All Drama As Emmy Stars Begin Their Fight

Gabriel Byrne, Eddie Izzard and James Spader will be among the stars fighting for a Best Drama Actor honour at the Emmy Awards, while pregnant Minnie Driver and Sally Field are favourites for the Best Actress prize.

The quintet has been selected among the 20 semi-finalists on a shortlist.

Driver and Izzard are nominated for The Riches, while Byrne gets a nod for playing a psychiatrist in In Treatment. Boston Legal gave Spader the chance to fight for an Emmy.

Other actors on the top 10 list include Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Hugh Laurie (House).

As well as Driver and Field, Patricia Arquette (Medium), Glenn Close (Damages), Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) and Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) are among those under consideration.