Lead Drama Actress)
Image Credit: Fox 2023 category winner: Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy — “Succession” (HBO) — Season 4
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.