Emmys 2025: A Closer Look at Who Could Take Home Their First Trophy
While the shared dominance of acclaimed shows like “Severance,” “The Penguin” and “The Studio” on Emmy nomination morning may have made things look a little repetitive, many of these major titles gave high-profile actors — and a few Oscar-winning directors — their first shot at Emmy gold for acting.
With “Severance” Season 2 racking up 13 more nominations than Season 1 did, breakout performances from Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry resulted in their first nominations alongside expected repeat nominees Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette. If Tillman wins in the supporting actor category, he’ll become the first Black actor to do so.
“The Studio” continued Apple TV+’s dominance with 23 nominations. Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Mackie, Zoë Kravitz and Oscar-winning directors Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard were all first-time acting nominees in the supporting and guest categories. Scorsese is a previous Emmy winner for directing the “Boardwalk Empire” pilot and “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.” Seth Rogen also received his first nomination as a director for the episode “The Oner,” in addition to recognition for writing and acting, all contributing to the show breaking a massive nomination record for a first season comedy series.
“The White Lotus” was once again a dominant factor in the supporting races with nine actors receiving nominations; Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood and Scott Glenn all nabbed their first. To date, Jennifer Coolidge and Murray Bartlett are the only performers to win acting Emmys for “The White Lotus,” and they both won on their first career nominations. So, Season 3’s newcomers are in good company.
Another huge contender with 13 nominations, “Adolescence,” saw first-time nominations for Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco and Ashley Walters, with 15-year-old Cooper being the youngest nominee ever in the outstanding supporting actor category. In the lead actor in a limited series category, show creator Graham will face off against Colin Farrell for “The Penguin,” another first-time nominee. And in the supporting actress category, Cristin Milioti for “The Penguin” and Jenny Slate for “Dying for Sex” are strong contenders.
“Presumed Innocent” couldn’t quite make the cut for limited series, but Oscar nominees Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga were singled out. Oscar-winner for “Whiplash,” J.K. Simmons received his first Emmy nomination this year (for “Die Hart: Hart to Kill”), while Oscar-nominee Harrison Ford took a supporting actor in a comedy series slot for “Shrinking.”
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” actors Javier Bardem, Cooper Koch and Chloë Sevigny all became first-time nominees, with Bardem also receiving a nomination as an executive producer with the show’s recognition for outstanding limited or anthology series.
As for the biggest first-time surprises and wild cards, Jeff Hiller received a supporting actor nod for the third and last season of “Somebody Somewhere,” marking the first time an actor from that show has ever been nominated. The show’s Bridget Everett, who some expected to receive a lead actress nomination, was not included, but she was recognized in the outstanding writing for a comedy series category alongside Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. And in the short-form comedy or drama series category, Tom Segura was the sole nomination for Netflix’s “Bad Thoughts.”
Within the massive ensemble of Max’s hit medical drama “The Pitt,” Shawn Hatosy and Katherine LaNasa received their first nominations alongside lead Noah Wyle, who is back in the Emmy conversation after five nominations for “ER” in the 1990s.
In total, 33 performers received their first Emmy nominations for acting this year, and there’s still two months of campaigning left that will impact which of these actors reign supreme on Sept. 14.
With “Severance” Season 2 racking up 13 more nominations than Season 1 did, breakout performances from Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry resulted in their first nominations alongside expected repeat nominees Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette. If Tillman wins in the supporting actor category, he’ll become the first Black actor to do so.
“The Studio” continued Apple TV+’s dominance with 23 nominations. Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Mackie, Zoë Kravitz and Oscar-winning directors Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard were all first-time acting nominees in the supporting and guest categories. Scorsese is a previous Emmy winner for directing the “Boardwalk Empire” pilot and “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.” Seth Rogen also received his first nomination as a director for the episode “The Oner,” in addition to recognition for writing and acting, all contributing to the show breaking a massive nomination record for a first season comedy series.
“The White Lotus” was once again a dominant factor in the supporting races with nine actors receiving nominations; Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood and Scott Glenn all nabbed their first. To date, Jennifer Coolidge and Murray Bartlett are the only performers to win acting Emmys for “The White Lotus,” and they both won on their first career nominations. So, Season 3’s newcomers are in good company.
Another huge contender with 13 nominations, “Adolescence,” saw first-time nominations for Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco and Ashley Walters, with 15-year-old Cooper being the youngest nominee ever in the outstanding supporting actor category. In the lead actor in a limited series category, show creator Graham will face off against Colin Farrell for “The Penguin,” another first-time nominee. And in the supporting actress category, Cristin Milioti for “The Penguin” and Jenny Slate for “Dying for Sex” are strong contenders.
“Presumed Innocent” couldn’t quite make the cut for limited series, but Oscar nominees Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga were singled out. Oscar-winner for “Whiplash,” J.K. Simmons received his first Emmy nomination this year (for “Die Hart: Hart to Kill”), while Oscar-nominee Harrison Ford took a supporting actor in a comedy series slot for “Shrinking.”
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” actors Javier Bardem, Cooper Koch and Chloë Sevigny all became first-time nominees, with Bardem also receiving a nomination as an executive producer with the show’s recognition for outstanding limited or anthology series.
As for the biggest first-time surprises and wild cards, Jeff Hiller received a supporting actor nod for the third and last season of “Somebody Somewhere,” marking the first time an actor from that show has ever been nominated. The show’s Bridget Everett, who some expected to receive a lead actress nomination, was not included, but she was recognized in the outstanding writing for a comedy series category alongside Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. And in the short-form comedy or drama series category, Tom Segura was the sole nomination for Netflix’s “Bad Thoughts.”
Within the massive ensemble of Max’s hit medical drama “The Pitt,” Shawn Hatosy and Katherine LaNasa received their first nominations alongside lead Noah Wyle, who is back in the Emmy conversation after five nominations for “ER” in the 1990s.
In total, 33 performers received their first Emmy nominations for acting this year, and there’s still two months of campaigning left that will impact which of these actors reign supreme on Sept. 14.