‘American Horror Story: Delicate’ could finally get Emma Roberts that elusive first Emmy nomination
“American Horror Story” regular Emma Roberts has appeared in key supporting roles in several past seasons of Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology series with parts in “Coven,” “Freak Show,” “Cult,” “Apocalypse,” and “1984.” She has now been promoted, however, to the out-and-out season lead with the show’s latest entry, “Delicate.”
This one follows actress Anna Alcott — an actress who becomes paranoid that there are sinister forces attempting to prevent her from becoming pregnant. Roberts stars as Anna while Kim Kardashian makes her much-discussed acting debut as Siobhan, Anna’s publicist. But while Kardashian will likely grab the headlines, this is very much Roberts’ show. The actress delivers a commanding performance and holds the central story firmly in her grasp, dragging you along with her through one horrifying episode after the next as the mystery unravels. Critics agree, this is one of Roberts’ strongest “AHS” turns yet.
Coleman Spilde (The Daily Beast) opined: “Roberts is bringing her oh-so-reliable screen presence back to the franchise… this is only the first episode, and Roberts has already proven herself a damn good horror actress.”
Brian Lowry (CNN) stated: “Producer Ryan Murphy again draws from his “AHS” repertory company, in this case creating a showcase for Emma Roberts as Anna Alcott.”
John Paul King (Washington Blade) proclaimed: “Led by ‘AHS’ veteran Emma Roberts – who, though Kardashian has been granted the most press attention, is the season’s central character, and brings her to life with likable charm and compelling intelligence – it tells the tale of Anna Alcott.”
Currently, our six predicted nominees for Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress are Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”), Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry”), Juno Temple (“Fargo”), Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”), Kate Winslet (“The Regime”), and Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs the Swans”). However, don’t rule Roberts out just yet. Emmy voters have proved time and time again how much they love “American Horror Story.”
The show has garnered 24 acting Emmy nominations (with four wins) across its 11 seasons (not including “Delicate,” of course). Six of those bids came in the very category Roberts is hoping to secure a citation in herself: Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress. They were: Connie Britton for “Murder House” in 2012; Jessica Lange for “Asylum” in 2013; Lange and Sarah Paulson in 2014 for “Coven” (Lange won); Lange again in 2015 for “Freak Show;” and Paulson in 2018 for “Cult.” This shows that Emmy voters adore this show in this category — Roberts could take advantage of that this year.
“AHS” is, of course, an anthology series — Emmy voters have really taken to anthology series in the limited series categories. Recent Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actress nominees who have been cited for anthology shows include the aforementioned collection of Britton, Lange, and Paulson for various seasons of “AHS” as well as Paulson (“Impeachment: American Crime Story”), Cynthia Erivo (“Genius: Aretha”), Lange and Susan Sarandon (“Feud: Bette and Joan”), Felicity Huffman and Lili Taylor (“American Crime”), and Carrie Coon and Kirsten Dunst (“Fargo”).
Roberts is also still an ingenue, which we know is a profile of performer Emmy voters love in this category, too. Recent such nominees include Lizzy Caplan (“Fleischman is in Trouble”), Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”), Riley Keough (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Margaret Qualley (“Maid”), Lily James (“Pam & Tommy”), and Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Queen’s Gambit”). Roberts could be next.
However, while Roberts is an ingenue, she has also been working tirelessly for some time now and has some considerable experience in her resume. This is her sixth season of “AHS” while she’s also starred in “Scream Queens,” “We’re the Millers,” “I Am Michael,” and the admittedly ill-received “Madame Web.” She’s built up a strong swelling of films and TV shows and voters may think now is the right time for her to take the next step in her career: a first-ever Emmy nomination, which is ironic considering the role she is hoping to be nominated for is an actress on the awards campaign for her first Oscar nomination.
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