Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress (Limited/TV Movie) — Jodie Foster Competes for First Win, While Sofia Vergara Picks Up Steam
Courtesy of HBO
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 Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
Griselda. Sofia Vergara as Griselda in episode 106 of Griselda. Cr. Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2023
ELIZABETH MORRIS/NETFLIX
Weekly Commentary (Updated: Aug. 12, 2024): Jodie Foster is the frontrunner to win her first Emmy award for her work in the anthology crime series “True Detective: Night Country,” especially with the show landing 19 nominations. However, there could be an upset pick lurking in the wings.
Sofia Vergara nabbed her first Emmy nomination as a leading actress for her role as Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco role in Netflix’s crime-thriller series “Griselda.” The historic nom makes her the first Colombian-born actress and second Latina actress nominated in the category for a limited series. This follows her four previous supporting comedy actress bids for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in ABC’s “Modern Family.” With multiple invites by the TV Academy, she’s yet to hear her name to make the walk to the Emmy stage, despite many pundits believing she should have won at least one statuette during her run. Could this be her year? Don’t be surprised if the star pulls it off.
The Creative Arts and Governors Gala ceremonies will occur over two nights on Sept. 7-8. The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.
And the Predicted Nominees Are
RankPerformer and Series1Jodie Foster — “True Detective: Night Country” (Max)2Sofía Vergara — “Griselda” (Netflix)3Juno Temple — “Fargo” (FX)4Brie Larson — “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)5Naomi Watts — “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” (FX)Variety: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
Eligible Performers (Lead Actress, Limited/TV Movie)
Image Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX
**Officially submitted and on the Emmy nominations ballot.
Uzo Aduba — “Painkiller” (Netflix)
Ajiona Alexus — “Mary J. Blige’s Real Love” (Lifetime)
Awkwafina — “Quiz Lady” (Hulu)
Deborah Ayorinde — “Them: The Scare” (Prime Video)
Zazie Beetz — “Black Mirror” (Netflix)
Annette Bening — “Apples Never Fall” (Peacock)
Helena Bonham Carter — “Nolly (Masterpiece)” (PBS)
Majo Cabrera — “Nada”
Candace Cameron Bure — “My Christmas Hero” (Hallmark)
Nesta Cooper — “Kemba”
Emma Corrin — “A Murder at the End of the World” (FX)
Alaqua Cox — “Echo” (Disney+)
Kaley Cuoco — “Role Play” (Prime Video)
Claire Danes — “Full Circle” (Max)
Sinclair Daniel — “The Other Black Girl” (Hulu)
Lily-Rose Depp — “The Idol” (Max)
Kaitlyn Dever — “No One Will Save You” (Hulu)
Sarah Drew — “Guiding Emily”
Morgan Fairchild — “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas”
Jodie Foster — “True Detective: Night Country” (Max)
Linda Gray — “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas”
Thomasina Gross — “The Block Trilogies Vol. 1: The Tally”
Carla Gugino — “The Fall of the House of Usher” (Netflix)
Melissa Joan Hart — “The Bad Guardian”
Nicole Kidman — “Expats” (Prime Video)
Joey King — “We Were the Lucky Ones” (Hulu)
Jessica Lange — “The Great Lillian Hall” (Max)
Brie Larson — “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)
Ashley Liao — “Love in Taipei”
Jen Lilley — “A Paris Christmas Waltz”
Aria Mia Lobereti — “All the Light We Cannot See” (Netflix)
Kate Mara — “Class of ’09”
Melissa McCarthy — “Genie” (Peacock)
Wendi McLendon-Covey — “Bad Romance: The Vicky White Story”
Camila Mendes — “Musica”
Camila Mendes — “Upgraded”
Isabela Merced — “Turtles All the Way Down” (Max)
Donna Mills — “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas”
Ambika Mod — “One Day” (Netflix)
Julianne Moore — “Mary & George” (Starz)
Mandy Moore — “Dr. Death” (Peacock)
Elisabeth Moss — “The Veil” (Hulu)
Annie Murphy — “Black Mirror” (Netflix)
Ashleigh Murray — “The Other Black Girl” (Hulu)
Sandra Oh — “Quiz Lady” (Hulu)
Chelsea Peretti — “First Time Female Director”
Billie Piper — “Scoop” (Netflix)
Brooklynn Prince — “Little Wing”
Anna Próchniak — “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” (Peacock)
Andrea Riseborough — “Alice & Jack (Masterpiece)” (PBS)
Emma Roberts — “American Horror Story: Delicate” (FX)
Nicollette Sheridan — “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas”
Kiernan Shipka — “Totally Killer” (Prime Video)
Shaquita R Smith — “My Valentine Wedding”
Jamie Lynn Spears — “Zoey 102”
Juno Temple — “Fargo” (FX)
Sofia Vergara — “Griselda” (Netflix)
Naomi Watts — “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” (FX)
Sigourney Weaver — “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart” (Prime Video)
Kate Winslet — “The Regime” (Max)
Ji-young Yoo — “Expats” (Prime Video)
Kara Young — “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch (Great Performances)” (PBS)
More Information (Lead Actress, Limited/TV Movie)
Image Credit: Netflix
2023 category winner: Ali Wong — “Beef” (Netflix)
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
DramaComedyLimited/MovieDrama SeriesComedy SeriesLimited or Anthology SeriesLead Actor (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Lead Actor (Limited, Movie)Lead Actress (Drama)Lead Actress (Comedy)Lead Actress (Limited, Movie)Supporting Actor (Drama)Supporting Actor (Comedy)Supporting Actor (Limited, Movie)Supporting Actress (Drama)Supporting Actress (Comedy)Supporting Actress (Limited, Movie)Directing, Writing (Drama)Directing, Writing (Comedy)Directing, Writing (Limited, Movie)Guest Acting (Drama)Guest Acting (Comedy)Television Movie Talk Series & Scripted VarietyGame Show/HostReality ProgramsDocumentary (Series, Special, Hosted Nonfiction, Exceptional Merit)Variety Special (Live, Pre-Recorded)Animation/Voice-Over2024 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.
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