Emmys mystery: How often do cast additions to drama series win?

Upon sweeping the four main drama acting categories at the 2021 Emmy Awards, “The Crown” stars Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor, Gillian Anderson, and Tobias Menzies all joined a special roster of lead or supporting TV academy honorees who were not part of their shows’ original casts. As members of the expansive Netflix series’ second of three distinct ensembles, this quartet and their co-stars were replaced ahead of season five by a new group of actors, some of whom could be added to said exclusive winners club later this year.

According to Gold Derby’s odds, the performer from the sixth and final season of “The Crown” with the best shot at Emmy glory is supporting female frontrunner Elizabeth Debicki. She played the role of Princess Diana for two seasons, finishing the job started by younger season four cast member Emma Corrin. The characters embodied by predicted nominees Imelda Staunton (Queen Elizabeth II), Dominic West (Prince Charles), Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret), and Jonathan Pryce (Prince Philip) have all existed since season one and have each changed hands at least twice.

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Debicki would directly follow Anderson as the 12th non-original cast member to prevail in her category. The general drama precedent was set here in 1963 by “Ben Casey” actress Glenda Farrell, who appeared in just two of the second season’s 31 episodes. Today, she would presumably be counted as a guest star, as would featured female club members Agnes Moorehead (“The Wild, Wild West,” 1967), Alfre Woodard (“Hill Street Blues,” 1984), and Valerie Mahaffey (“Northern Exposure,” 1992), plus lead champs Mariette Hartley (“The Incredible Hulk,” 1979) and Christopher Lloyd (“Road to Avonlea,” 1992).

The remaining full-fledged supporting female cast members on this list are Gail Fisher (“Mannix,” 1970), Leigh Taylor-Young (“Picket Fences,” 1994), Kim Delaney (“NYPD Blue,” 1997), Holland Taylor (“The Practice,” 1999), Cherry Jones (“24,” 2009), and Margo Martindale (“Justified,” 2011).

Aside from “The Crown,” “The Practice” is the only other drama series to produce wins of this kind for multiple performers. Taylor’s victory preceded that of lead actor James Spader, who was only seen during their show’s eighth and final season but went on to bag two more Emmys for headlining the spinoff “Boston Legal.”

Paving the way for Colman (who inherited her role from 2018 champion Claire Foy) were lead actresses Sharon Gless (“Cagney & Lacey,” 1986-1987) and Christine Lahti (“Chicago Hope,” 1998). Gless, who was brought in at the start of season two to replace original Chris Cagney portrayer Meg Foster, is the only entrant on this list with two wins for one series.

Menzies (who took over for 2018 nominee Matt Smith) was preceded in his category by Chad Lowe (“Life Goes On,” 1993), Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos,” 2003), Alan Alda (“The West Wing,” 2006), Michael Emerson (“Lost,” 2009), and Bobby Cannavale (“Boardwalk Empire,” 2013). Like fellow proper series regulars Anderson and Martindale, Cannavale only played his character for a single season.

Other featured players from “The Crown” who could soon be added to this group include Khalid Abdalla, Salim Daw, and Olivia Williams. Also in the running for the 2024 supporting awards are “The Morning Show” performers Nicole Beharie, Greta Lee, Julianna Margulies, and Jon Hamm, all of whom joined the cast after season one.

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