When looking at television series such as Grey’s Anatomy, which has been running for over 18 seasons now, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ,which has been on the air for over 23 years, it becomes clear that one of the main reasons why these shows are able to thrive for so long is due to the emotional attachment audiences feel to the characters. A strong cast is essential to having a successful drama series, and these eight actors on our list are perfect examples of that.
Each year the Primetime Emmy Awards honors and recognizes actors in drama series in four different categories: Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Outstanding Supporting Actor. Our list considers all the winners in these categories from the 2000s and highlights the eight most deserving and memorable recipients. From Glenn Close to James Gandolfini and Mariska Hargitay, there are a number of television legends on this list that turned in Emmy-worthy performances.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Katherine Heigl — Grey’s Anatomy
ABC
From 2005 to 2010, Katherine Heigl played arguably the most memorable role of her career as Dr. Izzie Stevens in the ABC television medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Currently, the show is in its 18th season, proving that it has done just fine since Heigl’s departure in season six, but most fans will agree that the first couple of seasons she was on for was definitely the show’s prime. There is no question about the fact that Heigl is a talented actress, but, per Looper, her on-set attitude has come into question several times over the years. Despite this, the actress took home the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2007, and her work as Izzie Stevens is a huge part of Grey’s Anatomy that fans will always remember.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Terry O’Quinn — Lost
Actor Terry O’Quinn has worked on several successful projects throughout his career in both film and television, with his most renowned role being his portrayal of John Locke in the hit series Lost. The show, which premiered in 2004, is a mystery series that ran for a total of six seasons, and in addition to O’Quinn, starred Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly, Matthew Fox, Naveen Andrews, and Daniel Dae Kim. O’Quinn received three Primetime Emmy nominations for his role, winning one in 2007. In total, Lost received four Emmy wins and 24 nominations during its time on air.
6 Dianne Wiest — In Treatment
HBO
Dianne Wiest is arguably one of the most critically acclaimed actor on this list, with her three Academy Award nominations and two wins in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her work on Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway. In 2008, she took on the role of Gina Toll in the television drama series In Treatment. Wiest played a smart and sensitive doctor who is working to treat another doctor and help him manage his unpredictable personal life along with the information he’s getting from his own clients. Wiest received her Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2008 for the role and was nominated again in 2009.
5 Sally Field — Brothers & Sisters
Another extremely talented Oscar-winning actress on our list is Sally Field, who took home two Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1980 and 1985 for her roles in Norma Rae and Places in the Heart. While her first Emmy win was in 1977, her best-known television role came later in 2007 on Brothers and Sisters. Field played Nora Walker, a now-single mom who learns about her late husband’s affair and secret daughter. The show revolves mainly around Nora and her children, and ran for a total of five seasons.
4 Glenn Close — Damages
FX
Glenn Close is a beloved actress with an extremely successful career that spans all the way from 1982 to now. She has starred in tons of films over the years, including Fatal Attraction, The Paper, Nine Lives, The House of the Spirits, Paradise Road, Low Down, and Hillbilly Elegy. She has also starred in numerous television series, the most successful being Damages. The drama series ran for five seasons and centers around attorney Patty Hewes, played by Close, and her relationship with her granddaughter and son. Close made the show what it was and delivered incredible performances every episode.
3 Bryan Cranston — Breaking Bad
AMC
Bryan Cranston, along with the rest of his co-stars, turned Breaking Bad into one of the most popular and talked-about television series to have aired over the past 20 years. The drama series has become somewhat of a phenomenon, and all five seasons are as intriguing as the next. In 2008, Cranston won his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Walter White. He won the award three more times in 2009, 2010, and 2014 for the same role.
2 Mariska Hargitay — Law & Order: SVU
NBCUniversal
Law & Order is one of the most famous television series of all time, and Mariska Hargitay has become the face of it. Everything about the show, from the theme song to the actors, is iconic and memorable. Hargitay has starred in Law & Order: SVU since 1999 and is now making an astounding $500,000 per episode as she is the longest-serving cast member on the show. In 2006, the actress finally took home the Emmy for her portrayal of Olivia Benson and has been nominated for the award a total of eight times throughout her career.
1 James Gandolfini — The Sopranos
Warner Bros. Television
Coming in at number one on the list is James Gandolfini for his legendary role as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. Tony is an Italian-American Mafia crime boss and father, struggling to manage both his professional and personal life. The Sopranos, which first aired in 1999, is still celebrated and watched today, over 20 years later. Gandolfini made the show what it was and is a huge reason why it was so successful. The late actor won three very deserved Emmys for his role in 2000, 2001, and 2003, further showcasing what an incredibly talented actor he was.
