2016 Emmy Contenders: Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

2016 Contenders
Uzo Aduba "Orange is the New Black"
Christine Baranski "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke "Game of Thrones"
Lena Heady "Game of Thrones"
Joanne Froggatt "Downton Abbey"
Maggie Smith "Downton Abbey"
Danielle Brooks "Orange is the New Black"
Maura Tierney "The Affair"
Constance Zimmer "UnReal"
Margo Martindale "The Good Wife"
Sissy Spacek "Bloodline"
Linda Cardellini "Bloodline"
Edie Falco "Horace and Pete"
Jessica Lange "Horace and Pete"
Alison Wright "The Americans"
Holly Taylor "The Americans"
Miranda Otto "Homeland"
Caitlin FitzGerald "Masters of Sex"
Annaleigh Ashford "Masters of Sex"
Regina King "The Leftovers"
Ann Dowd "The Leftovers"
Liv Tyler "The Leftovers"
Margaret Qualley "The Leftovers"
Portia Doubleday "Mr. Robot"
Rhea Seehorn "Better Call Saul"
Juno Temple "Vinyl"
Olivia Wilde "Vinyl"
Sophie Turner "Game of Thrones"
Maisie Williams "Game of Thrones"
Gwendoline Christie "Game of Thrones"
Phyllis Logan "Downton Abbey"
Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey"
Lesley Nicol "Downton Abbey"
Penelope Wilton "Downton Abbey"
Sophie McShera "Downton Abbey"
Lily James "Downton Abbey"
Helen McCrory "Penny Dreadful"
Kate Mulgrew "Orange is the New Black"
Laura Prepon "Orange is the New Black"
Dascha Polanco "Orange is the New Black"
Selenis Levya "Orange is the New Black"
Lea DeLaria "Orange is the New Black"
Yael Stone "Orange is the New Black"
Ruby Rose "Orange is the New Black"
Taryn Manning "Orange is the New Black"
Melissa McBride "The Walking Dead"
Lauren Cohan "The Walking Dead"
Danai Guriria "The Walking Dead"
Sonequa Martin-Green "The Walking Dead"
Maggie Siff "Billions"
Malin Akerman "Billions"
Neve Campbell "House of Cards"
Kathryn Winnick "Vikings"
Calista Flockhart "Supergirl"
Gillian Anderson "Hannibal"
Eve Hewson "The Knick"
Juliet Rylance "The Knick"
Hayden Panettiere "Nashville"
Clare Bowen "Nashville"
Lennon Stella "Nashville"
Maisy Stella "Nashville"
Kourtney Hansen "Nashville"
Julie Walters "Indian Summers"
Liza Weil "How to Get Away With Murder"
Aja Naomi King "How to Get Away With Murder"
Karla Souza "How to Get Away With Murder"
Chandra Wilson "Grey's Anatomy"
Sara Ramirez "Grey's Anatomy"
Jessica Capshaw "Grey's Anatomy"
Sarah Drew "Grey's Anatomy"
Caterina Scorsone "Grey's Anatomy"
Camilla Luddington "Grey's Anatomy"
Kelly McCreary "Grey's Anatomy"
Jerrika Hinton "Grey's Anatomy"
Bellamy Young "Scandal"
Darby Stanchfield "Scandal"

Commentary - With this race, the only open slot is from Christina Hendricks, and I honestly see the rest of the bunch returning. That means a lot of names all fighting for one measly spot in this competitive race. Maggie Smith was shockingly left off the list last year, but with Downton nostalgia everywhere, and the show's final season ending with high marks, the previous winner could return. As could previous winner Margo Martindale, who had a great run on the final season of The Good Wife. Maura Tierney and Constance Zimmer won the Globe and the Critics Choice, but I don't know if either show has the clout or viewership to push them in, no matter how deserving their are. Miranda Otto, Rhea Seahorn, and Neve Campbell are all on shows that will probably be nominated for Best Drama Series, so they should not be discounted. I;m also on the lookout for the dynamic duos of Sissy Spacek and Linda Cardellini from Bloodline, and Jessica Lange and Edie Falco from Horace and Pete. Those names are just too big to ignore. Then there are the multitude of possibilities from a variety of shows including Orange is the New Black, Downton Abbey, Scandal, The Knick, How to Get Away With Murder, Grey's Anatomy, Nashville, The Knick, Billions, The Americans, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, The Leftovers, Masters of Sex, and Vinyl. Finally, throw in possible outsiders like Julie Walters, Helen McCrory, Gillian Anderson, Calista Flockhart, and Kathryn Winnick, and I don't know how voters choose.