The 2013 Emmy Award nominations were officially announced on Thursday morning and brought good news to some of TV’s most talented and iconic stars.
Among them were Kerry Washington, Don Cheadle, and Alfre Woodard, who were the three African-American actors who are up for the prestigious honor.
Washington was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for ABC’s hit-show Scandal. The slim-figured beauty plays Olivia Pope, a quick-witted, quick-footed political fixer who leads a team of sly investigators to solve some of the nation’s most hard-hitting dilemmas.
Pope has become one of TV’s biggest breakout characters and Washington’s delivery has drawn millions of viewers to tune in each Thursday night, bringing high ratings to the network.
Washington is nominated for her first Emmy among the following candidates:
- Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
- Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
- Claire Danes, Homeland
- Robin Wright, House of Cards
- Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
- Connie Britton, Nashville
As for Cheadle, the talented actor is up for Outstanding Leader Actor in a Comedy Series. Cheadle is the star of Showtime’s House of Lies and plays Marty Kaan, a management consultant at a high-ranked firm.
This isn’t Cheadle’s first Emmy nomination: He was up for the award three times before for his roles in The Rat Pack, A Lesson Before Dying and Things Behind the Sun but has never taken home the honor.
Cheadle is up against the following:
- Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
- Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
- Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
- Louis C.K., Louie
- Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Woodard is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her role in Steel Magnolias. The classic 1989 movie, which featured an all-white, female cast, revolved around a group of friends who frequently met at the same beauty parlor and chronicled the growth of their relationships.
The movie was remade and united an all-star cast, which also starred seasoned actresses like Queen Latifah and Phylicia Rashad, in a black interpretation of the classic play and film.
Other nominees in the category include:
- Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Asylum
- Imelda Staunton, The Girl
- Ellen Burstyn, Political Animals
- Charlotte Rampling, Restless
View the full Emmy nomination list here.
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