Julia Louis-Dreyfus is hoping to take home a seventh and final Emmy for playing Selina Meyer on “Veep.” But there’s another number she has her eye on: nine. One last Best Comedy Actress victory for “Veep” would mark Louis-Dreyfus’ ninth acting statuette and give her the solo record for most wins by a performer.
Louis-Dreyfus is currently tied at eight wins with Cloris Leachman. Leachman first established the record in 2006 with her guest win for “Malcolm in the Middle,” four years after her first triumph in the same category for the Fox sitcom. Her other Emmy wins were for “A Brand New Life” (the currently named Best Limited Series/TV Movie Actress category, 1973), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (Best Comedy Supporting Actress, 1974; Best Comedy Guest Actress, 1975), “Cher” (Best Variety Performer, 1975), “Screen Actors Guild 50th Anniversary Celebration” (Best Variety Performer, 1984) and “Promised Land” (Best Drama Guest Actress, 1998).
SEE Will Rachel Brosnahan be the first and only actress to beat Julia Louis-Dreyfus at the Emmys?
The majority of Louis-Dreyfus’ tally comes courtesy of “Veep,” for which she’s gone 6 for 6 so far, making her the most rewarded performer for the same role on the same series. Her other two wins were for “Seinfeld” (Best Comedy Supporting Actress, 1996) and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (Best Comedy Actress, 2006). She also has three Emmys for “Veep’s” Best Comedy Series victories from 2015-17 as part of the producing team.
After “Veep” sat out last year’s eligibility due to Louis-Dreyfus’ breast cancer diagnosis, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” came in and dominated, nabbing eight wins, including Best Comedy Actress for Rachel Brosnahan. But JLD is expected to reclaim her crown for the final season, and thus, snag that winningest performer record for herself. She’s the overwhelming favorite in our odds to prevail, followed by Brosnahan, Allison Janney (“Mom”), Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) and Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”). So yes, by the end of September, Louis-Dreyfus could be on cloud nine.
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