Emmys 2023: Top 16 contenders for Lead Actress nominations

As upsetting as it was to lose Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen after only five episodes on House Of The Dragon, Emma D’Arcy took up the mantle like a champion with their singularly electrifying performance. The nonbinary star has previously spoken about the disappointment of having no choice but to get slotted into a gendered category. Hopefully, the Television Academy will take those notes in the future.

Mark it, dude: Melanie Lynskey is about to get back-to-back nods for her great turn in Yellowjackets. Her portrayal of adult Shauna in Showtime’s thriller continued to evolve (and get creepier) in season two, so there’s no doubt voters will recognize that. (And for what it’s worth, Tawny Cypress [as adult Taissa] gives another Yellowjackets performance that would ideally make the cut.)

The most compelling timeline in Yellowjackets’ second season was the teen one in the woods. And the best storyline from that centered on the mystery of what the hell happened to Shauna’s baby. The tragic outcome wasn’t surprising, and neither was Sophie Nélisse’s gutting depiction of how Shauna processed everything. She captures rage, depression, guilt, and sadness, so it’s no wonder Nélisse is a top contender for a potential Emmy nod this year.

Bella Ramsey made an immediate impact with their Game Of Thrones performance, but The Last Of Us gave them their much-deserved spotlight. And boy, did Ramsey deliver. In HBO’s video-game adaptation, they go toe-to-toe with Pedro Pascal for a poignant yet fun performance. Like D’Arcy, Ramsey’s nomination would be one of the first for nonbinary actors.

Sarah Snook has rightfully submitted herself in the Lead Actress category this year instead of Supporting, where she earned two nominations. No one deserves from Succession deserves a trophy more than Snook, who took Shiv Roy to unfathomable highs and lows as her character dealt with the collapse of her family and democracy.

The Television Academy loves The Crown. Netflix’s Royal drama has been an Emmy favorite every season, with former Queen Elizabeth portrayers Claire Foy and Olivia Colman each winning the award. Imelda Staunton will definitely get a nod this time, even if she doesn’t come home with a win. (And at least she has another shot with the show’s upcoming final season.)

The Handmaid’s Tale has lost its awards-magnet sheen over the years, but season five felt like a return to form in many ways. With that in mind, there’s a good chance voters will turn back to previous winner Elisabeth Moss, who delivered a breathtaking performance as June Osborne.

When will the Television Academy take a delirious, beautifully crafted horror show like Evil seriously? It’s about time Robert and Michelle King’s series is considered. And no performer on Evil deserves more praise than Katja Herbers. In the third season, Herbers is better than ever, catapulting Dr. Kristen Bouchard further into the depths of good vs. evil. Hopefully, voters take notice sooner rather than later, because who knows when the show will return.

Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are a tour-de-force combination in Dead To Me’s last season. Sadly, with the limited number of nominees this year, it’s unlikely both will get a shoutout, so our vote goes to Applegate, who gives a deeply emotional and cathartic turn as Jen deals with the fallout of the accident.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel wrapped up after five seasons earlier this year, which means that, for the fifth time in a row, Rachel Brosnahan should expect to pick up a nomination for her spectacular performance. She won for the first season of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s series, and while the quality of the show has ebbed and flowed, Brosnahan has remained consistently great.

Abbott Elementary has achieved a remarkable feat for a network sitcom in today’s streaming era. Two seasons in, ABC’s comedy is a favorite to score big at this year’s Emmys and will surely nab an Outstanding Lead Actress nomination for series creator Quinta Brunson. (While she got a nod last year, she lost out to Jean Smart for Hacks.)

Elle Fanning somehow elevated her already luminous performance as Catherine the Great in The Great’s third season. With its release window being so close to the Emmys cutoff deadline, there’s a higher chance she’ll secure a spot (unlike, say, the equally deserving Devery Jacobs, but more on that in a minute). The Great’s midseason twist meant Fanning took center stage this time, and it’s why her co-star Nicholas Hoult is a wild card. Plus, there’s little chance her powerful performance will be overlooked after she already scored an Emmy nod last year.

As delightful and intriguing as Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is, it just wouldn’t land without its star. Natasha Lyonne owns the show with her performance as human lie detector/private investigator Charlie Cale, more than holding her own while facing off against some very notable actors in cameo appearances.

Everyone on Reservation Dogs deserves far more recognition than they receive. The entire ensemble, including Paulina Alexis, was sublime in the second season. But if any actor has a chance to dip into the spotlight, it’s Devery Jacobs, who gave a stellar performance and also co-wrote one of this round’s finest episodes, “Mabel,” about Elora’s grandmother passing away.

It’s challenging to pick only one wild card for this category because there are a lot of worthy performers, like The Other Two’s Heléne Yorke and Somebody Somewhere’s Bridget Everett. However, let’s not forget one of the buzziest shows of the past year. Wednesday’s star might stand out as a potential nominee over the others because, let’s face it, Jenna Ortega is the reason the show caught on. Even if every voter didn’t watch the series, they definitely watched Ortega’s Wednesday Addams dance—and that might be enough.

Charlotte Nicdao is a breath of fresh air in Apple TV+’s Mythic Quest and has become the MVP in a cast that includes Rob McElhenney, Danny Pudi, Ashly Burch, and David Hornsby (no easy feat). She’s invariably hilarious as engineer Poppy Li, who in season three becomes the co-partner at GrimPop, but hits some convincing emotional notes, too. Still, Mythic Quest didn’t receive any primetime Emmy nominations for its first two seasons, so it’s unlikely the Academy will take notice now.