2016 Emmy Contenders: Best Actress in a Drama Series

2016 Emmy Contenders
Viola Davis "How to Get Away With Murder"
Taraji P. Henson "Empire"
Claire Danes "Homeland"
Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife"
Robin Wright "House of Cards"
Tatiana Maslany "Orphan Black"
Taylor Schilling "Orange is the New Black"
Michelle Dockery "Downton Abbey"
Krysten Ritter "Jessica Jones"
Kerry Washington "Scandal"
Connie Britton "Nashville"
Melissa Benoist "Supergirl"
Vera Farmiga "Bate's Motel"
Megan Boone "The Blacklist"
Eva Green "Penny Dreadful"
Lizzy Caplan "Masters of Sex"
Keri Russell "The Americans"
Caitriona Balfe "Outlander"
Jaimie Alexander "Blindspot"
Shiri Appleby "UnReal"
Tea Leoni "Madam Secretary"
Carrie Coon "The Leftovers"
Ruth Wilson "The Affair"
Mariska Hargitay "Law & Order: SVU"
Mary Elizabeth Winstead "Mercy Street"
Jurnee Smollett-Bell "Underground"
Joan Allen "The Family"
Ellen Pompeo "Grey's Anatomy"
Marcia Gay Harden "Code Black"
Jennifer Lopez "Shades of Blue"
Patricia Arquette "CSI: Cyber"
Kim Dickens "Fear the Walking Dead"
Alexa Davalos "The Man in High Castle"

Commentary -  With Elisabeth Moss gone there is one open slot, but I wonder if Tatiana Maslany's nominee was a fluke last year, or if voters are finally on board the Orphan Black train. The other four feel safe. Michelle Dockery and Julianna Margulies, who both missed out last year, are hoping that nostalgia for the final seasons of Downton and The Good Wife propel them back in. Also recent nominees like Vera Farmiga, Kerry Washington, Connie Britton, Lizzy Caplan, Taylor Schilling, and Mariska Hargitay are hoping voters take a second look at their roles. Some veteran shows have actresses hoping that they pull a Tatiana Maslany this year, including Ruth Wilson, Carrie Coon, Eva Green, Megan Boone, Keri Russell, Tea Leoni, and Patricia Arquette. Finally, a whole batch of talented actresses on new shows are hoping to strike gold on their first time out: Krysten Ritter, Caitriona Balfe, Jaimie Alexander, Melissa Benoist, Shiri Appleby, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Dickens, Alexa Davalos, Joan Allen, Marcia Gay Harden, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell.