CarterMatt Awards 2015: Anson Mount, Hugh Dancy, Ryan Eggold, Lou Diamond Phillips up for Underrated Actor

What does it mean to be underrated? For us at the CarterMatt Awards, it means to be magnificent but under-appreciated. All of the nominees below in our Underrated Actor field have done tremendous work on their shows, sometimes for several years, without any major awards recognition to go along with. These are the people you’re upset every year when you see that they are not nominated.

This is the first time that we’re adding Underrated Actor and Actress specifically to the awards; we have had an Underrated Show category since 2012, when we first started these proceedings. Voting will be open as many times as you’d like between now and December 26, when the results will be announced at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 12:00 p.m. Pacific.

Hugh Dancy, “Hannibal” (NBC) – Hugh has never received the right recognition for playing Will Graham, which is a shame since this is potentially the most complex, conflicted character on TV. It’s hard to even properly determine why he has not received the same love and attention as some other actors of his caliber, but you can go back and look at any of his scenes with Mads Mikkelsen to figure out shy he is so special as a performer, let alone an essential addition to this show.

Ryan Eggold, “The Blacklist” (NBC) – James Spader is tremendous, and we have a feeling that you’re going to see his name pop up later in the CarterMatt Awards nominations. What is unfortunately somewhat forgotten by some is how fantastic Eggold is as the ever-mysterious Tom Keen. In some ways, he has played several different characters through the first three seasons, whether it be the superficially kind and innocent instructor, the sinister super-spy, or the well-intentioned protector. All of them are different shades to this character, and all of them have delivered thanks to Eggold’s performance.

Travis Fimmel, “Vikings” (History) – As Ragnar Lothbrok, Fimmel gets to play a character so is extremely intimidating physically, but also someone with so does have so many different layers beyond that. He brings such humanity to a historical figure, and makes you involved in his every move (even with the knowledge of how this story in particular ends). We don’t know if it is the network or just heavy competition, but Fimmel tends to be consistently overlooked.

Simon Helberg, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) – Despite playing arguably one of the biggest comic characters of the past decade in Howard Wolowitz, Helberg has received zero nominations at the Emmys or the Golden Globes, with his sole win being at the Critics’ Choice Awards. How in the world does this happen? We’re not quite sure, since Howard has made arguably the most substantial evolution since the beginning of the show, and Simon’s magnetizing, fun performance is the primary reason we continue to be drawn to this guy despite his wide array of (obvious) flaws.

Anson Mount, “Hell on Wheels” (AMC) – The metaphorical engine of a show all about a railroad. A man who can sometimes say a lot without actually saying more than a few words. Cullen Bohannon is the hero of this story, but Mount plays him in a way that Cullen would hate to be described as such. He’s a man just trying to find his family and establish some stability, even if the allure of the railroad has diverted him from his mission so many times in the past. When Cullen feels pain, Mount pours such devastation into it that it is hard not to be right there with him.

Lou Diamond Phillips, “Longmire” (Netflix) – As you can see, we obviously enjoy actors who play characters who have potential for both heroism in darkness in their DNA. As Henry Standing Bear, you certainly get all of this from Lou Diamond. He brings strength and stability to some scenes, and then others moral complexity and a man weathered by time. He wants to do the right thing for his people, though sometimes that means having to skirt the litter of the law.

Photo: NBC