If Best Actor in a Drama Series looks like “The Pitt’s” Noah Wyle vs. the world, er, field, the Best Actress race is relatively wide open. At least, for the moment. The top three contenders begins with “Pluribus” star and recent Golden Globe winner Rhea Seehorn. Challenging her is Keri Russell, who has been nominated for her role in“The Diplomat” twice before and took the SAG Actor Award over Seehorn earlier this year. Looking for a three-peat is Zendaya, who won this category in 2020 and 2022 for the first two seasons of “Euphoria” (and may be the only reason to keep watching the current third season).
Last year’s winner, Britt Lower, is ineligible as the third season of “Severance” hasn’t even begun filming yet.
The other two slots are very competitive. In theory, “Matlock’s” Katy Bates will duplicate her 2025 nod and give broadcast television a stake in the ground nomination. “The Gilded Age’s” Carrie Coon is going for her fourth nod overall and her second for playing Bertha Russell in “The Gilded Age.” Chase Infiniti was snubbed for an Oscar nom, but found love with SAG, earning a SAG Actor nomination. She could potentially parlay that love into recognition for“The Testaments,” a bigger hit on Hulu that many should have expected. Jennifer Aniston has been nominated for“The Morning Show” twice before, but only when the field was expanded to six nominee slots. Looking to make waves is Michelle Pfeiffer who could be both a nominee here for “The Madison” and a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nominee for “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”
The rest of the contenders are all wildcards. Like her co-star Aniston, Reese Witherspoon is a two-time nominee for “The Morning Show,” but only in the expanded field. Ella Purnell couldn’t crack the field for the first season of “Fallout,” can she surprise us for the second? Myha’la Herrold has been stellar across four seasons of “Industry.” Can she finally get a party invite? Sydney Chandler was exquisite in“Alien: Earth,” but Noah Hawley’s acclaimed Sci-Fi thriller couldn’t break through during year-end guild honors. Will things change for Emmy? And Kristin Scott Thomas has now been a part of the Emmy-winning“Slow Horses” for five seasons. Is this when she finally gets her due?
Ponder.
May 7, 2026
Locks
Rhea Seehorn, “Pluribus”
Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”
Zendaya, “Euphoria”
Almost There
Kathy Bates, “Matlock”
Carrie Coon, “The Gilded Age”
Chase Infiniti, “The Testaments”
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Michelle Pfeiffer, “The Madison”
Longshots
Ella Purnell, “Fallout”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Myha’la Herrold, “Industry”
Kristin Scott Thomas, “Slow Horses”
Sydney Chandler, “Alien: Earth”
Comedy Series
Drama Series
Limited or Anthology Series
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