10 Performances That Deserve to Be in the Emmy Conversation

Award season is about to heat up. Of course, in this era where we have more television than ever at our fingertips, shows and performances are bound to be excluded from nominations.

While awards aren’t the end-all, be-all, there are several performances that haven’t quite breached the Emmy® Awards’ radar, but absolutely deserve to be considered. There are also a number of shows that flew more under the radar this season and didn’t get the immediate award fanfare some other shows regularly do. 

As Emmys eligibility comes to an end, here are ten performances that deserve to stay top-of-mind in the awards conversation.

1. Myha’la (Harper Stern, Industry)

How Industry hasn’t been recognized by the Emmys up to this point is a genuine mystery, but, in its fourth season, the finance thriller ascended to new heights.

One of the high points of this season was Myha’la’s performance as Harper Stern. Myha’la took this complicated anti-hero and cracked her wide open. While the mystery thriller of Industry Season 4 unfolds, Harper’s arc turns inward and forces her to confront her traumas head-on.

Myha’la presents remarkable restraint well beyond her years as she unearths Harper’s pain. However, she never softens Harper’s bite when it comes to securing her place in the industry. She maneuvers the duality like a dance and doesn’t miss a single step.

2. Daniel Radcliffe (Arthur Tobin, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins)

Daniel Radcliffe has a knack for picking projects that stretch him as a performer, whether it’s on stage or on our screens. His role as Arthur Tobin on The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins continues that trend, thrusting him into a mockumentary with the likes of Tracy Morgan.

Radcliffe holds no ego and fearlessly embraces whatever ridiculous shenanigans are thrown Arthur’s way. Because he is so earnestly committed and crackling with enthusiasm, every silly bit soars and every self-serious line lands.

He entrenches Tobin in his own little world that’s so divorced from that of Reggie’s; yet, Radcliffe understands that they need each other, giving the connection a lot of unexpected and much-needed soul.

3. Erika Alexander (Monica Reese-Dinkins, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins)

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins is home to a cast of vibrant, heightened personalities. But the secret weapon of the show comes from Erika Alexander, who acts as a grounding force for the rest of the ensemble.

Alexander nails every wide-eyed look to the camera, crafting a brilliant mixture of bewilderment and frustration. She possesses a rare charisma that enables her to thrive with any scene partner and adapt to their comedic idiosyncrasies. Alexander doesn’t relegate Monica to the straight woman, though; she allows a silly side to burst to the surface here and there, yielding incredible results.

Most importantly, Alexander sells Monica’s humanity. She believes in her people even when it seems like a long shot, but that faith means something. 

4. Wendi McLendon-Covey (Joyce Henderson, St. Denis Medical)

Wendi McLendon-Covey is a comedic force of nature, and Joyce Henderson is another notch in a storied legacy. St. Denis Medical fully understands how to utilize McLendon-Covey as a performer. She infuses Joyce with a larger-than-life personality that sometimes eclipses the actual purpose of the job and allows the dissonance to steer the comedy to hilarious results.

While no delivery is too big for McLendon-Covey, it’s her final monologue of the season that highlights how special the performance is. At Joyce’s core, beneath the razzle-dazzle and dry one-liners, is a woman who cannot help but care. She’s practically bursting at the seams with how much she cares for everything and everyone she holds near and dear.

McLendon-Covey can masterfully pull off pratfalls and out-of-pocket quips, but she also knows how to discover a driving force to the shenanigans. This season in particular, she fully humanizes Joyce as she navigates the latest hurdles life throws at her to magnificent success.

5. Dónal Finn (James Moriarty, Young Sherlock)

It’s a massive undertaking to bring a fresh take to a character that has been reinterpreted over and over again. The beguiling Dónal Finn more than rises to the challenge with his work as Sherlock Holmes’ soon-to-be nemesis James Moriarty on Young Sherlock.

Finn’s playful interpretation highlights a lighter side to the character we aren’t often given in adaptations. However, what makes his performance so special are the sinister flickers dancing across his face as we watch the man we know start to come to the surface.

In doing so, Finn has created a character that is equally charming, frightening, and devastating; we yearn for more adventures with him, but we know where those adventures will push him.

