While this year’s Best Comedy Supporting Actress Emmy Awards lineup could match last year’s exactly, the corresponding drama one is guaranteed to be completely different. 2021 winner Gillian Anderson and her “The Crown” costars Helena Bonham Carter and Emerald Fennell have all exited the series, which did not air new episodes during the current eligibility window anyway. Aunjanue Ellis’s “Lovecraft Country” concluded in 2020, and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” for which Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski, and Samira Wiley were all nominated last year, also did not return in time to contend at this year’s Emmys.
This clear field could work in favor of Julia Garner, who is in the hunt for her third trophy for her work on “Ozark.” She could, however, face challenges from two women who previously prevailed here for other series but are now seeking recognition for new ones: Julianna Margulies (“The Morning Show”), who won for “ER” in 1995, and Dianne Wiest (“Mayor of Kingstown”), who won for “In Treatment” in 2008.
Past nominees hoping for another shot at glory this year are Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”), Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”), Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”), and Sarah Snook (“Succession”).
Patricia Arquette, who triumphed in lead in 2005 for “Medium,” is now seeking recognition for her work in “Severance.” Actresses who could earn bids for new drama series include Christina Ricci (“Yellowjackets”), Youn Yuh-jung (“Pachinko”), and “Squid Game” costars Jung Ho-yeon and Kim Joo-ryung.
Scroll through our photo gallery of 2022 Emmy predictions for Supporting Actress (Drama Series).
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Sarah Snook, ‘Succession’ – Season 3
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Shiv Roy, the youngest child of a global media company founder who seeks to be chosen as her father’s successor.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Season 2 (2020) -
Julia Garner, ‘Ozark’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Ruth Langmore, a young woman whose life has deteriorated as a result of her and her family’s involvement in the business of illegal drugs.
Emmys history:
Won for Seasons 2-3 (2019-2020) -
Jung Ho-yeon, ‘Squid Game’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Noh Juhan/Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Kang Sae-byeok, a young woman who enters a deadly contest in order to win enough money to give her parents a better life.
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J. Smith-Cameron, ‘Succession’ – Season 3
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Gerri Kellman, who serves as general counsel in a global media company.
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Rhea Seehorn, ‘Better Call Saul’ – Season 6
Image Credit: AMC Network: AMC
Role: Kim Wexler, a lawyer who has grown close to Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman.
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Christina Ricci, ‘Yellowjackets’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Showtime Network: Showtime
Role: Misty, a nurse who is continually haunted by the 19 months she spent as a teenager stranded in the Canadian wilderness.
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Julianna Margulies, ‘The Morning Show’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Laura Peterson, a New York news anchor who develops a sexual relationship with morning show host Bradley Jackson.
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Sydney Sweeney, ‘Euphoria’ – Season 2
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Cassie Howard, a Los Angeles high school student trying to move past her days of promiscuity.
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Fiona Shaw, ‘Killing Eve’ – Season 4
Image Credit: BBC America Network: BBC America
Role: Carolyn Martens, a high-ranking MI6 officer who originally recruited the titular Eve Polastri to hunt down assassin Villanelle.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Seasons 2-3 (2019-2020) -
Youn Yuh-jung, ‘Pachinko’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Kim Sunja, a Korean woman who immigrated to Japan decades earlier.
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Kelly Reilly, ‘Yellowstone’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Paramount Network: Paramount
Role: Beth Dutton, the emotionally unstable daughter of a Montana rancher.
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Christine Baranski, ‘The Gilded Age’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO Network: HBO
Role: Agnes van Rhijn, a New York aristocrat who, along with her sister, acts as a mentor to her estranged niece.
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Kim Joo-ryung, ‘Squid Game’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Noh Juhan/Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Han Mi-nyeo, one of 456 people who enter a deadly contest with a large monetary prize at its end.
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Sally Field, ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Warrick Page/HBO Network: HBO
Role: Jessie Buss, the mother of Los Angeles Lakers basketball team owner Jerry Buss.
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Millie Bobby Brown, ‘Stranger Things’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Jane “Eleven” Hopper, a telekinetic teenager who has had to adjust to life in the real world after escaping the laboratory in which she spent her early years.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Seasons 1-2 (2017-2018) -
Lisa Emery, ‘Ozark’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Darlene Snell, a headstrong heroin manufacturer operating in the Missouri Ozarks.
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Nicola Coughlan, ‘Bridgerton’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Liam Daniel/Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Penelope Featherington, a friend of the second eldest Bridgerton daughter, Eloise.
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Andrea Martin, ‘Evil’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Paramount+ Network: Paramount+
Role: Sister Andrea, a nun who acts as an adviser for a journalist studying to be a priest.
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Hunter Schafer, ‘Euphoria’ – Season 2
Image Credit: HBO Network: HBO
Role: Jules Vaughn, a troubled transgender high school student.
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Audra McDonald, ‘The Good Fight’ – Season 5
Image Credit: Paramount+ Network: Paramount+
Role: Liz Reddick, a partner at a Chicago law firm who achieved her position upon her father’s death.
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Patricia Arquette, ‘Severance’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Apple TV+ Network: Apple TV+
Role: Harmony Cobel, Mark’s boss/Mrs. Selvig, Mark’s next-door neighbor.
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Christine Lahti, ‘Evil’ – Season 2
Image Credit: Paramount+ Network: Paramount+
Role: Sheryl Luria, the mother of a forensic psychologist who investigates supernatural occurrences.
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Cynthia Nixon, ‘The Gilded Age’ – Season 1
Image Credit: Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO Network: HBO
Role: Ada Brook, a New York aristocrat who, along with her sister, acts as a mentor to her estranged niece.
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Susan Kelechi Watson, ‘This Is Us’ – Season 6
Image Credit: NBC Network: NBC
Role: Beth Pearson, a mother of three married to her college sweetheart.
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Chrissy Metz, ‘This Is Us’ – Season 6
Image Credit: NBC Network: NBC
Role: Kate Pearson, a wife and mother attempting to save her crumbling marriage.
Emmys history:
Nominated for Season 1 (2017) -
Winona Ryder, ‘Stranger Things’ – Season 4
Image Credit: Netflix Network: Netflix
Role: Joyce Byers, a single mother who is still haunted by memories of her son’s disappearance several years earlier.
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More Emmy Predictions
Image Credit: A.T.A.S. Be sure to check out our other Emmy Awards predictions photo galleries:
Best Comedy Series
Best Comedy Actor
Best Comedy Actress
Best Comedy Supporting Actor
Best Comedy Supporting Actress
Best Drama Series
Best Drama Actor
Best Drama Actress
Best Drama Supporting Actor
Best Limited Series
Best TV Movie
Best Movie/Limited Actor
Best Movie/Limited Actress
Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actor
Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actress
