The Emmys nominations are out, and Orange is the New Black leads the comedy categories with 12 nods, including those for star Taylor Schilling, supporting star Kate Mulgrew, and guest stars Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Adube, and Laverne Cox, the first trans actress to be nominated for an Emmy.
The groundbreaking series was also recognized for its writing (Jenji Kohan and Liz Friedman) and directing (Jodie Foster).
American Horror Story: Coven garnered Best Miniseries or TV Movie, including nods for several older actresses: Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Frances Conroy, and Kathy Bates.
Overall, there were few major surprises or upsets among the nominees. In keeping with the Golden Age of Television’s male bias, all the Best Drama contenders were male-led, though Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, and House of Cards all feature fascinating female characters.
There are a few under-the-radar luminaries we’re glad to see get their due: Lizzy Caplan for Masters of Sex, Alison Tolman for Fargo, Margo Martindale for The Americans, and Diana Rigg for Game of Thrones, and the Inside Amy Schumer writing team.
Few women directors received nominations in the drama or comedy categories, but it should be noted that four of the five documentary or nonfiction-special nominees were directed by women.
Notable omissions from the nomination list include Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black, Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men, The Good Wife for Best Drama, and Parks and Recreation for Best Comedy.
Here are the female nominees in the major categories:
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”
Lizzy Caplan, “Masters of Sex”
Kerry Washington, “Scandal”
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Sarah Paulson, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Helena Bonham Carter, “Burton and Taylor”
Minnie Driver, “Return to Zero”
Kristen Wiig, “The Spoils of Babylon”
Cicely Tyson, “The Trip to Bountiful”
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Melissa McCarthy, “Mike & Molly”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
“The Amazing Race” — Created by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster
“Top Chef” — Created by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz
Outstanding Miniseries
“American Horror Story: Coven”
“The White Queen” — Written by Emma Frost, Lisa McGee, Malcolm Campbell, and Nicole Taylor
Outstanding Television Movie
“The Trip to Bountiful”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Orange Is The New Black” — Created by Jenji Kohan
“Veep”
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”
Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”
Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Margo Martindale, “The Americans”
Diana Rigg, “Game of Thrones”
Kate Mara, “House of Cards”
Allison Janney, “Masters of Sex”
Jane Fonda, “The Newsroom”
Kate Burton, “Scandal”
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Moira Walley-Beckett, “Breaking Bad”
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Kate Mulgrew, “Orange Is the New Black”
Kate McKinnon, “SNL”
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Natasha Lyonne, “Orange Is the New Black”
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Laverne Cox, “Orange Is the New Black”
Tina Fey, “SNL”
Melissa McCarthy, “SNL”
Joan Cusack, “Shameless”
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Liz Friedman and Jenji Kohan, “Orange Is The New Black”
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family”
Jodie Foster, “Orange Is the New Black”
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Frances Conroy, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Angela Bassett, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Allison Tolman, “Fargo”
Ellen Burstyn as Olivia, “Flowers in the Attic”
Julia Roberts, “The Normal Heart”
Outstanding Host: Reality-Competition Program
Betty White, “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers”
Jane Lynch, “Hollywood Game Night”
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, “Project Runway”
Cat Deeley, “So You Think You Can Dance”
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
“Inside Amy Schumer,” Head Writer Jessi Klein
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Tina Fey, “The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards”
Sarah Silverman, “We Are Miracles”
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
Beth McCarthy Miller, “The Sound of Music Live!”
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
“Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina GIlbert,” Shari Cookson and Nick Doob
“Running from Crazy,” Barbara Kopple
“The Square,” Jehane Noujaim
“Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley,” Whoopi Goldberg
