Will Julianne Moore continue her Emmy winning streak with ‘Mary & George’?

Jacob Sarkisian
·4 min read
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“Mary & George” is the delicious new historical drama from British playwright D.C. Moore, who swaps out stuffy history lessons for a raucous, bawdy ride that fans of “The Favourite” will love. Like that Oscar-winning movie, this limited series on Starz focuses on an era of British royalty that is little-known to American audiences.

Julianne Moore plays the Countess of Buckingham, who groomed her son (Nicholas Galitzine) to seduce King James I (Tony Curran) in an attempt to curry favor, power, titles, and riches in 1600s England. In the titular role of Mary, Moore delivers another powerhouse performance. She owns every scene she’s in and proves once more why she is one of the best actresses working today. Critics agree, “Mary & George” is the Moore show.

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Sophie Butcher (Empire) observed: “Moore is on great form here. She spits out profanities and ultimatums in a clipped, crisp accent, wearing a series of increasingly to-die-for costumes and never faltering in the face of those above her on the societal ladder. She maintains a sense of fear and vulnerability about her precarious state as a woman without money, and her need to overcome that, meaning Mary never really comes off as a villain despite her many dirty deeds.”

Lucy Mangan (The Guardian) noted: “Mary Villiers, played with gorgeous relish by Julianne Moore, is here to show us the way… Moore is brilliant – cold, clever and always scintillating – and seems to be having the time of her life. I hope so. Her scenes with Walker, in particular, are an absolute joy. Everyone is wonderful.”

Ollie Macnaughton (Tatler) enthused: “Julianne Moore has established herself as one of this generation’s finest actors. From playing a pornographic actress in ‘Boogie Nights’ to playing feminist activist Gloria Steinem in ‘The Glorias,’ she is one of the most diverse and finest actors working today. She perfects the dry English wit (‘Is there any worse hell than a woman’s’ she sighs when she is forced to remarry) combined with Mary’s matriarchal dominance. Moore’s presence is always undeniably engaging, but her performance reminds us why she’s one of the great thespians of our time.”

Morgan Cormack (Radio Times) wrote: “Moore is chillingly cold as the no-nonsense Mary, never bestowing her children with any form of affection and yet, doing whatever she can to ensure they have ample opportunity to lead a noble life. Arguably one of the most versatile actresses to grace the screen, here Moore is compelling as the enigmatic matriarch, bringing a familiar duplicitous ‘May December’ energy to Mary but, simultaneously, delivers quick-wit and dry humour with the skill of a marksman.”

Moore had racked up four Oscar nominations before she finally won Best Actress in 2015 for “Still Alice.” Conversely at the Emmys she has a 100% record — two wins from two nominations.

She won Best Younger Actress in a Drama Series at the 1988 Daytime Emmys for “As the World Turns.” Then, in 2012, Moore won Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress at the Primetime Emmys for “Game Change,” in which she portrayed politico Sarah Palin.

That’s the same category that Moore would contend in for “Mary and George.” It continues to reward, if not award, actresses who portray real people including Jessica Chastain for “George and Tammy,” Sarah Paulson in “Impeachment: American Crime Story,” Lily James in “Pam & Tommy,” Julia Garner in “Inventing Anna,” Amanda Seyfried in “The Dropout,” and Cynthia Erivo in “Genius: Aretha.”

And Emmy voters love to include an Oscar winner in this category. Among the more recent such nominees: Chastain (“George and Tammy”), Kate Winslet (“Mare of Easttown”), Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”), Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”), Regina King (“Seven Seconds” and “Watchmen”), Patricia Arquette (“Escape at Dannemora”), and Laura Dern (“The Tale”).

Back in 2017, four Oscar champs were nominated in this category — winner Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”), her co-star Reese Witherspoon and “Feud: Bette and Joan” leading ladies Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange.

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