Emmy Nomination Semifinalists Revealed in Drama Acting Categories

The spies over at Gold Derby have been busy all week gathering names of the semifinalists in all of the acting categories for this year's Emmys. Just like the series semifinalists that the Emmys announced last week, each of the acting categories will be narrowed to five (or possibly six) official nominees by July 17.

So far, Gold Derby has managed to track down all the nominees for the four drama acting categories, along with what episodes the judges watched to make their decisions. The lists are unofficial, but Gold Derby has never steered me wrong before. (They also have some great leaked reports from Emmy judges, so check those out too.)

After the jump, you can check out the lists and start speculating. Who's a lock for the top five? Who got majorly snubbed? (My vote there: Connie Britton, who was a semifinalist in the lead acting category last year for Friday Night Lights, dropped herself down to supporting actress this year, and didn't even make the semifinals. Come on!) And are there any surprises? You can check them out if you read more.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR — DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights ("Last Day of Summer")
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy (?)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter ("There's Something About Harry")
Jon Hamm, Mad Men ("The Wheel")
Eddie Izzard, The Riches ("Last Temptation of Wayne")
Hugh Laurie, House ("House's Head")
Denis Leary, Rescue Me ("Babyface")
James Spader, Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS — DRAMA
Patricia Arquette, Medium ( "Aftertaste")
Glenn Close, Damages ("Pilot")
Minnie Driver, The Riches ("Dead Calm")
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck and Spices")
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men ("The Hobo Code")
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica ("Faith")
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer ("Manhunt")
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love ("Take Me As I Am")

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR — DRAMA
Naveen Andrews, Lost ("The Economist")
Bruce Dern, Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade, The Musical")
Ted Danson, Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson, Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages ("I Hate These People")
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
William Shatner, Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery, Mad Men ( "Long Weekend")
Blair Underwood, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 6")
Jake Weber, Medium ("Wicked Game, Part 1")

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS — DRAMA
Jane Alexander, Tell Me You Love Me (Episode 10)
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rose Byrne, Damages ("Because I Know Patty")
Jill Clayburgh, Dirty Sexy Money ("The Watch")
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice ("Identity")
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men ("Babylon")
S. Epatha Merkerson, Law and Order ("Bottomless")
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment (?)
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy ("Lay Your Hands on Me")

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