Rhea Seehorn’s “Pluribus” breakthrough arrives at the Emmys with a formidable obstacle: Zendaya is back in the race, while Keri Russell, Carrie Coon and newcomer Chase Infiniti round out one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
DiscussingFilm listed the five contenders for “Best Actress in a Drama Series” ahead of tonight’s 78th Primetime Emmy Awards: Seehorn for Apple TV+’s “Pluribus,” Zendaya for HBO’s “Euphoria,” Coon for “The Gilded Age,” Infiniti for “The Testaments” and Russell for Netflix’s “The Diplomat.”
The category carries particular weight for Seehorn, who is seeking her first Emmy win for a leading role after earning widespread recognition as Kim Wexler on “Better Call Saul.” Her “Pluribus” nomination is part of a strong showing for Apple TV+, which received 18 nominations for the drama, according to the Associated Press’ Emmy preview.
Zendaya, meanwhile, arrives with two victories already on her résumé. She won outstanding lead actress in a drama series for “Euphoria” in 2020 and 2022, becoming the category’s youngest-ever winner and the first Black actor to win it twice, the Los Angeles Times reported.
That makes her the established name in a field otherwise shaped by firsts and long-awaited recognition.
Infiniti is nominated for Hulu’s “The Testaments,” the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Coon returns to the ballot for “The Gilded Age,” while Russell receives another lead-actress nomination for playing diplomat Kate Wyler in “The Diplomat.”
The ceremony is being hosted by Mariska Hargitay and will air live from Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 14. “The Pitt” leads all programs with 25 nominations, giving the night a broader contest between established Emmy favorites and newer dramas such as “Pluribus” and “The Testaments.”
For this category, the envelope will decide whether the night belongs to a two-time champion, an overdue veteran or one of the drama field’s newest faces.
