We have finally arrived at the actor categories, and with the Emmys, there are a fair number of them, so strap yourself in, because the next few days are going to be a bumpy ride.
We begin with the Limited or Anthology Series or Movie division, first focusing on the Supporting Actor category. Later, we’ll be discussing the actress half of the category. Without any further ado, let’s jump in.
What You’ll Find in This Article
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Presumed Innocent: Bill Camp vs. Peter Sarsgaard
- Rob Delaney’s Standout Performance in Dying for Sex
- The Case for Ashley Walters and Javier Bardem
- The Verdict: Owen Cooper Breaks Out
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: The Nominees
- Why Jenny Slate, Ruth Negga and Chloë Sevigny Won’t Win the Emmy
- The Performances of Christine Tremarco and Erin Doherty in Adolescence
- The Verdict
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: The Nominees
The nominees are:
- Javier Bardem for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
- Bill Camp and Peter Sarsgaard for Presumed Innocent
- Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters for Adolescence
- Rob Delaney for Dying for Sex
Presumed Innocent: Bill Camp vs. Peter Sarsgaard
In a normal year, we would be having a genuine conversation about the solid work both Bill Camp and Peter Sarsgaard did in the first season of what we now know as the anthology series, Presumed Innocent.
Camp is excellent, with Raymond Horgan, Jake Gyllenhaal’s former district attorney mentor, and Sarsgaard shining as the skeevy and borderline villainous attorney Tommy Molto. Both actors regularly deliver top-notch work, Camp is a personal favorite, and so neither nomination was a surprise.
Unfortunately for the two of them, this is not a normal year.
Because if it was, we’d talk about Rob Delaney’s work as the messy and desperate, but still sexy Neighbor Guy in Dying for Sex.
Rob Delaney’s Standout Performance in Dying for Sex
Delaney is another solid actor. The thing that put him on the map, Catastrophe, which he co-created and starred in, still ranks as one of the century’s best shows.
Delaney brings it every time, and the dark magnetism he exhibits in the show is something new from him. He’s got something of a big galoot energy to him, and “sexy” is not generally the first word that comes to mind when discussing him or his work, so for him to show up like this demonstrates just how powerful his performance was in the series.
Again, unfortunately for Rob, this is not a normal year.
Because if it were, we’d spend time talking about Ashley Walters’ police detective in Adolescence.
The Case for Ashley Walters and Javier Bardem
Walters performed excellent in a very difficult role, because Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe is not the story’s protagonist. Far from it, in fact.
As the viewer roots for the Miller family and for young Jamie Miller to be innocent, viewers are put in the rare position of rooting against a good cop who is only trying to do his job. Walters portrays that conflict — as well as the internal one he deals with, investigating a child for murder — brilliantly, and with enormous empathy.
But, again, unfortunately for Ashley, this is not a normal year.
If it was a normal year, this whole conversation would be over once we came to Javier Bardem, whose truly venomous performance as José Menendez is up there with his work as Anton Chigurh, the psychopathic killer in No Country For Old Men, the role that won him an Oscar.
Bardem is fantastic as the sadistic father of the two boys who would end up murdering him, in yet another in a long line of roles that showcase just how brilliant the Spanish actor is.
But, again, unfortunately for Javier, this is not a normal year.
The Verdict: Owen Cooper Breaks Out
Owen Cooper is going to win this award for his transcendent work in Adolescence, the kid making his on-screen debut is going to beat all these other seasoned actors in the single most remarkable performance shown on television this year.
Cooper is magnificent as Jamie Miller, a young boy who is accused of something horrible, and whose deep-seated anger and pain emerge at some of the worst times. He is the youngest person ever to be nominated for this award; he will be the youngest person to win it, and he will deserve it.
Who Should Win: Owen Cooper
Who Will Win: Owen Cooper
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Remember when I was writing about the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nominees and said it was a foregone conclusion? Well, thankfully, this companion category is comparatively much more wide open.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: The Nominees
The nominees are:
- Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco for Adolescence
- Ruth Negga for Presumed Innocent
- Deirdre O’Connell for The Penguin
- Chloë Sevigny for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
- Jenny Slate for Dying for Sex
Why Jenny Slate, Ruth Negga and Chloë Sevigny Won’t Win the Emmy
Let’s be honest, it’s not that wide open. As much as I enjoyed Jenny Slate’s manic and angry performance in Dying for Sex, I don’t see a reality in which she climbs the stage to accept this award.
It’s a shame, too, because her work has gotten progressively deeper over the years. Starting with The Obvious Child roughly a decade ago, she’s taken on more and more interesting roles, with more and more dramatic overtones, and I think it’s only a matter of time before she actually does win one of these awards. It’s just not going to be this year.
Ruth Negga does sterling work as a cuckolded wife who may or may not have killed her husband’s lover in Presumed Innocent, and Deirdre O’Connell’s crazed performance as Oz Cobb’s demanding and demented mother is a scene-stealing blast. And of course, Chloë Sevigny always brings her A game, especially as the unhappy, drug-addicted Kitty Menendez.
Three great actresses, three excellent performances. None of which, I don’t think, have any real chance of winning; because it’s going to come down to the two actresses in Adolescence.
The Performances of Christine Tremarco and Erin Doherty in Adolescence
Christine Tremarco is terrific as Manda Miller, the mother of accused murderer Jamie Miller. Erin Doherty is in only one episode of the four-episode series, and she is astonishing as the counselor brought into the juvenile hall to talk to Jamie and try to get to the bottom of whether or not he committed the murder for which he is accused, and if so, why.
I think it’s clear at this point that I believe Adolescence is going to win every award it’s up for. This is the one instance where more than one person is nominated in a specific category. Thus, it’s a two-person race, and they’re two very different performances.
Tremarco’s performance is one of quiet, but overt devastation. It starts with an alarm, and then slowly morphs into a pain and sense of failure that she might have raised a child capable of something so awful. The moments of silence, when she’s reacting to what’s happening around her, or responding to something co-star and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nominee Stephen Graham — who plays her husband, Eddie — is doing, it’s almost a master class of how to play off another actor.
Doherty, meanwhile, shows a quiet strength and determination as she deals with a 13-year-old boy who is a walking lit fuse. She’s restrained without being weak. An iron fist in a velvet glove, who has dealt with children like this before, even though there is no other child like this one.
The Verdict
Ultimately, I think it’s going to come down to the flashier part, because that’s almost always how it goes. I personally prefer restrained and internal approaches, as I find them more challenging, but voters often disagree with me. Therefore, while I would give this to Doherty, I think the voters will give it to Tremarco. I may be wrong, but history tells me I’m not.
Who Should Win: Erin Doherty
Who Will Win: Christine Tremarco
Final Takeaways
Much like the Emmy race, an acting career can be unpredictable but thrilling. Learning from the standout performances and industry buzz can give actors a leg up. Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind as you carve your path in the craft.
- Choose roles that challenge you emotionally and showcase your range.
- Embrace complexity in your characters, even if they’re not the lead, to leave a lasting impression.
- Don’t shy away from subtle, restrained performances; sometimes quiet strength speaks louder.
- Keep honing your craft consistently.
- Be ready to surprise audiences by breaking your usual typecast.
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