2024 Emmys Lead Actress Comedy Predictions

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

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2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Weekly Commentary (Updated: April 24, 2024): After facing two years of oversight from the Television Academy, superstar Selena Gomez stands her strongest chance yet of securing her first acting nomination for her role as the sharp-witted Mabel in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.”

Remarkably, Gomez has already earned nods as an executive producer for the first two seasons of the mystery series, making her the third Latina to achieve such a feat. The trail was blazed by Salma Hayek for “Ugly Betty” in 2007 and followed by Cuban producer Marlis Pujol for “The Kominsky Method” in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, only one Latina, Celia D. Costas, has ever clinched a producer win in the top series categories, for “Angels in America” in 2004.

Will the TV Academy overlook Mabel again? It helps that all her co-stars seem like shoo-ins for noms including Steve Martin, Martin Short, Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep. Will they really leave her out of the party? She does face stiff competition.

As reported by Variety in November that “The Bear” sensation Ayo Edebiri is transitioning her Emmy campaign to the lead category for the show’s second season, following her supporting comedy actress win. Her campaign shift has already garnered Golden Globe and SAG awards, setting the stage for a showdown with last year’s Emmy winner, Quinta Brunson from “Abbott Elementary,” and the seasoned Jean Smart from “Hacks.”

Other comedy stalwarts in the mix include Kristen Wiig for “Palm Royale,” potentially joining her “Saturday Night Live” alumna, and Apple TV+ counterpart Maya Rudolph, who is in the running for “Loot.”

Keep watching the skies.

Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Primetime Emmy predictions in the major categories.

And the Predicted Nominees Are

Next in Line

Also in Contention

Eligible Performances (Lead Comedy Actress)

**The list below is not complete and have been confirmed as officially submitted. All information is subject to change. Grouped by network that airs each series.

• Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

• Sara Gilbert — “The Conners” (ABC)

• Gina Rodriguez — “Not Dead Yet” (ABC)

• Tiffany Haddish — “The Afterparty” (Apple TV+)

• Gabrielle Dennis — “The Big Door Prize” (Apple TV+)

• Maya Rudolph — “Loot” (Apple TV+)

• Kristen Wiig — “Palm Royale” (Apple TV+)

• Rose Byrne — “Physical” (Apple TV+)

• Rose Byrne — “Platonic” (Apple TV+)

• Diarra Kilpatrick — “Diarra from Detroit” (BET+)

• Ms. Pat — “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+)

• Folake Olowofoyeku — “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS)

• Rose McIver — “Ghosts” (CBS)

• Marcia Gay Harden — “So Help Me Todd” (CBS)

• Nicola Coughlan — “Big Mood” (Channel 4)

• Awkwafina — “Awkwafina is Nora From Queens” (Comedy Central)

• Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX)

• Daisy Haggard — “Breeders” (FX)

• Devery Jacobs — “Reservation Dogs” (FX)

• Natasia Demetriou — “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

• Amy Schumer — “Life and Beth” (Hulu)

• Selena Gomez — “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)

• Sarah Jessica Parker — “And Just Like That” (Max)

• Jean Smart — “Hacks” (Max)

• Sarah Lancashire — “Julia” (Max)

• Heléne Yorke — “The Other Two” (Max)

• Edi Patterson — “The Righteous Gemstones” (Max)

• Mayan Lopez — “Lopez vs. Lopez” (NBC)

• Melissa Rauch — “Night Court” (NBC)

• Michelle Yeoh — “The Brothers Sun” (Netflix)

• Sara Bareilles — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)

• Renée Elise Goldsberry — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)

• Maitreyi Ramakrishnan — “Never Have I Ever” (Netflix)

• Harriet Dyer — “Colin From Accounts” (Paramount+)

• Kaley Cuoco — “Based on a True Story” (Peacock)

• Stephanie Beatriz — “Twisted Metal” (Peacock)

• Jaz Sinclair — “Gen V” (Prime Video)

• Miranda Richardson — “Good Omens” (Prime Video)

• Ophela Lovibond — “Minx” (Starz)

• Courteney Cox — “Shining Vale” (Starz)

More Information (Lead Comedy Actress)

2023 category winner: Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — Season 2

2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)

• Eligibility period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024

• Feb. 29: Submissions open

• May 9: Deadline for programs that identify as Primetime programming to upload all entry materials.

• June 13: Nominations-round voting begins

• June 24: Nominations-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PT

• June 28 – July 8: Voting for peer group-specific top ten rounds panels (if applicable)

• July 17: Primetime Emmy nominations are announced.

• July 24: Deadline for errors and omissions to the nominations.

• August 5: Find-round videos available for viewing.

• August 15: Final-round voting begins.

• August 26: Final-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PST.

• Sept. 7-8: Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala

• Sunday, Sept. 15: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to air on ABC.

Emmy Awards Predictions

Other Awards Predictions

About the Primetime Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy, which hosts the Emmys, consists of over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.

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