{"id":39456,"date":"2026-08-11T22:36:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T17:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39456"},"modified":"2026-08-11T22:36:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T17:36:52","slug":"lead-actor-drama-rankings-contenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39456","title":{"rendered":"Lead Actor (Drama) Rankings &#038; Contenders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<em>Variety\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/awards-circuit\/\">Awards Circuit<\/a>\u00a0section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/oscars\/\">Oscars<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/emmys\/\">Emmys<\/a>, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by\u00a0<em>Variety\u00a0<\/em>chief 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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-content-image \/\/  size-large alignnone \">\n<figure class=\"o-figure  lrv-u-font-family-secondary u-color-medium-grey lrv-u-border-b-1 u-border-color-light-grey-tint-two u-margin-b-150 lrv-u-max-width-100p\" style=\"width:1024px\">\n<div class=\"c-lazy-image  \">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"c-lazy-image__img lrv-u-background-color-grey-lightest lrv-u-width-100p lrv-u-display-block lrv-u-height-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=1360,907 1360w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=1000,667 1000w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=910,607 910w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=681,454 681w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=450,300 450w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mark-ruffalo_2.jpg?resize=250,167 250w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\" height=\"683\" width=\"1024\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p><\/div><figcaption class=\"c-figcaption  lrv-u-flex lrv-u-flex-direction-column lrv-u-padding-t-1 lrv-u-padding-b-1\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-line-height-normal lrv-u-font-size-14 u-font-family-neue u-letter-spacing-007-rem u-margin-b-050\">Mark Ruffalo in \u201cTask\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"u-color-medium-grey u-font-family-neue-xxs\">HBO<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"separator larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-tb-00 lrv-u-border-b-1 lrv-u-border-color-grey-light  \"\/>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<strong>Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Updated: Aug. 11, 2026):<\/strong> Official episode submissions for the performers have been selected. Which nominee has the edge?<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSterling K. Brown, \u201cParadise\u201d (Hulu) | \u201cA Holy Charge\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA two-time winner for \u201cThis Is Us\u201d and a dual nominee this year, Brown has been one of television\u2019s most reliable dramatic leads for more than a decade. This marks his second consecutive nomination for Xavier Collins in the Hulu dystopian thriller. The question is whether voters feel compelled to reward him again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tGary Oldman, \u201cSlow Horses\u201d (Apple TV) | \u201cTall Tales\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tAn Oscar winner still searching for his first Emmy; Oldman has now earned two nominations for playing Jackson Lamb. He delivers a performance built on repulsion and precision, exactly the type of work voters admire but don\u2019t always reward. Still, the Apple TV spy drama has pulled off surprise Emmy wins in each of the past two years, first for writing, then directing. Acting could be next.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMark Ruffalo, \u201cTask\u201d (HBO Max) | \u201cA Still Small Voice\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tA limited series winner in 2020 for \u201cI Know This Much Is True,\u201d Ruffalo returns with arguably the strongest work in Brad Ingelsby\u2019s HBO Max crime drama. He doesn\u2019t appear on television often, and the Television Academy has never hesitated to reward him when he does. It also helps that co-star Tom Pelphrey is competing in the supporting actor category, giving voters another potential package deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tRufus Sewell, \u201cThe Diplomat\u201d (Netflix) | \u201cSchr\u00f6dinger\u2019s Wife\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe same episode as Keri Russell, which is the right call for a performance that exists in direct conversation with hers. Sewell has been quietly excellent for three decades and finally has a role that lets him be funny and dangerous in the same frame. Hal Wyler may be television\u2019s best supporting lead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNoah Wyle, \u201cThe Pitt\u201d (HBO Max) | \u201c9:00 P.M.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe defending champion submits the season\u2019s final hour, arguably its strongest. Wyle is nominated for acting, directing and producing, while the HBO Max medical drama leads all programs with 25 nominations. Five nominations for \u201cER\u201d in the 1990s. One trophy last year. Thirty years later, there may be room for even more admiration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tThe final Emmy voting runs from Aug. 17-26, leading into the Creative Arts Awards and Governors Gala on Sept. 5-6, culminating with the Emmy Awards ceremony on Sept. 14 on NBC.<\/p>\n<div id=\"pmc-gallery-vertical\">\n<div class=\"c-gallery-vertical-loader u-gallery-app-shell-loader\">\n<ul class=\"pmc-fallback-list-items lrv-a-unstyle-list lrv-u-margin-t-2\">\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2\/>\n<figure>\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Gary Oldman Slow Horses\" srcset=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg 1095w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=1000,667 1000w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=910,607 910w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=681,454 681w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=450,300 450w, https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Gary-Oldman-Slow-Horses.jpg?resize=250,167 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px\"\/><figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Apple TV\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-datawrapper wp-block-embed-datawrapper\">\n<p>\n(function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})();\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Variety\u00a0Awards Circuit\u00a0section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars,\u00a0Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by\u00a0Variety\u00a0chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/noah-wyle-the-pitt.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}