Golden Globes 2020: Why Caitriona Balfe, Jodie Comer, Ellen Pompeo, Eliza Taylor, Zendaya deserve Drama Actress nod
For the sake of the month of November, though, what we’re doing is our part to help prepare you! Throughout the Golden Globes Preview Series, we will be coming to you each day with a different category to spotlight. We’ll talk through why certain shows and performers are worthy of nominations, and then at the end share a poll for you to vote for your own favorite! Today, the focus is on Actress in a Drama Series, another competitive category in what is sure to be a super-competitive show this year. Having SO many different possible nominees will do that to you.
Voting Rules – Vote however often you’d like! We’ll share the results come Wednesday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time. Note that our poll is strictly for fun and to build up buzz during awards season; these polls are not for the actual Golden Globes.
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander – Like we said in spotlighting Sam Heughan earlier this weekend, there is confusion over Caitriona’s eligibility — she was nominated last year for season 4, so can she again? Given that there were some episodes that aired in 2019, we’d like to think so — we’re awaiting comment, but for now we do think that her work in 2019 was breathtaking and memorable enough to merit another nod. Think back to those past few episodes, when all the crises in North Carolina were coming to a head. (Update: We have received confirmation that Caitriona is eligible.)
Jodie Comer, Kiling Eve – Is Villanelle one of the best characters on television right now? It’s easy to make that argument, given just how deeply nuanced she is. This is someone who can show all sides of the emotional spectrum and be dangerous, haunting, and heartbreaking all at one time. Comer commands the screen every single second she is on it. There’s a lot of responsibility thrust on both her and Sandra Oh here, but time and time again, they each deliver.
Ellen Pompeo, Grey’s Anatomy – It’s been more than ten years since Pompeo was nominated for playing Dr. Meredith Grey. Also, did you know that she has never received an Emmy nod for this character? It’s one of the biggest TV oversights in history given that she is one of the biggest reasons for its long-term success. Meredith is emphathetic, inspirational, but also still real and often flawed. Pompeo’s work at the end of last season, where Meredith was facing countless consequences from an insurance-fraud scandal, was some of her absolute best.
Eliza Taylor, The 100 – Performance-wise, you can make a case that The 100 consistently has some of the most underrated performances in the business. What Taylor did this summer was outstanding, as she both pushed Clarke to the emotional brink and then had to take on Josephine for a little while, as well. Playing multiple roles is hard, especially with the amount of nuance that she was able to throw in there.
Zendaya, Euphoria – Finally, we turn to one of the most refreshing, powerful performances of the year. As Rue, Zendaya was able to inject her with power, but also still relatability, energy, and an ambition that suits a character of her age. She brought all of Rue’s problems to the forefront and made us feel so deeply for her in the midst of everything that she went through. It’s a performance that sticks with you.
Other candidates
For those wondering as to our inclusion of The Crown’s Olivia Colman in the poll in particular, all signs point to her being a favorite in this race. However, we have yet to see The Crown season 3, so we can not include her in her wishlist proper. Colman is present there alongside Nicole Kidman from Big Little Lies and Regina King from Watchmen.
Photo: Starz