Nominees: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

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	My pick	Y! Users
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters Blessed with boundless energy and charm, Sally Field was a natural choice for the All-American girl roles that brought her early stardom – the spunky girl surfer “Gidget” (ABC, 1965-66) and Sister Betrille in “The Flying Nun” (ABC, 1967-1970). In the 1970s, Field reinvented herself as a serious film actress with the Emmy-winning TV-movie “Sybil” (1976) and with her Oscar-winning turn as a labor organizer in “Norma Rae” (1979). Field’s popularity rarely waned over the next two decades – helped in large part by a fabled late 1970s romance with her “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977) co-star, Burt Reynolds, as well as an impeccable choice in films such as “Steel Magnolias” (1989), “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993) and “Forrest Gump” (1994). During the age when many actresses best days are behind them, Field lent an aura of class to her return to the medium that made her a star, back on television and an Emmy winner all over again for playing the liberal matriarch of a dysfunctional family on the hit drama series, “Brothers and Sisters” (ABC, 2006- ). Though the show initially suffered from production troubles and re-castings, it eventually blossomed into a hit for the network and earned praises for its positive portrayal of gay characters. For her efforts, Field won an Emmy in 2007. No stranger to acceptance speech controversy, Field did not disappoint. Her speech was cut short by the show’s producers at the Fox network when she said, “Let's face it – if the mothers ruled the world, there would be no goddamned wars in the first place,” which earned her much applause among the attendees. The following year, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a television drama, then won a Screen Actors Guild award in early 2009 for her role on “Brothers & Sisters.” more » 0 comments		16%
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer Kyra Sedgwick enjoyed a steady dramatic career in film, stage, and television for nearly two decades before breaking through to “household name” status as the lead in the TNT crime drama, “The Closer.” Prior to her Emmy, S.A.G., and Golden Globe award nods for the show – with a Golden Globe win in 2007 – Sedgwick had been seen primarily in independent films and on New York stages, currying favor with critics for her thoughtful, focused presence in much-coveted roles of smart, complex women. more » 5 comments		20%
Glenn Close - Damages Seemingly born atop the Hollywood A-list, actress Glenn Close established herself as one of the finest performers of her generation – or any other for that matter – with her first film, “The World According to Garp” (1982), for which she earned the first of several Oscar nominations. For the rest of the 1980s, Close quickly became a top leading actress who eventually achieved infamy with her portrayal of a psychotic woman avenging a lost affair in one of the decade’s most notorious movies, “Fatal Attraction” (1987). Unlike most film stars, however, Close was more than happy to oscillate from the big screen to television to Broadway, often with even more critical and awards success. She earned Tony Awards for her stage performances, as well as Emmy and Golden Globe wins for her work on the small screen – the most significant being her demanding portrayal of high-stakes litigator Patty Hewes in “Damages” (FX, 2007- ). more » 0 comments		6%
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Best-known to millions of loyal “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC, 1999- ) viewers as Detective Olivia Benson, Mariska Hargitay was born around show business and paid her dues in both film and TV before “S.V.U.” finally thrust her into the spotlight. After a long road in failed sitcoms and forgettable films, she finally landed guest roles as smart, powerful women in a series of police dramas. The chemistry proved just right for her authoritative style. Critics were quick to recognize the talent Hargitay brought to “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” nominating her several times for Best Actress Emmys and Golden Globes before she finally snared the coveted Emmy in 2006 and a Golden Globe in 2005. more » 9 comments		40%
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men [ EXPERT PICK ] Elisabeth Moss began her career as a child actor, and got her big break in 1999 when she was cast as Martin Sheen’s daughter on “The West Wing” (NBC, 1999-2006). In 2007 she took on a more challenging adult role as driven secretary-turned-ad-copywriter Peggy Olson in “Mad Men” (AMC, 2007- ), the critical darling from “The Sopranos” writer/producer Matthew Weiner. Over the past two seasons, Moss' character has morphed from shy office girl to female force to be reckoned with, putting the actress in Emmy contention. more » 1 comments		11%
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace Petite, fiery, and altogether confident, Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with a string of roles in critically acclaimed films “The Piano” (for which she won the Oscar in 1993) as well as comedies including “Raising Arizona” (1987) and “Broadcast News” (1987). Most recently, Hunter has been impressing TV audiences with her raw portrait of Grace Hanadarko, a jaded Oklahoma City police detective with serious personal issues who is guided by an angel in the hit TV series "Saving Grace" (TNT, 2007-09). Her role led to a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination in 2008, but this year gives her another shot at the coveted Emmy. more » 4 comments		7%

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26 comments

comments 1-10 of 26 | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

Luka

You totally deserve it, Glenn!!! We love you:)

report abuseposted September 21, 2009, 4:13 pm PDT
TinaFey;)

It shoulda been Kyra!!!

report abuseposted September 21, 2009, 1:36 pm PDT
Joni

Holly Hunter DEFINATELY should have gotten this!!!!!

report abuseposted September 21, 2009, 10:09 am PDT
Joe Acord

We are forget Emily Dreschanel from Bones. Holly Hunter is a good pick too.. But Glenn Close? seriously?

report abuseposted September 21, 2009, 8:22 am PDT
Batemia

Holly Hunter all the way. She gets robbed every year as well as Kyra Sedgewick . To bad they have to go up against each other. Guess judges are to busy to watch the good shows, to bad.

report abuseposted September 21, 2009, 7:38 am PDT
day

Holly Hunter is it. She and actress Queena Isadora are now my favorites.

report abuseposted September 20, 2009, 11:09 pm PDT
LoisMichigan

Holly Hunter should have won this...THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, TOO!

report abuseposted September 20, 2009, 10:03 pm PDT
LoisMichigan

Holly Hunter should have won this, THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, TOO

report abuseposted September 20, 2009, 10:01 pm PDT
debette

It should have been Saving Grace!

report abuseposted September 20, 2009, 8:56 pm PDT
pajug

glenn close was robbed of the oscars for Fatal Attraction!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a sweet revenge for Damages!!!!!!!!!!!!! gooooooooooooooooooo glenn gooooooooooooooooooo

report abuseposted September 20, 2009, 8:29 pm PDT

comments 1-10 of 26 | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

Coverage of the 61st Annual Emmy Awards®

Nominees: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Glenn Close - Damages

Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men

Holly Hunter - Saving Grace

26 comments

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