2026 Emmy predictions: best limited series / TV movie actor

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Oscar Isaac joins sparring partner Carey Mulligan atop a lead acting category for “Beef,” followed by Matthew Rhys as a possibly murderous billionaire in “The Beast in Me” and Richard Gadd, showing quite another side after his “Baby Reindeer” success.“The sleeper pick here is Richard Gadd, who benefits from his show airing later in the cycle,” says Trey Mangum.“Gadd’s toxic menace in ‘Half Men,’ a world removed from his ‘Baby Reindeer’ breakthrough, could propel him back to the winner’s circle,” says Matt Roush.

Tracy Brown says, “If Gadd’s show is among the limited series nominees, [co-star] Jamie Bell will also land an acting nom.”Meanwhile, Glenn Whipp praises the casting against type in Netflix’s “Death by Lightning,” which also features Matthew Macfadyen, best known as Mr.Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice” and Tom Wambsgans in “Succession,” as the rotten-toothed, unhinged assassin Charles Guiteau.Whipp says of lead Michael Shannon: He “usually plays the assassin.

In ‘Death by Lightning,’ he plays President James A.Garfield, showing us a principled man who aims for a life of public service.

The series plays like a requiem as well as a call to action.”More predictions: Limited series | Limited / TV movie actress1.Oscar Isaac, “Beef”T2.

Richard Gadd, “Half Man”T2.Matthew Rhys, “The Beast in Me”4.

Paul Anthony Kelly, “Love Story”5.Riz Ahmed, “Bait”T6.

Charlie Hunnam, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story”T6.Matthew Macfadyen, “Death by Lightning”Los Angeles TimesLorraine Ali1.

Oscar Isaac, “Beef”2.Richard Gadd, “Half Man”3.

Riz Ahmed, “Bait”4.Matthew Rhys, “The Beast in Me”5.

Paul Anthony Kelly, “Love Story”“There are many strong performances here for the academy to choose from.But who should they nominate to appear smart and with it? Riz Ahmed in ‘Bait,’ Richard Gadd for...