6. Riz Ahmed (Shah Latif, Bait)

Riz Ahmed should be a major leading man, and Bait enables him to step into that archetype while also subverting it at every turn. On top of this, Ahmed is tapping into the neurosis of a struggling actor, simultaneously honoring the experience of working actors and parodying the self-seriousness that comes with it.

The series spirals into chaotic territory, but it never gets away from Ahmed. As Shah spirals further and further into delirium, Ahmed holds on for the ride and keeps everything rooted with real intention and motivations. 

It’s a marvelous showcase for Ahmed, who embodies an action star, delivers soliloquies of Shakespearean caliber, and loses himself in comedic banter. Shah Latif is a role that demands Ahmed tap into everything we ask of other leading men, finally giving him the opportunity to take on the mantle boldly.

7. Sinéad Keenan (Robyn, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast)

How To Get To Heaven From Belfast delivers a dark, mysterious ride that keeps you guessing at every turn. It’s also hilarious thanks to the remarkable trio at its center. However, it’s Sinéad Keenan’s exasperated, dry wit that takes the comedy over the edge. 

Robyn’s perpetual no-nonsense state of being perfectly contrasts against Dara’s unwavering anxiety and Saoirse’s proclivity for trouble. Keenan also layers this with a growing sense of enjoyment from Robyn. As fed up as she may be with her friends, part of her enjoys the break from her day-to-day and the promise of some adventure. 

With this duality, Keenan crafts an unforgettable character who, beneath her prickliness, wants more but hasn’t been given the chance for more. As Robyn continues to prove herself, Keenan’s eyes flicker with exhilaration as we see someone step into the person they’ve been searching for for years.

8. Tessa Thompson (Anna Andrews, His & Hers)

Tessa Thompson is unabashedly and deliciously ruthless in His & Hers. Her portrayal of Anna Andrews, a star reporter attempting to mount a major comeback, relishes in the thorniness of the character. She’s calcified to the entire world but is coping with deep, deep trauma beneath the surface. 

Thompson’s gift is bringing these two sides together to bring us this intricate character we still can’t help but root for. Her methods are questionable and bold, but Thompson adds a level of charm where you’re rooting for her to continue. She’s able to turn on the anchor persona swiftly and effortlessly jumps between the two with unsettling speed.

As the series dives deeper into Anna, Thompson cracks open with stunning vulnerability and humanity. Every edge is justified thanks to her incredibly detailed study of this woman.

9. Chris Perfetti (Jacob Hill, Abbott Elementary)

Abbott Elementary is no stranger to awards love. Quinta Brunson took home the Emmy for Best Writing and Best Actress while Sheryl Lee Ralph won Best Supporting Actress for its inaugural season. Janelle James and Tyler James Williams also repeatedly snag nominations for their work.

However, one performer in particular has gone overlooked with the Emmys despite repeatedly leveling up with each new storyline he receives. Over the course of the series, Chris Perfetti continues to evolve Jacob into a vibrant character that you can’t help but fall in love with.

In Abbott Elementary Season 5, Perfetti establishes himself as a comedic powerhouse, oscillating between slapstick physical comedy and sharp deliveries that leave you gasping for breath. But he doesn’t just reduce Jacob to being a clown, rounding out the character with beautiful moments of introspection. It’s high time Perfetti got recognized for his well-rounded work.

10. Kate Hudson (Isla Gordon, Running Point)

If you’re not watching Running Point, you’re missing out on some of Kate Hudson’s best work. Her portrayal of Isla Gordon is intricate. She’s messy, a little self-centered, and seems to attract chaos wherever she goes; yet, she also lights up every room she walks into and has an uncanny ability to sit with others and hear them. 

On Running Point Season 2, with the stakes higher than ever, Hudson digs deeper into Isla. She possesses an enviable warmth that makes Isla someone we love spending time with, but embraces her edges fully. Hudson completely flips the “girl boss” archetype on its head and gifts us a character that’s delightfully honest.

The beauty of the series is that its comedy ranges from heightened slapstick to snarky witticisms, and Hudson nails every joke flawlessly. Whether she’s getting smacked in the head with a basketball or hurling a sharp insult through gritted teeth, there’s no comedic mountain that Hudson cannot climb.

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Which of these performances was your favorite this year, and who do you think deserves an Emmy win? Let us know in the comments below!

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