Our personal Emmy ballot series continues with Drama Supporting Acting. Ranked alphabetically, here are the six actors and actresses who'd make our list:
Jonathan Banks for Better Call Saul: Jonathan Banks is always drolly wonderful as Mike Ehrmantraut, and it’s a pleasure just to have him on Better Call Saul on a weekly basis. But man did the actor dig deep in the heartbreaking Mike-centric episode “Five-O,” giving a performance as powerful as it was unexpected. Seriously, who knew he was capable of that?
Jere Burns for Justified: Wynn Duffy started out as one of Justified’s memorably quirky recurring players before emerging at the forefront of the action in the series’ back-half. There’s no one in the business who’s better at pure reaction than Jere Burns, but in this final season of Justified the multi-faceted actor got to show off some impressive range, too. We didn't object.
Adelaide Clemens for Rectify: The Rectify cast is ridiculously talented, but of its supporting players Adelaide Clemens constantly steals the spotlight. She takes on the deeply faithful and morally conflicted Tawney, playing her with a core of decency that can be difficult to pin down. There's a remarkable depth to her performance, one that lends her character enormous resonance.
Ann Dowd for The Leftovers: Ann Dowd's two-hander with Justin Theroux in the Leftovers episode “Cairo” left arguably the most lasting impression of any actor this TV season -- not to mention the fact that the vast majority of this performance is completely wordless. It’s no easy task to create such a definable character in total silence, but Dowd was simply mesmerizing.
Christopher Eccleston for The Leftovers: Like many in this category, Christopher Eccleston really got to show his stuff in a singular episode. "Two Boats and a Helicopter" took the actor to some pretty dark places, but what's most impressive about his work in it is the empathy he maintains for his character, a priest desperately clinging onto some semblance of hope.
Walton Goggins for Justified: Boyd Crowder. Has there been a better villain in TV during Justified's run? I'm inclined to say no. Walton Goggins was so unbelievably good in this part, seamlessly rolling off his character's signature wordy monologues and always in control of a man trying, despite it all, to own who he is. It's a fascinating character, and a breathtaking portrait, right up until Justified's utterly-perfect final line: "We dug coal together."
Lena Headey for Game of Thrones: With her caustic edge and careful delivery, Lena Headey has long been one of Game of Thrones' biggest assets. While I'm behind on the show, enough was made of her work in the season finale where I decided to catch as much of her seasonal appearances as I could, and all that can be said is wow. I'm normally not a fan of recognizing work I haven't seen in full, but Headey was just sensational here, particularly in her now-infamous "Walk of Shame."
Andre Holland: Where Clive Owen was intense and fiery in The Knick, Andre Holland was subdued and quiet. But in what's likely his most substantial on-screen role to-date, Holland absolutely kills it nonetheless. He plays his marginalized character's anger as deeply-entrenched and ever-simmering, and projects his weariness and his brilliance with utmost feeling.
Lorraine Toussaint for Orange Is the New Black: The thing about the past season of Orange Is the New Black: everyone was great, but regardless of who else was in a scene, if the great Lorraine Toussaint’s Vee was present, that’s who your eyes were on. It’s the kind of command that Glenn Close held on Damages, or James Gandolfini boasted on The Sopranos -- only, they were their series’ leads. Now that's star power.