2024 Emmys Lead Actress Comedy Predictions

Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress (Comedy) — Quinta Brunson and Jean Smart Compete With Their Best Seasons Yet While Ayo Edebiri Goes for New Category Win
Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress (Comedy) — Quinta Brunson and Jean Smart Compete With Their Best Seasons Yet While Ayo Edebiri Goes for New Category Win

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

Quinta Brunson
Quinta Brunson

Weekly Commentary (Updated: Aug. 12, 2024): More to come.

The Creative Arts and Governors Gala ceremonies will be held on Sept. 7-8. The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15.

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


And the Predicted Nominees Are

Rank

Performer and Series

1

Jean Smart — “Hacks” (Max)

2

Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

3

Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX)

4

Maya Rudolph — “Loot” (Apple TV+)

5

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

6

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

Eligible Performances (Lead Comedy Actress)

Eligible Performances (Lead Comedy Actress)
Eligible Performances (Lead Comedy Actress)


**Officially submitted and on the Emmy nominations ballot.

  • Andy Allo — “Upload” (Prime Video)

  • Andrea Anders — “Bookie” (Max)

  • Patricia Arquette — “High Desert” (Apple TV+)

  • Sara Bareilles — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)

  • Stephanie Beatriz — “Twisted Metal” (Peacock)

  • Beth Behrs — “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

  • Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

  • Rose Byrne — “Physical” (Apple TV+)

  • Rose Byrne — “Platonic” (Apple TV+)

  • Journey Christine — “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

  • Miranda Cosgrove — “iCarly” (Paramount+)

  • Courteney Cox — “Shining Vale” (Starz)

  • Siobhán Cullen — “Bodkin” (Netflix)

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

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

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

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

  • Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX)

  • Kim Fields — “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

  • Isla Fisher — “Wolf Like Me”

  • Sara Gilbert — “The Conners” (ABC)

  • Renée Elise Goldsberry — “Girls5eva” (Netflix)

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

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

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

  • Louisa Harland — “Renegade Nell” (Disney+)

  • Devery Jacobs — “Reservation Dogs” (FX)

  • KaMillion — “Rap Shit” (Max)

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

  • Kila Kitu — “Cooper’s Bar” (AMC)

  • Sarah Lancashire — “Julia” (Max)

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

  • Justina Machado — “The Horror of Dolores Roach” (Prime Video)

  • Rose Iver — “Ghosts” (CBS)

  • Kaitlin Olson — “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FX)

  • Fọláḱẹ Olówófôyekù — “Bob Hearts Abishola” (CBS)

  • Aida Osman — “Rap Shit” (Max)

  • Claudia O’Doherty — “Killing It” (Peacock)

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

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

  • Nasim Pedrad — “Chad” (TBS)

  • Camila Perez — “Acapulco” (Apple TV+)

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

  • Melissa Rauch — “Night Court” (NBC)

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

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

  • Maya Rudolph — “Loot” (Apple TV+)

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

  • Rhea Seehorn — “Cooper’s Bar” (AMC)

  • Saycon Sengbloh — “The Wonder Years” (ABC)

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

  • Jean Smart — “Hacks” (Max)

  • Sara Tomko — “Resident Alien” (Syfy)

  • Emeraude Toubia — “With Love” (Prime Video)

  • Anjana Vasan — “We Are Lady Parts” (Peacock)

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

  • Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams — “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+)

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

More Information (Lead Comedy Actress)

More Information (Lead Comedy Actress)
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 identifying 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 Prediction Categories

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 hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.

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