This Year’s Most Competitive Emmy Race Is Headlined by Ali Wong, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Chastain and More

As much as we like to try and predict the key Emmy races, some categories are more tough to figure out and therefore, more interesting than others. Outstanding drama series? Shhh, I think we have a pretty good hunch whats going to win. (Apologies, Andor, its not you.) This years acting categories have some obvious favorites. However, I would not be surprised by almost anything particularly as performers have stopped campaigning in the wake of the SAG/AFTRA strike.

One of my favorite categories this year, however, is lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie. And heres the top reason: This is the only acting category this year that features not a single previous Emmy winner among its nominees. As a matter of fact, half of them have never been nominated at all. Other categories come close (lead limited/anthology/movie actor has one previous winner in Evan Peters, while supporting drama actress has just one in Jennifer Coolidge). But lead actress in limited/anthology/movie is the only category where I can, with 100% confidence, tell you that the winner will be holding their first-ever Emmy.

And yet, there are no slouches in the group each could make a case for deserving a win. At this point, Beef star Ali Wong is so far considered the front-runner in this race for good reason. If you only know Wong for her stand-up, you have no idea. The comedian pulls off one of the best dramatic roles of the season, playing a complicated and conflicted woman whose internalized trauma collides into the similarly pained character played by Steven Yeun sparking a road rage incident that tears apart their lives. Wong has been nominated once before (last year, in variety special writing, for Netflixs Ali Wong: Don Wong) and this year also picked up a nod in character voiceover for Tuca Bertie.

Critical fave Kathryn Hahn, who, believe it or not, was only nominated twice before (in 2021, for WandaVision in the supporting actress in a limited/anthology/movie, and in 2017, for Transparent, in supporting comedy actress). Hahns third nomination, for Hulus Tiny Beautiful Things, is also well-deserved. Even in her mixed review of the series, Variety TV critic Alison Herman had nothing but high marks for the actor even calling it a miracle of modern television that Hahn has now led multiple series delivering nuanced portrayals of messy, horny, hilarious women who bluster their way through middle age.

Then theres Lizzy Caplan, previously nominated in 2014 in drama lead actress for Masters of Sex, and this time in the running for FXs Fleishman Is In Trouble. Caplan is always a welcome addition to anything shes in, going back to Freaks and Geeks and then, of course, Party Down (including her surprise cameo in this years revival).

As for the first-timers club, they all earned their spot for incredible performances as well coincidentally, all with a music bent. Dominique Fishback is fascinating and terrifying as a music fan who loves her idol a bit too much in Amazon Prime Videos Swarm. I still cant believe Riley Keough hadnt sung before Daisy Jones the Six (especially given her family), but she couldnt have impressed me more as the lead singer of the ill-fated band in the Prime adaptation. And Jessica Chastain also found her groove as Tammy Wynette in Showtimes George Tammy.

Voters can do no wrong with whomever they pick in this category, and Ill be happy to see one of them take home their first-ever Emmy. In a competition where we talk so much about snubs and surprises, this is one where well just take the win.