The Emmysare scheduled for September, andaward showtalk and bets are on. While the most discussed category is thecomedy/musicalone, specifically how some shows end up in it, the most underrated categories are those regarding limited series. A limited series often consists of one season only—though exceptions always exist—andtells a story within a predetermined number of episodes.
Some of the best limited series of 2024 brought out the best in both newcomers and seasoned actors; fromAdolescence’sOwen CoopertoDisclaimer’sKevin Kline, the rangethese actors give in limited serieslets us see them better as performers and gives us high-quality content to enjoy and admire.These are the seven actors that deserve to be nominated for bestactorin a limited series.
7Paul Giamatti
As Phillip Connarty in ‘Black Mirror’ (2011–)
Black Mirroris an anthology series and each episode is like a mini-movie. In the latest season, there were some beautiful episodes (like “Hotel Reverie”) and some downright weird ones (like “Plaything”), but one that balances between the two vibes and has a strong emotional core is “Eulogy,” starringPaul Giamatti.Giamatti is an experienced actor and knows how to tap into villainous roleswith gusto, and in “Eulogy,” he’s kind of villainous but, more than anything, portrays a prideful and impulsive person who goes through a rite of passage and a rollercoaster of emotions.
“Eulogy” follows Phillip (Giamatti), a man living in a secluded home, when he gets a phone call that says his former girlfriend, Carol, has passed away. The company that called to notify him hasa revolutionary technology that helps people enter pictures and relive those momentsagain, based on their memory of the events. Through revisiting old pictures of Carol, Phillip’s memory is refreshed and the story that seems to teeter to one side suddenly tips to another.Giamatti carries the episode, not just because he’s alone in most of his scenes, but because of the realization of his character’s actions over timeand how subtly and sometimes very boldly he embodies Phillip. We’re able to empathize with and pass judgment on this character who made his path clear to himself a long time ago—and by the end, we understand why.“Eulogy” is a cleverly emotional episodethat leans on technology as a plot-driving tool, and Giamatti is brilliant in it. We firmly believehis performance is worthy of an Emmy.
Black Mirror
An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity’s greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.
6Kevin Kline
As Stephen Brigstocke in ‘Disclaimer’ (2024)
There’s rarely a powerhouse actor like Kevin Kline, who’s carried Shakespearean movies, British offbeat comedies, and high-stakes dramas with his performances. Whether you’ve seen him inA Midsummer Night’s Dream,A Fish Called Wanda, orSophie’s Choice, once you go Kline, you can’t go… back. InDisclaimer, Kline plays an antagonistic character driven by revenge, someone ready to ruin a life out of personal grief, and seeing him in that light was interesting.His character is flawed, impulsive, and unwilling to listen and understand, and that leads him to an inevitable downfall and a tragic ending.Disclaimerwasn’t a perfect series, but it was still pretty good as the sum of all of its parts, with the main parts being its actors and their dedication to the performances.
Disclaimerfollows journalist Catherine Ravenscroft(Cate BlanchettandLeila George as current and pastversions of her), whose reputation gets slowly tarnished by a man called Stephen Brigstocke (Kline). Stephen is the father of Jonathan, who drowned when he was young and believes Catherine had something to do with it. To make her suffer for the loss of his son, Stephen publishes a book about the events leading up to Jonathan’s death, but he alsooversteps his bounds and enters Catherine’s lifein numerous other, pretty disturbing ways.Kline embodies Stephen and sometimes makes us cheer for him and at other times be uncomfortable with his actions. His emotions range from subtle to highly dramatic shifts, and Kline injects a bit of humor into it all, too; though he doesn’t share many scenes with Blanchett, their relationship is clear through Kline’s relentless performance.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer is a 2024 psychological thriller miniseries following Catherine Ravenscroft, an acclaimed journalist known for exposing the misdeeds of others. Her life takes a shocking turn when she receives a novel from an unknown author that reveals her darkest secrets, forcing her to confront her past.
5Jake Gyllenhaal
As Rusty Sabich in ‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–)
Presumed Innocentis a recentApple TV+original series, and, despite getting a second season recently, it is in the running as a limited series for this award season. This is good news for its lead,Jake Gyllenhaal, who could and should be in the running for the prize this year. IfPresumed Innocentsounds familiar, that’s because there’s alreadya 1990 feature of the same name, starringHarrison Ford, and a novel that both stories were based on from 1987, written byScott Turow.Gyllenhaal steps into the same role that Ford had in the movie and his performance has been laudedever since the series premiered in June. Critics called the series fun and an enjoyable whodunit, with Kayleigh Donaldson ofThe Wrapcalling Gyllenhaal “a sturdy anchor holding it all together, aided by one of the more enviable casts on TV right now.”
Presumed Innocentfollows prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), who becomes the prosecutor in the case of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus' (Renate Reinsve) assault and death. However,a turn of events makes Rusty the newest prime suspect, and his family life unfolds as the truth comes outabout him and Carolyn. Gyllenhaal really carries the show with his kind of dual performance—as both a contemptible and slimy man and as someone deserving of sympathy and compassion. Gyllenhaal may be appealing to the eye, but his choice of roles was always quite unusual and often bizarre, which makes him a lot bigger than just the way he looks. Able to transform in the blink of an eye in front of us,Presumed Innocentallows Gyllenhaal to do so without losing too much weight, cutting off his hair, or bulking up—he does so with the psychological impact of his character’s actions.
Presumed Innocent
It tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys' office when one of its own is suspected of the crime.
