Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"

Nomination Status: If "Homeland" romps, Baccarin could sweep in with the tide.

In Her Favor: Although she's still far from a household name, Baccarin keeps building her profile from "Firefly" to "V" to "Homeland" and she keeps adding to a string of performances that are all very different and very strong. Baccarin's Jessica Brody became a little lost in the second half of the season, but in the first handful of episodes, her pain and confusion and sense of unease were central to developing the overall paranoid tone for "Homeland."

Working Against Her: Although she's in a weaker category, Baccarin isn't the established name that her "Homeland" co-star Mandy Patinkin is. Thus far, neither actor has broken through for individual recognition for "Homeland," with award voters concentrating on Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. She's gonna need a big overall haul for "Homeland" to break through. But a big overall haul for "Homeland" is totally plausible.