2014 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Actress in a Drama Series

2014 Nomination Predictions
Claire Danes "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife"
Elisabeth Moss "Mad Men"
Robin Wright "House of Cards"
Kerry Washington "Scandal"

Other Contenders - Tatiana Maslany "Orphan Black", Lizzy Caplan "Masters of Sex", Keri Russell "The Americans", Vera Farmiga "Bates' Motel", Connie Britton "Nashville", Mariska Hargitay "Law & Order: SVU", Megan Boone "The Blacklist", Katey Segal "Sons of Anarchy", Mirelle Enos "The Killing", Elizabeth McGovern "Downton Abbey"

Commentary - This race, I think, will be indicative of the voting this year. Do voters go with the old favorites, or do they finally allow some room for a new contender or two? I'll be honest, I am completely playing it safe, yet also hoping to see a few surprises along the way. First and foremost, Robin Wright is probably the one to beat here. Claire Danes has plenty of juicy material, despite Homeland slipping, and while I'm sure she will earn yet another nomination, I think that Robin Wright goes into this race as the front runner. If buzz alone were enough to win, then Kerry Washington would walk away with it. Right now she sits as third in a tough race, but a great episode could put her squarely in the top spot. Julianna Margulies was snubbed last year, making a comeback a lot harder. But I think that The Good Wife had a good enough of a season to put her back in this race, no matter whether it can muster its way back into the Drama Series race or not. So in the last two slots, I could be bold, I could predict a nomination for the likes of Tatiana Maslany, Lizzy Caplan, or Keri Russell, all of whom would be first time nominees from well-liked series. I could even go with nominees last year, Connie Britton, who is clearly beloved by Emmy voters, and/or Vera Farmiga, who is the genuine movie star, and has an episode to die for this year, if she gets in. But I think that both Mad Men and Downton Abbey are well-liked enough, and have enough coattails for Michelle Dockery and Elisabeth Moss to get in again. They are the two most vulnerable, and there is a good chance I only get three or four of these right come Thursday. But at the end of the day, I'd rather go with the contender with a track record, than the one without.