Katie LeClerc, "Switched at Birth"

Nomination Status: Tee-hee. Emmy nominee? ABC Family?

In Her Favor: ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" is consistently surviving with its nuanced depiction of a sensationalistic story and Katie LeClerc's performance is also consistently surprising. Most viewers don't have a clue about the nature LeClerc's actual hearing limitations and don't know that she's playing an extreme of her actual condition, rather than her own condition. This isn't just a deaf actress playing herself and I think many people probably just assume that it is. No. This is a performance. And a damn good one. [Vanessa Marano is also very good. I happen to like Marano more when she plays the more comedic sides of her character.]

Working Against Her: Most Emmy voters don't have a clue that "Switched at Birth" and LeClerc even exist and those who are aware it exists probably don't have a clue how much acting is involved here.