Emmy nominations 2021 – live: The Crown, The Mandalorian and Mare of Easttown lead the awards

It’s anyone’s game in the absence of pandemic-affected hits like ‘Succession’, ‘Ozark’ and ‘Euphoria’

Kate Winslet, Evan Peters and Justin Hurtt-Dunkley in ‘Mare of Easttown' (HBO)

The 2021 Emmy nominations were announced today (13 July), with The Crown, Ted Lasso and Mare of Easttown dominating the categories as expected.

This year, the Emmys will highlight the best of what was an understandably abbreviated year in television, while almost all of last year’s major winners – among them Succession, Ozark and Euphoria – are out of contention due to the pandemic.

With those shows unable to produce and broadcast new episodes in time for the Emmy submission deadline, it means that this year’s nomination roster has been unusually led by first-timers. The Flight Attendant, Bridgerton and the Jean Smart comedy Hacks have picked up an abundance of nods.

Schitt’s Creek, which won almost all the comedy awards at last year’s ceremony, is also now over, opening up the comedy categories as a result. The likes of Ted Lasso, Pen15, The Kominsky Method and love-hate favourite Emily in Paris have filled the gap.

The nomination announcement was made by father-daughter duo, Ron Cephas Jones (This is Us) and Jasmine Cephas Jones (Hamilton and Blindspotting). Catch up on what you missed on our live blog below!

The Emmys, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, will take place on 19 September.

[13 July 2021 12:45 · Adam White]

Hello! Welcome to The Independent’s live blog for this year’s Emmy nominations! It’ll be a stranger year than normal, with almost everything that won last year having been unable to make new episodes due to that pesky pandemic, but expect appearances from at least a handful of reliable big-hitters.

[13 July 2021 13:00 · Adam White]

This year’s nomination line-up will be live-streamed via the official Emmy Awards YouTube account, at 3.30pm UK time...

[13 July 2021 13:15 · Adam White]

Expect this year’s line-up to be unusually streaming service-heavy. Disney Plus will probably make a major mark, with the zeitgeist-grabbing WandaVision expected to score a number of nods in the Limited Series categories, and The Mandalorian season two hoping to win Best Drama Series after being beaten by Succession last year.

[13 July 2021 13:30 · Adam White]

One of the most interesting battles will be between Kaley Cuoco, the Big Bang Theory veteran who immediately jumped into the breakout hit The Flight Attendant, and comeback kid Jean Smart of Hacks, who has been riding a wave of career-best reviews of late. Both women are hotly tipped to lead the Best Actress in a Comedy Series category.

Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in a scene from the HBO Max comedy ‘Hacks’. (HBO Max)

[13 July 2021 13:35 · Adam White]

Speaking of Jean Smart, Kevin E G Perry wrote a touching tribute to the Hacks star last month, charting her journey from under-the-radar character actor to “the Queen of TV”. Read it here...

[13 July 2021 13:45 · Adam White]

After failing to secure a single win at last year’s Emmys, expect The Crown to bounce back following its widely acclaimed fourth season. Along with Best Drama (which it is expected to win), nods for Josh O’Connor (Prince Charles), Emma Corrin (Princess Diana), Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth) and Gillian Anderson (Margaret Thatcher) are practically guaranteed. Don’t be surprised if former lead Claire Foy makes an appearance in the Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series category, too.

Emma Corrin plays Princess Diana in season four (Des Willie/Netflix)

[13 July 2021 13:50 · Adam White]

You should also read our feature on why The Crown’s universally acclaimed depiction of Princess Diana soared while so many others have proven disastrous. Read it here.

A quartet of Dianas: Catherine Oxenberg, Naomi Watts, Serena Scott Thomas and Emma Corrin all in character as the Princess of Wales (Rex/Netflix)

[13 July 2021 14:00 · Adam White]

Fellow Netflix smash Bridgerton will also undoubtedly receive a Best Drama nod – it may also be the only newcomer to appear in the category. One thing to look out for, though, is how many of the actual cast will secure nominations. Male lead Regé-Jean Page seems likely, but could Derry Girls star, social media queen and breakout scene-stealer Nicola Coughlan make an appearance in the Best Supporting Actress category too?

Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor in ‘Bridgerton’ (Liam Daniel/Netflix)

[13 July 2021 14:15 · Adam White]

Mare of Easttown proved to be one of the biggest word-of-mouth smashes of the year so far, and will probably hoover up a number of nominations in the Limited Series categories. Kate Winslet and Julianne Nicholson – particularly after her powerhouse monologuing in the series finale – are the favourites in the acting categories, but don’t be surprised if Hacks star Jean Smart, playing Winslet’s mother, gets in, too, just to drive home her career-shifting year on television.

[13 July 2021 14:20 · Adam White]

Winslet looks set to be the one to beat in the Best Actress in a Limited Series category primarily because the staggering Michaela Coel of I May Destroy You might not be as fresh in the minds of voters.

Read the brilliant Fiona Sturges on why Winslet’s “knackered” performance made the show what it is here.

Kate Winslet’s face can do the work of 10 pages of ‘Mare of Easttown’ scripts (HBO)