Nominees:
Winner is marked with an asterisk (*) and highlighted in bold.

Sally Field as Nora Walker, ABC's "Brothers & Sisters"

Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, TNT's "The Closer"

*Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, FX Networks' "Damages" (pictured)

Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, AMC's "Mad Men"

Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, TNT's "Saving Grace."