Lewis plays Nicholas Brody, a U.S. Marine Sergeant who was rescued after being a prisoner-of-war for eight years and is now possibly a turned double agent. This is his first Emmy nomination.
Bonneville plays Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. This is his first Emmy nomination.
Hamm plays Don Draper, the creative partner in a 1960s advertising agency in New York. He has eight career Emmy nominations.
Hall plays Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who is also a serial killer looking for murderers who have not been caught. He has seven career Emmy nominations.
Cranston plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who decides to start manufacturing crystal meth to raise money for his family. He has three Emmy wins in seven career nominations.
Buscemi plays Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County set in the Prohibition era. He has five career Emmy nominations.