Emmys 2017: Emily Browning, Grace Park, Madelaine Petsch top Supporting Actress – Drama picks
In addition to sharing our CarterMatt staff nominees for the category below, at the bottom we want to hear from you! Let us know who you like from our suggested field in either the comments or the attached poll below.
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The 2017 Emmy nominations will be formally announced on July 13. The results of all of our CarterMatt Emmy polls will be formally revealed on July 12 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific. They will officially close in the minutes leading up to that time.
Emily Browning, American Gods (Starz) – Browning is play arguably one of television’s most unique roles: A woman named Laura Moon who is both alive and dead at the same time. She’s not your typical zombie, groaning and complaining about not eating enough brains. She’s a stitched-up autopsy wandering around trying to restore her life before she decomposes. Despite some of the terrible things Laura did — which includes allowing Shadow to take the fall for her crimes and cheat on him while he was behind bars — she remains incredibly compelling as we watch her stumble through life in this new form. The uniqueness Browning brings to the role is well in line with what Laura deserves. Who knew that a character, who didn’t get nearly as much face time in the source material, would become the best American Gods character on the show?
Sonequa Martin-Green, The Walking Dead (AMC) – If you are going to leave a show, what a fantastic way to do so, right? The end of Sasha on the AMC drama was violent, sensational, and somehow still emotional as we witnessed the painful thought process the led up to her exit and the scope of her memory. She was one of those characters who brought endless heart to every scene, and Martin-Green played her in such a way that even when she struggled to find her humanity, you still sympathized and rooted for her. On a show filled with underrated performances, this is one of the best.
Grace Park, Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – This was the best season in the history of the CBS drama, and one of the reasons why was the power that Park brought to Kono through several different episodes. Obviously, there was a lot of humor to some of her stories (watching her jump out of a gym bag was a lot of fun), but then you had the complete opposite of that as she worked to take down the sex trafficking ring. Park plays Kono with such accessibility, allowing you to be pulled into her world and understanding how she feels in any given moment. Beyond the emotional stuff, not enough can be said about the intensity she gives to the action sequences.
Madelaine Petsch, Riverdale (The CW) – Petsch entered Riverdale season 1 with a rather unique challenge, as she had to find a way to make Cheryl Blossom, a lesser-known Archie character in comparison to a Betty, a Veronica, or a Jughead, into someone equally fascinating. Mission accomplished. Cheryl went through hell in season 1 — she lost her brother, lost her father, and dealt with an endless string of drama along the way due to her family treating her like an outcast. Petsch was the anchor in her scenes, showing off different dimensions to who Cheryl was – a mean girl on the outside, but very broken on the inside.
Monica Raymund, Chicago Fire (NBC) – The middle stretch of this season, beginning with the 100th episode and ending with the departure of Louie from Dawson and Casey’s life, was the strongest work of Raymund’s since joining the show. With Gabriela Dawson, Monica has created a relatable, layered character who challenges expectations and showcases both power and vulnerability. She’s one of the heartbeats of the entire One Chicago series for good reason, and the writers weren’t afraid to throw Dawson difficult material such as life-or-death situations, high-octane emotional moments, or deeply personal problems such as her father’s struggles with alcoholism.
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul (AMC) – What Rhea’s pulled off with Kim Wexler the past few years is remarkable: She developed a character layered enough to stand on equal footing with Jimmy McGill and Mike Ehrmantraut. Her earnestness and her ambition are a big part of what makes this character so great as she’s a contrast to Jimmy in that she likes to be by the book. Yet, there’s still enough of an edge to her that it spikes curiosity, and she’s so likable that you can’t help but cheer for her to somehow make the Mesa Verde deal work despite all of the roadblocks in front of her. Even without the other regulars around, Seehorn has such a presence that she could carry any material.
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