Robin Weigert came out of nowhere at the Emmys in 2004 when she was nominated for Best Drama Supporting Actress for playing Calamity Jane on “Deadwood.” She probably got a boost from her small but pivotal role that same season as a Mormon statue come to life in “Angels in America.” Now 15 years later she’s eligible for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actress for “Deadwood: The Movie” and could get another boost from her pivotal role in “Big Little Lies.”
A nomination this year wouldn’t be as big a surprise as it was in 2004 since Weigert is better known these days. Since that “Deadwood” breakthrough she has had myriad film and TV credits including “Sons of Anarchy,” “American Horror Story,” “Jessica Jones” and a lot more. And this year she returned to two roles: Calamity Jane in the “Deadwood” telefilm and Dr. Amanda Reisman in “Big Little Lies.” “Deadwood” premiered on May 31, just in time to qualify for this year’s Emmys. Season two of “Big Little Lies” didn’t start until June 9, so it won’t be eligible until 2020, but it was airing while Emmy voters were marking their ballots for this year’s nominations.
In season one of “Lies,” Weigert’s Dr. Reisman counseled Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and her abusive husband Perry (Alexander Skarsgard). Now in season two she’s working with Celeste as she struggles with the fallout from Perry’s death and also with Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) as her marriage to Ed (Adam Scott) hits the skids. Weigert’s performance isn’t showy, but it’s firm and authoritative, and honestly if this creative team wants to do a spin-off next season, “In Treatment with Dr. Reisman,” you can sign me right up. Emmy voters who are equally impressed by her work in these two vastly different roles might be even more inclined to mark her down for “Deadwood.”
As of this writing seven of the Expert journalists we’ve polled for their Emmy predictions think Weigert will be nominated: Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Matt Roush (TV Guide Magazine), Kaitlin Thomas (TVGuide.com), Ben Travers (IndieWire) and Glenn Whipp (LA Times). That doesn’t quite put her among our top six likely nominees in the category, but perhaps “Lies” will give her just the push she needs for her second surprise bid.
Be sure to make your Emmy predictions today so that Hollywood insiders can see how their TV shows and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions as often as you like until just before nominations are announced on July 16. And join in the fun debate over the 2019 Emmy taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our television forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
