2016 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor in a Drama Series
[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]
Lead Actor in a Drama Series is proving to be one of the more open categories this year. Despite Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) having three Emmy Experts list him at #1, the race feels far from over. House of Cards isn’t going to be a major winner this year but Spacey could benefit from being a multi-nominee that’s never won, much like what happened for Jon Hamm (Mad Men) last year.
The two spoilers for Spacey are first-time nominees. Rami Malek, the explosive new star of the huge freshman hit Mr. Robot (currently in its second season) and Matthew Rhys, enjoying the convergence of critics and Emmys as his show, The Americans, finally cracked the big show. With the voting process being popular vote it seems like it could lean Spacey’s way but his President Frank Underwood could feel a bit repetitive and almost boring compared to the insane antics going on in the actual current forum of U.S. politics. This is where Malek (a fresh face, a hip choice) or Rhys (submitting an episode he directed) could triumph.
The bottom three feel like just that, a bottom three. Despite being a clear 5th, I think if anyone was going to spoil the spoilers it would be Liev Schreiber. With getting that out of nowhere directing nomination he might be in a better place than Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and certainly Kyle Chandler (Bloodline). Incidentally, all three of these lead actors have corresponding supporting actor nominations for their shows. For that matter, Spacey does as well. Only Malek does not, despite his co-star, Christian Slater, receiving a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor last year.
Here are the winner predictions from the Emmy Experts for Lead Actor in a Drama Series on August 31st.
Check out August 2016 Emmy Predictions for:
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama and Comedy Series
Plus, the updating Emmy charts here.
- 76th Berlin Film Festival Awards: ‘Yellow Letters’ Wins Golden Bear for Best Film; ‘Queen at Sea’ Nabs Two Among Festival Unrest Over Politics - February 21, 2026
- Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards: ‘Hamnet’ Tops Wins, ‘Christy’ Nabs Best Irish Film - February 20, 2026
- 8th Kodak Film Awards Recipients: Kristen Stewart, Joachim Trier, Autumn Durald Arkapaw and More - February 20, 2026



76th Berlin Film Festival Awards: ‘Yellow Letters’ Wins Golden Bear for Best Film; ‘Queen at Sea’ Nabs Two Among Festival Unrest Over Politics
‘Flies (Moscas)’ Review: To Be a Fly on the Wall is to See All in Fernando Eimbcke’s Quiet Family Drama [B-] Berlinale
‘The Blood Countess’ Review: Isabelle Huppert’s Glamorous Vampire Mother Rises Above Baroque Bungle [C-] Berlinale
Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards: ‘Hamnet’ Tops Wins, ‘Christy’ Nabs Best Irish Film