Older actresses dominate drama noms
Emmy's leading ladies have veteran appeal
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"That myth that there are no good jobs for (older) women in Hollywood is gone. I'm happy to declare the death of that," says Kyra Sedgwick, nominated for her role as Brenda Johnson on TNT's "The Closer."
Sedgwick's fellow nominees -- Glenn Close, Sally Field, Mariska Hargitay and Holly Hunter -- couldn't agree more. That elite roster proves that while bigscreen projects don't often have suitable and intelligent roles for women over 40, TV continues to embrace them.
"I think all of us just want to be able to act. It's what you want to do," says Hunter, who can now be seen in the second season of "Saving Grace." "Sometimes with features, I found myself not acting for years at a time because the opportunities that were offered weren't exciting. They weren't thrilling, and I wanted to be thrilled."
Hunter sees a common thread among herself and her fellow nominees.
"These performances are all character-driven," Hunter says. "The stories are largely propelled by character. For a lot of (actresses), that's really the engine."
That's even true for Hargitay of "Law & Order: SVU," despite the show's roots as a procedural. In recent seasons, "SVU" has peeked into the characters' personal lives, giving Hargitay storylines exploring issues tied to her Det. Olivia Benson's background as a child of rape.
And while "Brothers & Sisters" has several arcs running at once, Field -- as matriarch Nora Walker -- acts as a focal point for all the stories and characters.
"What's promising is that not only are these women over 40, but they're doing what a lot of younger actresses aren't -- leading shows in which they're not just wives, mothers or girlfriends of male stars," says Entertainment Weekly TV critic Gillian Flynn. "They're not being consigned to typical over-40 roles. The types of women they're portraying are wide-ranging: tough, troubled, daffy, menacing, motherly."
Close plays high-stakes litigator Patty Hewes on FX's "Damages." Not only has the five-time Oscar nominee brought a lot of gravitas to the role, but with her extensive experience in Hollywood, Close is also acutely aware of how to smartly collaborate in all aspects of the show, including promotion, production and overall execution.
High-powered lawyers have most often been played by men, but exec producer Todd A. Kessler says Hewes was written with Close in mind. With the success of shows such as "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "The Closer," "Saving Grace" and "Damages," more writers than ever before are pitching ideas with strong women in the lead.
"I think that's great," Close says. "It's huge progress in our industry, and I'm proud to be one of the people benefiting from that vision."
"It's a welcome trend," says Tim Goodman, TV critic at the San Francisco Chronicle. "That's a very strong field. Close, Hunter and Sedgwick are standouts, and they're thriving because basic cable has been open to actresses 'of a certain age' as they say."
"All of these actresses have adult experience they can bring to the development of the characters," Hunter says. "That's a very rich arena for actresses, including myself."
Sedgwick adds that viewers want themselves reflected onscreen, but certainly not everyone watching is 18 to 35 years old.
"Women are interested in seeing people who look like them, act like them, are something they can relate to and are accessible," she explains. "Real women with experiences that stems from being an older, wiser person, more comfortable in their body."
Says Turner senior VP Michael Wright. "We're seeing these three-dimensional, complex and challenging characters that ought to have been there for a long time. I think all of the nominees reflect that, and that's exciting."
