My pick
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Rose Byrne’s pivotal role as Trojan princess Briseis in the epic “Troy” (2004) marked the Australian actress’ first major exposure to American audiences, after which she lent her effusive charm to mainstream successes like “28 Days Later” (2007). But it’s been her biting performance as spurned young attorney Ellen Parsons opposite Glenn Close on the acclaimed legal series “Damages” (FX, 2007-) that’s firmly established Byrne as a bona fide star here in the U.S. Her performance in the series’ second season has earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – the first Academy recognition of her career.
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16%
Though actress Sandra Oh secured leading parts on television and in film in her native Canada, she found some difficulty translating that success when she initially sought work in the United States, due in large part to her Korean heritage. But Oh was able to persevere and landed a scene-stealing and award-winning supporting role as an overworked and underpaid assistant to a sports agent on “Arli$$” (HBO, 1996-2002). After a few film roles, she emerged on the national stage as part of the ensemble cast of then-husband Alexander Payne’s wine-soaked dramedy, “Sideways” (2004). She immediately followed with an award-winning performance as the overly ambitious surgical intern Cristina Yang on the hit series “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC, 2005- ) which has earned her a whopping four previous Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress … but no wins. Could the fifth time be charm?
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20%
Chandra Wilson spent years as a working actress in New York, performing on Broadway, in commercials, and in small TV guest spots. But her big break came in 2005 when the midseason replacement “Grey’s Anatomy” landed in the Nielson’s top ten right out of the gate. The once-unknown Wilson is now a true TV star thanks to her role as Dr. Bailey, the combative surgical intern supervisor who seems to have it in for her interns, but actually has their best interest at heart. Wilson earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2006, an accomplishment she repeated for the next three years – 2007, 2008 and 2009. This year she’s also up for a second Emmy for her leading performance in the television drama based on a true story, “Accidental Friendship” (Hallmark Channel, 2008), in which she played a homeless woman whose life is transformed by her unlikely friendship with a police officer.
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6%
[ EXPERT PICK ]
Though Academy Award-winning actress Dianne Wiest was a highly respected New York stage veteran who initially carved out a reputation for intense dramatic chops, she found herself more frequently cast in comedies when her career expanded to include feature films. Wiest most recently won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2008 after she returned to primetime in HBO’s intense, character-driven drama “In Treatment” (HBO, 2008-). The series stars Gabriel Byrne as a neurotic psychotherapist who seeks his own therapy from Wiest's character, Gina.
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40%
Hope Davis may have starred in such major motion pictures as "Home Alone," "About Schmidt," "The Weather Man," and "Flatliners," but mostly she's carved out a niche as an indie-film actress in smaller flicks like "American Splendor," "The Secret Lives of Dentists," and "Synecdoche, New York." Now, though, she co-stars on the HBO drama "In Treatment" as Mia, a successful litigation attorney and former patient of Dr. Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) who is back in therapy after two decades. Childless, single, and 43, she still harbors unresolved feelings about an abortion she had 20 years ago -- and resentments towards Dr. Weston for abandoning her back then when he moved away from New York. Her firm is handling a malpractice suit against Dr. Weston, which she excuses herself from so she can return to therapy.
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11%
Cherry Jones graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama. Her talent and passion for performing led her to Broadway, where she took the stage by storm and captured the attention of theater-goers and critics alike. In 1991 Jones was nominated for her first Tony Award for her performance in "Our Country's Good." But it was her role as "Catherine Sloper" in the Lincoln Center's revival of "The Heiress" that bestowed upon her Broadway's highest honor, the Tony Award for Best Actress. In 2005 Jones won her second Tony Award for her performance in John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt." Jones has also left her mark on the big screen. She most recently starred in Mira Nair's "Amelia" opposite Hilary Swank, and has been seen in numerous other films including Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Twelve" and "Erin Brockovich"; "The Horse Whisperer" directed by Robert Redford; Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"; and M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" and "Signs." She now appears on Fox's "24," opposite Kiefer Sutherland, as Allison Taylor, the first female president of the United States.
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7%
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