Emmys 2013: Kevin Spacey, Jeff Daniels join lead actor drama nominees

By Glenn Whipp

July 18, 2013 7:21 AM PT

Series newcomers Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”) and Jeff Daniels (“The Newsroom”) joined returnees Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”), Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Damian Lewis (“Homeland”) and Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”) as Emmy nominees in the lead actor in a drama category.

Spacey, a two-time Oscar-winner, received a nod for his portrayal of the string-pulling congressman in Netflix’s first-year drama “House of Cards.” It’s Spacey’s second Emmy acting nomination, following a nom for the 2008 HBO movie “Recount.”

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Daniels is an Emmy rookie, winning his first nomination for his turn as acclaimed news anchor Will McAvoy on Aaron Sorkin’s divisive HBO series “The Newsroom.” The show returned earlier this month for its second season.

Lewis won last year in his first try. The British actor plays Sgt. Nicholas Brody, a Marine turned (potential) traitor after his capture by Al Qaeda, in Showtime’s “Homeland.”

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Lewis’ victory ended Cranston’s perfect record with Emmy voters. Cranston won the lead actor drama Emmy in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for his portrayal of Walter White, the science teacher turned drug kingpin on AMC’s “Breaking Bad.” Cranston was ineligible for consideration in 2011 because the show did not air during the qualifying period.

Cranston’s wins have come at the expense of Hamm, who plays the troubled creative director on AMC’s “Mad Men.” Hamm’s nomination is his sixth, but he has yet to win the Emmy. Voters have also nominated him three times for guest turns on “30 Rock.” Again: No victories.

Bonneville received his first Emmy nomination last year for his turn as the head of the aristocratic Crawley family in PBS’ “Downton Abbey.”

The Emmy Awards will be handed out on Sept. 22 and will air live on CBS.

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