Emmys: 18 Stars Vying For Multiple Noms
Like the lottery, you can’t win an Emmy if you don’t play. And judging by the large number of actors whose names were submitted multiple times, sometimes even in the same category for different roles, it seems that they also buy into a second popular lottery theory — the more you play, the better your odds.
“You don’t do the work to get awards, but I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t feel good to hear that some people think you have a shot at a double nomination, that they appreciated what you put out there,“ Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, This Is Us) told Yahoo TV just before June’s voting period. “But even if nothing comes of it, I feel blessed just to be the vessel for these characters. They have changed my career and life.”
On Thursday, when the nominations are announced, we’ll find out if this strategy paid off for any of the hopeful double, triple, even quadruple threats in acting categories. Because, oh yeah, we aren’t even diving into the extra stack of thespians who are angling for nods in non-acting categories, such as Helen Hunt, who threw her hat in the ring for Outstanding Directing three times (This Is Us, FEUD: Bette And Joan, and Life In Pieces) as well as for her supporting role in Shots Fired, or Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet and SNL’s presidential player Alec Baldwin, who could duke it out in both Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy and Outstanding Host For A Realty or Reality-Competition Program.
May the best man win… or win.
Here’s a look at just some of these contenders whose submissions, if nothing else, display their true range.
Hank Azaria
Four times might be a charm for the six-time Emmy winner whose name was found in Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie (The Wizard Of Lies), Lead Actor In A Comedy (Brockmire), Guest Actor In A Drama (he won last year for the same Ray Donovan role), and Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (he already has multiple trophies for his work on The Simpsons).
Michael K. Williams
When it came down to the wire, one of the smoothest (and most talented) dudes in showbusiness submitted for his work four times: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series (Hap and Leonard: Mucho Mojo), Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie (The Night Of and When We Rise), and Outstanding Host For A Realty or Reality-Competition Program (Black Market With Michael K. Williams).
Laura Dern
She’s hoping for a three-peat with Big Little Lies (Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie) and The Last Man On Earth and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy).
Samira Wiley
She must think gold is the new black. She asked to be considered for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series for The Handmaid’s Tale and Orange Is The New Black as well as best guest actress in a comedy for her cameo as Gretchen’s therapist on You’re The Worst.
Angela Bassett
The Oscar nominee could be three times a luck lady on Thursday with two contenders (American Horror Story: Roanoke and Close To The Enemy) in Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie and one in Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series (Master Of None).
Carrie Coon
She could be a best actress double dipper thanks to meaty, albeit totally different, gigs on The Leftovers (Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series) and Fargo (Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie).
Laverne Cox
She will compete once again in the Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series category with her role on Orange Is The New Black. She’s also hoping to be noticed as a lead actress in a TV movie for singing and dancing her heart out as the sweet transvestite from Transylvania on The Rocky Horror Picture Show special.
Alexis Bledel
She could go head to head with her TV mom Lauren Graham in the Outstanding Lead Actress In a Limited Series or Movie category as Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life or rise up in the guest actress in a drama department for playing Ofglen in The Handmaid’s Tale.
Matthew Rhys
He hopes that playing Philip Jennings on The Americans and a sex-addicted writer on Girls will score him Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series nods, respectively.
Riz Ahmed
It would be out of this galaxy if the Star Wars actor got nominations for The Night Of (Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie) and Girls (Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series) so early in his career.
John Lithgow
The Emmy winner (Dexter) showed his range by seeking nominations in both comedy (for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series for Trail & Error) and drama (for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series for The Crown).
Walton Goggins
The brilliant character actor felt justified in applying for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for History’s Navy SEAL saga Six and Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series for HBO’s Vice Principals.
Clayne Crawford & Abigail Spencer
The Rectify co-stars both submitted to the supporting drama actor categories in honor of their shared Sundance series. They also both celebrated taking the lead on separate, somewhat lighter shows. Crawford hopes his reboot of Mel Gibson’s Lethal Weapon character will standout in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series category while Spencer hopes her Timeless historian can impress Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series voters.
Alison Wright
This year she’s got a horse in three races: Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series (Sneaky Pete), Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie (FEUD: Bette and Joan), and Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series (The Americans).
Claire Danes
She covers all the feels with her contenders — Homeland (Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series) and Portlandia (Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series).
Jimmy Smits
The Get Down and 24: Legacy are his possible ins for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series while an appearance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine might cop a nomination in Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series.
Brian Tyree Henry
The music man is being considered for playing a rapper/drug dealer on Atlanta (Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series) and a soul singer who has one last jam with his cousin on This Is Us (Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series).
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