2018 Emmys Stars Then and Now: Our Favorite Female Nominees and Their Best Throwback Roles

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KERI RUSSELL

Two decades before her thrice-Emmy nominated role as duplicitous KGB agent Elizabeth Jennings in FX’sThe Americans,Keri Russellstole hearts in her star turn as the all-American college studentFelicity. The WB series aired from 1998 to 2002, and though Russell won a 1999 Golden Globe for Best Actress, her very first Emmy nomination came 17 years later.

02of 11LILY TOMLIN20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Melissa Moseley/Netflix/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockIconic actress and comedianLily Tomlinhas been charming audiences since the 1960s. Her breakout role as aLaugh-Incast member led to a role in Robert Altman’s award-winning ’70s filmNashville.Tomlin then went on to become a major star in the ’80s, delivering big laughs in comedy classics likeAll of Mewith Steve Martin and9 to 5with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton.She reunited with Fonda for HBO’sGrace and Frankie,for which she’s been Emmy-nominated four years in a row. Tomlin has won six previous Primetime Emmys and one Daytime Emmy.

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LILY TOMLIN

20th Century Fox/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Melissa Moseley/Netflix/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Iconic actress and comedianLily Tomlinhas been charming audiences since the 1960s. Her breakout role as aLaugh-Incast member led to a role in Robert Altman’s award-winning ’70s filmNashville.Tomlin then went on to become a major star in the ’80s, delivering big laughs in comedy classics likeAll of Mewith Steve Martin and9 to 5with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton.

She reunited with Fonda for HBO’sGrace and Frankie,for which she’s been Emmy-nominated four years in a row. Tomlin has won six previous Primetime Emmys and one Daytime Emmy.

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JUDITH LIGHT

Columbia Tristar. Courtesy: Everett Collection; Matt Dinerstein/FX

04of 11REGINA KINGColumbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; David Giesbrecht/NetflixDevoted fans may recall Regina King got her start in the ’80s sitcom227, playing Brenda Jenkins opposite Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry. King went on to steal scenes in movies likeFriday, a slew of John Singleton films andJerry Maguirein the ’90s. She was Emmy-nominated forAmerican Crimein 2017 and again this year forSeven Seconds.

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REGINA KING

Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; David Giesbrecht/Netflix

Devoted fans may recall Regina King got her start in the ’80s sitcom227, playing Brenda Jenkins opposite Marla Gibbs and Jackée Harry. King went on to steal scenes in movies likeFriday, a slew of John Singleton films andJerry Maguirein the ’90s. She was Emmy-nominated forAmerican Crimein 2017 and again this year forSeven Seconds.

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EVAN RACHEL WOOD

AsWestworld’s celebrated sentient android frontierswoman Dolores Abernathy, Evan Rachel Wood continues to illuminate the big and small screens. The former child actress first gained attention and critical acclaim in the late ’90s and early ’00s as Jessie onOnce and Again. This is her third Emmy Nomination.

06of 11LAURIE METCALFCarsey-Werner Company Everett Collection; Robert Trachtenberg/ABC/Kobal/REX/ShutterstockFor nearly a decade (1988 to 1997), Laurie Metcalf’s beloved performance asRoseanne’sAunt Jackie delighted primetime audiences and critics alike. Metcalf garnered three consecutive Emmys for that role, and was nominated again this year for the (controversial)series revival.

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LAURIE METCALF

Carsey-Werner Company Everett Collection; Robert Trachtenberg/ABC/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

For nearly a decade (1988 to 1997), Laurie Metcalf’s beloved performance asRoseanne’sAunt Jackie delighted primetime audiences and critics alike. Metcalf garnered three consecutive Emmys for that role, and was nominated again this year for the (controversial)series revival.

07of 11MAYA RUDOLPHDana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Colleen Hayes/NBCRudolph joined the cast ofSaturday Night Liveback in 2000 and has been cracking audiences up ever since. Her first Emmy nomination came in 2012 forSNL, and she’s nominated again this year forThe Good Place.

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MAYA RUDOLPH

Dana Edelson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Colleen Hayes/NBC

Rudolph joined the cast ofSaturday Night Liveback in 2000 and has been cracking audiences up ever since. Her first Emmy nomination came in 2012 forSNL, and she’s nominated again this year forThe Good Place.

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JESSICA BIEL

Spelling Prod./ Courtesy: Everett Collection; Brownie Harris/USA Network

09of 11MEGAN MULLALLYAndrew Eccles/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Andrew Eccles/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesMegan Mullally is no stranger to the Emmys. Her hilarious, star-making turn as wackadoo, gold-digging socialite Karen Walker onWill & Gracewas an audience and critic favorite from the get-go back in 1998. Her performance garnered eight Emmy nominations, and she’s won twice. Will this latest nod for theWill & Gracereboot make it three?

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MEGAN MULLALLY

Andrew Eccles/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Andrew Eccles/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Megan Mullally is no stranger to the Emmys. Her hilarious, star-making turn as wackadoo, gold-digging socialite Karen Walker onWill & Gracewas an audience and critic favorite from the get-go back in 1998. Her performance garnered eight Emmy nominations, and she’s won twice. Will this latest nod for theWill & Gracereboot make it three?

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MOLLY SHANNON

NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection; Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

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JANE LYNCH

Since her breakout role as a fur-brained dog handler in 2000’sBest in Show, Jane Lynch has been nothing but a joy to watch on the big and small screens. The formerGleestar is nominated twice this year, forThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiseland for hostingHollywood Game Night. The multi-talented Lynch has won four Emmys in her career thus far.

source: people.com