4Cooper Koch
As Erik Menendez in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ (2022–)
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Storyis anotherRyan Murphytrue-crime series, and boy, was it a rollercoaster. Critically, the show was received with mixed reviews, mainly criticizing the implications involving the brothers' relationship. However, lots of positive comments andgreat praise went to Cooper Kochand his performance asErik Menendez. The episode that showcases Koch’s brilliance as Erik isEpisode 5’s “The Hurt Man.“Koch is in the spotlight here, andhis nuanced, grounded, and devastating performance anchors the entire seasonand defines what happens later. It also gives audiences a curveball—the Menendez brothers are introduced as monsters who killed their own parents, and then a side of them no one knew about is revealed, giving their actions a motive and background.Koch does an amazing job of introducing the audiences to the devastating events that motivated the murders in their minds.
The show followsLyleand Erik Menendez (Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Koch), who became notorious for killing their parents, Kitty (Chloë Sevigny) and José (Javier Bardem), back in 1989. The show depicts these events told from their perspective, though it sometimes switches to others' POVs, employing a Rashomon effect.As viewers get to know the brothers, it’s interesting to see how people’s opinions change on the two. Chavez does a great job, too, but Koch really is the center of the story, emotionally and narratively. The real Lyle and Erik commented on the show, specifically Koch’sperformance in “The Hurt Man,“withLyle Menendez even saying Koch was able to capture his brother’s presence, praising him. Koch definitely belongs on the list of actors deserving of an Emmy this year, and though the competition is stiff, he has a big chance of winning.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
3Brian Tyree Henry
As Ray Driscoll in ‘Dope Thief’ (2025)
Real ones knowBrian Tyree Henrydeserved an Emmy for his performance inAtlanta, especially Season 4, Episode 9, “Andrew Wyeth, Alfred’s World.” Henry is a brilliant actor, and it’s high time he gets acknowledged with an award. Fortunately,we may be able to hear a speech from him this year, as he should be nominated for his lead performance inDope Thief, an Apple TV+ original miniseries. Though the show itself is a bit less than what Henryand his co-star Wagner Mouracan actually do, they deliver a bingeable and fun show with great skill. Henry and Moura have a familiar chemistry while portraying lifelong friends, whileRidley Scott’s executive influence stays noticeable throughout the stylish crime series.
Dope Thieffollowslifelong friends Ray (Henry) and Manny (Moura), based in Philadelphia, who pretend to be DEA agents to steal money. They get rich by setting up schemes that get them money, and one day, they get tipped off to rob a remote house. That job, however, goes wrong for them, and they find themselves as targets of the actual DEA. Scott directed the first episode, which sets up the story well, and although Manny is the one with the romantic relationship in the series,Ray is its emotional core.Henry gives his best range, from comedy to tragedy, sometimes in one fell swoop. He’s funny, captivating, and truly deserving of an Emmy this year.
Dope Thief
2Stephen Graham
As Eddie Miller in ‘Adolescence’ (2025)
Adolescencewas a massive hit when it came out, sparking a major discourse on the “male loneliness epidemic” and analyzing those members of society who enjoy social media content created by misogynistic advice-givers. The debate hasn’t stopped since, andmany critics and social analysts still use the show as an exampleof how things are going wrong. Beyond that, though,Adolescenceis about family, fatherhood in particular, as it focuses onStephen Graham’s character, Eddie, as much as it does on the son, Jamie (Owen Cooper). While Cooper leads a haunting episode where the camera follows him delivering devastating emotional reactions to his therapist’s questions (one of the greatest single-take episodes),Graham’s time comes in the series finale, when he shows us the nuance of his work once again.
Adolescenceopens withdetectives Bascombe (Ashley Walters)and Frank (Faye Marsay) waiting in their patrol car around 6 AM. Each episode is a single take, and we follow the detectives into the home of the Miller family, where the detectives arrest 13-year-old Jamie (Cooper). The show unfolds the more we learn about Jamie’s arrest and, soon, about his family life.Graham, as co-creator of the show, has a personal investment in the series; he felt it vital to tell the story of young girls increasingly becoming victims of attacks in public spaces, dissecting the influence on those committing the crimes, the victims, and the families of both sides. Graham, as the father of an accused teen, slips into an emotional territory wherewe’re able to see his thought process—was it his fault? Was it his father’s? Did he do too much or too little?This wounded role suits Graham, as strange as that may sound; his work on other series on a similar theme, likeLittle Boy Blue, primed us for his talents. Graham is highly deserving of an Emmy and wider international recognition, as he is, indeed, one of the most talented actors we have the luck of watching today.
Adolescence
1Colin Farrell
As Oswald Cobb in ‘The Penguin’ (2024)
The lineup of best actors in a limited series in 2024 must be completed with the mention ofColin Farrellas Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb, akaThe Penguin.The eponymous anti-hero was one of the most polarizing and dangerous leads on television last year, and Farrell, along with that, is unrecognizable. Acting so beautifully, displaying a wide range of emotions and subtlety with just a look under so many pounds of makeup and prosthetics, is a feat that should be especially acknowledged. Though everyone in the limited series category did a great job in their respective series,Farrell’s transformation is the likeliest to get awarded this year—and that’s a great thing.
The Penguinfollows Oswald Cobb (Farrell), the “fixer” for Gotham’s notorious gangster, Carmine Falcone (Mark Strong). After Falcone’s death, Cobb decides to take the reins of his drug syndicate, only to be upended byFalcone’s capricious daughter, Sofia(Cristin Milioti).A fight for dominance ensues between the two, and their confrontation escalates in each episode.The Penguinwas somewhat of a surprise, as there weren’t many expectations out of a series about one ofBatman’s original enemies; thehistory of subpar DC adaptationsmade sure of that. But, as it turns out, the creators pulled out all the stops and madeThe Penguinone of the most riveting noir thrillers on TV, enriched by Milioti and captivatingly led by Farrell, who convinced us with each physical movement and emotional reaction.
The Penguin
It follows the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.
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