Gold Derby editors Tom O’Neil and Chris Beachum currently predict Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”) will win the Emmy race for Best Actress in a TV Movie/Mini, but they admit in this video and podcast chat that they’re, ummm, skittish.
Both Tom and Chris warn: Patricia Arquette (“Escape at Dannemora”) and Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”) should not be underestimated as rivals. “Arquette just won the Golden Globe, SAG Award and Critics’ Choice for this same role,” Chris notes. “And she’s a recent Oscar winner.”
Both Williams and Adams have received Golden Globes during their careers — Williams for “My Week With Marilyn” (2011), Adams for “American Hustle” and (2013) “Big Eyes” (2014) — but those were doled out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “Neither Williams nor Adams has received an Oscar or Emmy from their peers so far,” Tom notes. “Is that significant? We’re talking about the industry voting on itself.
“But now there’s this Michelle Williams thing going on,” Tom adds about her recently surging buzz. “I now I think Michelle Williams has the goods, she’s got the performance and I think she’s got the good will of the industry behind her. And it’s important that she’s playing a real-life person” – and a beloved industry icon at that.
“Entertainers love to vote on entertainers portraying entertainers,” Chris notes.
But voters also love HBO productions. The paychannel has won this acting category 6 times over the past 10 years. That’s great news for Adams in “Sharp Objects.”
“I know we’re underestimating ‘Sharp Objects’ at Gold Derby,” warns Tom. “And Amy Adams! Talk about waiting to win her first big peer-group award!”
Adams has lost six of her Oscar races and she’s never been nominated for an Emmy. However, like Williams, she has won a Golden Globe (“Big Eyes,” 2014).
So who is really out front to win this high-profile Emmy race? Chris and Tom are among four Gold Derby Editors who pick Williams, along with Susan Wloszczyna and Joyce Eng. Four other Editors back Arquette: Paul Sheehan, Marcus James Dixon, Rob Licuria and Daniel Montgomery. Matt Noble bets on Amy Adams. See their rankings. Among our Experts, Williams has the edge. Arquette has a huge lead among our Users. Make or update your predictions here.
BELOW: Listen to the audio podcast version of our chat. Or listen at iTunes, Spotify, Libsyn, Google Play or Stitcher where you can subscribe to our channel
