2019 Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series Emmy Predictions

If Actress in a Comedy Series is as crowded as the field of Democratic Presidential nominees than Actress in a Drama Series is desperate for some new blood to fill its depleted ranks. “Game of Thrones” may have returned, but with five of last year’s nominees, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell, Tatiana Masley, Claire Foy, and Elisabeth Moss, ineligible everything is up for grabs. The only lock is last year’s sole remaining nominee, “Killing Eve’s” Sandra Oh who also won this category at the SAG Awards in January. It’s likely either “GoT’s” Emilia Clarke or Lena Headley will earn a nod assuming one of them is submitted for Lead Actress instead of Supporting, but that honestly isn’t a given (although this would be the year to do it). Robin Wright was previously nominated five times for her work on “House of Cards” and it would be surprising if she didn’t land one more for returning for a final season. Laura Linney has already earned SAG nods for her work on “Ozark” and it seems like she’ll finally earn an Emmy nod this time around. Then again, voters could surprise by giving Oh’s “Killing” co-star Jodie Comer a well-deserved nod and rewarding “Pose’s” matriarch M.J. Rodriguez. Or maybe familiar faces such as Julia Roberts, Christine Baranski and Mandy Moore make the cut. It may come down to who puts in the leg work campaigning and who doesn’t it. [Posted March 14]

Frontrunners

Emilia Clarke/Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Laura Linney, “Ozark”
Mandy Moore, “This Is Us”
Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve”
Julia Roberts, “Homecoming”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Almost there

Christine Baranski, “The Good Fight”
Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve”
Viola Davis, “How To Get Away With Murder”
M.J. Rodriguez, “Pose”