The Primetime Emmy Awards are arguably the most celebrated television awards show on the air. Every year, TV fans tune in to see which one of their favorite actors, directors, and shows will take home an award. There are 17 categories that members of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences choose nominees in and then will eventually vote on the winners. Moreover, there are 12 categories for acting that honor lead and supporting actors and actresses in comedy series, drama series, and limited or anthology series. These awards always have tough competition considering some of the greatest working actors are usually nominated, and they have become some of the most anticipated categories of the night.
Throughout the 2010s, we saw so many incredible actors receive Primetime Emmy Awards for their memorable television performances. Shows like Big Little Lies, Ozark, and American Horror Story are just a few critically acclaimed programs that become big winners in the acting categories at the Emmys. These are eight of the most deserved and memorable wins at the Emmys in acting categories, ranked.
8 Bryan Cranston — Breaking Bad
The hit crime show Breaking Bad is easily one of the most popular shows to be released in the 2000s. Years later it is still being watched due to the show's brilliant writing and the incredible performances given by Bryan Cranston and the rest of the cast. Cranston has starred in dozens of films and television series throughout his career, but nothing beats his portrayal of Walter White. Cranston has taken home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series four times for his work on Breaking Bad. His wins in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014 were beyond deserved.
7 Al Pacino — You Don't Know Jack
Academy Award-winner Al Pacino is without a doubt one of the greatest actors in the industry, having starred in some of the most beloved movies including The Godfather, Scarface, Heat, and Scent of a Woman. The list of incredible films Pacino has been a part of is endless, and even though his television work is just as remarkable, not as many people know about it. You Don't Know Jack is one of the shows the actor starred in, alongside Adam Driver and Susan Sarandon, which aired in 2010. The murder/trial drama was a huge success, receiving an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and eight Emmy nominations. Pacino took home his second Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series.
6 Laura Dern — Big Little Lies
Laura Dern shines in the HBO drama Big Little Lies. The series, adapted from the best-selling Liane Moriarty novel, became an instant hit after its release in 2017. Big Little Lies stole the show at the Emmys and the Golden Globes, winning the majority of awards throughout the night. One of the lucky winners was Dern who received her Emmy for her portrayal of Renata Klein and won in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series. This is one of Dern's most exciting performances to date, in addition to her role in Marriage Story, which she won her first Oscar for in 2020.
5 Jessica Lange — American Horror Story
American Horror Story would be nothing without the incredibly talented Jessica Lange. She is the glue that held the show together during its first few seasons, giving riveting and intense performances with each new character she took on. In both 2012 and 2014, Lange received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for her portrayal in American Horror Story. The show can be very suspenseful and even disturbing at times, but the connection the audience feels to actresses like Lange is what keeps them coming back season after season.
4 Kate Winslet — Mildred Pierce
Kate Winslet is without a doubt one of the top actresses working in the industry today. She has starred in some of the most beloved and successful movies of all time, including Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Reader, and Revolutionary Road. Despite the fact that she has already done all of this phenomenal work, Winslet continues to take on parts that she believes in, in both film and television. In 2011, she starred in the drama television series Mildred Pierce, which received incredible reviews and won the actress her first Emmy Award. In 2021, Winslet won her second Emmy for her leading role in the HBO limited series Mare of Easttown.
3 Julia Garner — Ozark
Over the past five years, Julia Garner's career has blown up thanks to her unforgettable portrayal of Ruth Langmore in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark. She stars alongside Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, and Skylar Gaertner, and together they helped make Ozark an all-time favorite on Netflix. Garner completely transforms into Ruth in every way possible. Her voice, hair, mannerisms, and expressions are so unrecognizable, Garner is perhaps the best part of the entire series. She received the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 and may even receive another Emmy nomination this year for her leading roles in Ozark and Inventing Anna.
2 Nicole Kidman — Big Little Lies
Another one of the most anticipated Big Little Lies wins was Nicole Kidman's Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited of Anthology Series in 2017 for her portrayal of Celeste Wright. Celeste has a seemingly perfect life. She is successful and loving with a husband and two beautiful children, but behind closed doors, she is trapped and leads a very dark life. She is stuck in an abusive relationship with her husband Perry Wright, which nobody in her life knows about. Kidman is phenomenal in the role and is truly one of the best parts of the series.
1 Frances McDormand — Olive Kitteridge
In everything she does, Frances McDormand gives 100% of herself to the role. Each time you see her on-screen, there is truth, power, and meaning behind what she is saying that is simply undeniable. From Frago to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and most recently Nomadland, the actress has starred in phenomenal films, but Olive Kitteridge is like a hidden gem in McDormand's career that not enough people know about. Her performance in the limited series is incredible, but the storyline is equally special. McDormand won an Emmy in 2015 for her role in Olive Kitteridge and this is definitely a performance everyone needs to see.