Emmy Nominee Edie Falco: Front-Runner for "Outstanding Lead Actress"

The competitors in the category of ""Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series"" are truly a talented group. The six women nominated have each achieved great success in actresses.the entertainment industry, and their performances this year prove once again that they are enormously accomplished

The nominees in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" are as follows:

Sally Field as Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit

Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois on Medium

Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson on The Closer

Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy on The Riches

Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos

Sally Field is an Academy Award-winning film actress who has been in the entertainment industry for decades. She has been playing Nora Walker on Brothers & Sisters since 2006. Field has been nominated for an Emmy Award six other times. In 1976, she won the Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Special for her portrayal of Sybil. In 1995, Field was nominated for producing and acting in the miniseries "A Woman of Independent Means." In 2000, she was nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for A Cooler Climate. Field was also nominated for an Emmy in 2001 and 2003 for Outstanding Guest Actress on a Drama Series for her role on ER which she won in 2001.

Mariska Hargitay has been playing Detective Olivia Benson on the crime drama Law and Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999. She has been nominated in the past for three Emmy Awards. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Hargitay was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series". She won the Emmy in 2006.

Patricia Arquette has been playing Allison Dubois on Medium since 2005. The talented actress has been nominated once before for an Emmy Award. In 2005, Arquette was nominated in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series". She took home the Emmy Award that year.

Kyra Sedgwick has been playing Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson on The Closer since 2005. Sedgwick's outstanding performance on the show earned her an Emmy nomination in 2005 in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series". Sedgwick won the Golden Globe for her role on The Closer earlier this year.

Minnie Driver is best known for her roles in films, but she has established herself as a talented television actress with her role of Dahlia Malloy on the popular drama The Riches. Although this year is the first time Driver has ever been nominated for an Emmy, the actress has been nominated for several other prestigious entertainment awards in the past.

Edie Falco has been playing mafia wife Carmela Soprano on the hit HBO series The Sopranos since 1999. Falco is no stranger to the Emmy Awards. She has been nominated for an Emmy Award five times in the past. All of her nominations-1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004-have been in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series". Falco won the Emmy in 1999, 2001, and 2003.

With all of these talented actresses, it is going to be a difficult decision choosing the winner. However, my prediction is that Edie Falco will win the Emmy for a fourth time. The experts and the fans agree that she will take home the prize for her stellar performance on the final season of The Sopranos.

Make sure to watch The 59^th Primetime Emmy Awards September 16^th at 8 PM Eastern on FOX!