The 7 Big Stars Who Already Made Emmys History This Year (Before the Show Even Began)
Selena Gomez, Lily Gladstone, and Carol Burnett are some of the Hollywood stars who already made history as 2024 Emmy nominees. Soon, they could winners. We’ll find out during the 76th Emmy Awards.
Selena—who earned two nominations this year, including her first for starring as true-crime podcaster Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building—is the most nominated Latina producer in Emmy history. Meanwhile, Palm Royale’s Carol has set a new age record, and Under the Bridge’s Lily is one of several Indigenous actors who received Emmy nominations this year.
Stars weren’t the only ones breaking new ground. The Bear, FX’s hit series starring Jeremy Allen White as troubled chef Carmy, scored 23 Emmy nominations and, in the process, broke a 15-year record for most Comedy nods in a single year. Another FX breakout hit, Shōgun earned the most nominations of any series this year with 25. The drama set in feudal Japan is adapted from a James Clavell novel that draws from a real friendship between a Japanese rule and an English samurai.
Below are the 2024 Emmy nominees in the major acting, directing, writing, and overall series categories. Bolded nominees are selections that made Emmy history.
Acting Nominees
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Idris Elba, Hijack
Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Walton Goggins, Fallout
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
Dominic West, The Crown
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Maya Erskine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Anna Sawai, Shōgun
Imelda Staunton, The Crown
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Tadanobu Asano, Shōgun
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
Takehiro Hira, Shōgun
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Jonathan Pryce, The Crown
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age
Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Greta Lee, The Morning Show
Lesley Manville, The Crown
Karen Pittman, The Morning Show
Holland Taylor, The Morning Show
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Matt Berry, What We Do in the Shadows
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Reservation Dogs
Major Emmy nominations for Reservation Dogs were arguably overdue, and Canada’s D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai snagged one of the show’s four nods in its final year of eligibility (its third and final season ended in September 2023). He also becomes the first actor with an Indigenous background—he descends from Oji-Cree First Nations as well as Guyana—to earn a nomination in this category. “I tell Native kids all the time, ‘If you’re interested in acting, try it out,’” the 22-year-old told Elle earlier this year. “If you do well in this industry, you can gain a whole new life, like I have.”
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Maya Rudolph, Loot
Jean Smart, Hacks
Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale
Although Selena Gomez is a first-time acting nominee at the Emmys, the real history she made was as one of the executive producers on Only Murders in the Building. The show earned its third consecutive nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, making Texas-born Selena the most nominated Latina producer.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Lionel Boyce, The Bear
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Carol Burnett, Palm Royale
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Comedic legend Carol Burnett’s career has spanned eight decades. Now the 91-year-old has secured her spot as the oldest woman to be nominated for an acting Emmy in comedy. A seven-time winner, Carol joins Dick Van Dyke, Cicely Tyson, and Ernest Borgnine as the oldest acting nominees in Emmy history, including Daytime awards. Cicely set the outright record for Primetime Emmys in 2020 when the then-95-year-old was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series.
Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Jon Hamm, Fargo
Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Andrew Scott, Ripley
Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
Juno Temple, Fargo
Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers
Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer
John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country
Lamorne Morris, Fargo
Lewis Pullman, Lessons in Chemistry
Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Dakota Fanning, Ripley
Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge
Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry
Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
A decade after Laverne Cox became the first transgender woman to earn an Emmy nomination, Mexico City–born Nava Mau is continuing to break barriers for the trans community. Her performance as Teri in Baby Reindeer, based on a real-life stalking experience of star Richard Gadd, makes her the first Latina trans actor to compete for this category. “We can see that when trans people are given the opportunity, we will grow into it and so far beyond any expectation,” Nava told Deadline after the Emmy nominations were announced in July.
Also making history are Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis, the first Indigenous women to earn Emmy nominations for acting. Both actors follow August Schellenberg, who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie back in 2007 for Sitting Bull. Lily is of Blackfeet and Nimípuu descent and lived on the Blackfeet Nation reservation until age 11. Kali, a former three-time world champion boxer who identifies as two-spirit, traces her heritage to the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe and Cabo Verde, Africa. “So grateful to be on this ride with you, Sis,” Lily posted on X (formerly Twitter) in a shoutout to Kali.
Directing Nominees
Directing for a Comedy Series
Randall Einhorn, Abbott Elementary “Party”
Lucia Aniello, Hacks “Bulletproof”
Christopher Storer, The Bear “Fishes”
Ramy Youssef, The Bear “Honeydew”
Guy Ritchie, The Gentlemen “Refined Aggression”
Mary Lou Belli, The Ms. Pat Show “I’m The Pappy”
Directing for a Drama Series
Hiro Murai, Mr. & Mrs. Smith “First Date”
Frederick E.O. Toye, Shōgun “Crimson Sky”
Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses “Strange Games”
Stephen Daldry, The Crown “Sleep, Dearie Sleep”
Mimi Leder, The Morning Show “The Overview Effect”
Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty “Beat L.A.”
Directing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Weronika Tofilska, Baby Reindeer “Episode 4”
Noah Hawley, Fargo “The Tragedy of the Commons”
Gus Van Sant, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans “Pilot”
Millicent Shelton, Lessons in Chemistry “Poirot”
Steven Zaillian, Ripley
Issa López, True Detective: Night Country
Screenwriter and director Issa López has been around for awhile, but she’s finally catching major accolades for the latest season of the anthology series True Detective (she’s also attached to season 5, now in progress). Originally from Mexico City, Issa earned nominations as the show’s writer and a producer, but her nod in this category makes her the first Latino to be nominated for directing. “My heart is singing,” Issa wrote in an Instagram post acknowledging all 19 of the series’ nominations. “We made it out of love, so love feels great.”
Writing Nominees
Writing for a Comedy Series
Quita Brunson, Abbott Elementary “Career Day”
Meredith Scardino and Sam Means, Girls5eva “Orlando”
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks “Bulletproof”
Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo, The Bear “Fishes”
Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, The Other Two “Brooke Hosts A Night Of Undeniable Good”
Jake Bender and Zach Dunn, What We Do in the Shadows “Pride Parade”
Writing for a Drama Series
Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, Fallout “The End”
Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith “First Date”
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, Shōgun “Anjin”
Rachel Kondo and Caillin Puente, Shōgun “Crimson Sky”
Will Smith, Slow Horses “Negotiating With Tigers”
Peter Morgan and Meriel Sheibani-Clare, The Crown “Ritz”
Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror “Joan Is Awful”
Noah Hawley, Fargo “The Tragedy of the Commons”
Ron Nyswaner, Fellow Travelers “You’re Wonderful”
Steven Zaillian, Ripley
Issa López, True Detective: Night Country “Part 6”
Series Nominees
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
Palm Royale
Reservation Dogs
What We Do in the Shadows
Outstanding Drama Series
The Crown
Fallout
The Gilded Age
The Morning Show
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Shōgun
Slow Horses
3 Body Problem
Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series
Baby Reindeer
Fargo
Lessons in Chemistry
Ripley
True Detective: Night Country
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