Five actresses are nominated for their outstanding performances in popular television dramas. The actresses nominated play characters that include a cloned orphan, a defense attorney and a scheming Washington lobbyist.

The five nominees for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series are:

Julianna Margulies/Alicia Florrick, "The Good Wife"- Margulies is excellent as Alicia Florrick, a wronged wife of a politician who re-enteres the workforce when her husband goes to jail over a sex scandal and political corruption. Margulies' Alicia has incredible resilience, as she pushes aside her heartbreak and pursues her original profession as a defense attorney. She works her way up at a prestigious law firm, and gains so much independence that she leaves to establish her own firm with a colleague. Margulies portrays Alicia's unwavering strength while showing her complicated relationship with her former lover and colleague, Will (Josh Charles).

Tatiana Maslany/Sarah Manning, "Orphan Black"- Newcomer Tatiana Maslany embodies the role of Sarah, an orphan who bounced around to different foster homes in England until she and her brother were adopted by Mrs. S. When she was 14, Mrs. S took them to North America under mysterious circumstances. After Sarah witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her, she assumes her identity, and soon discovers that she and the woman are clones. Maslany portrays Sarah's wit and street smarts, as well as her desire to improve her life choices, especially when it comes to her estranged daughter, Kira.

Taylor Schilling/Piper Chapman, "Orange Is The New Black"- Schilling became a breakout star as Piper Chapman, an engaged woman living a cushy life among New York's upper middle class. Piper's life is suddenly upended when she is arrested and sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money to her former girlfriend, Alex (Laura Prepon). Schilling is excellent in the dark comedy, in which her character finds her place in the prison hierarchy and reexamines her relationship with Alex.

Kerry Washington/Olivia Pope, "Scandal" - Washington is fantastic as Olivia, a character who is a loose depiction of Judy Smith, who served as George H. W. Bush's Deputy Press Secretary and represented Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. Her character is a former lawyer and White House aide. Washington is wonderful at depicting Pope's unique way of speaking in staccato sentences, as well as showing her intuitive nature and fierce power.

Robin Wright/Claire Underwood, "House of Cards"- Wright is commanding and chilling as Claire, an environmental lobbyist and wife of Frank Underwood, the central character who stops at nothing to gain political power. Claire and Frank plot nightly over cigarettes, figuring out the perfect schemes to take down anyone who stands in their way. Wright portrays Clarie's icy ruthlessness excellently, and shows her important role in the underhanded machinations of her husband.

Prediction: Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black"

Newcomer Maslany is the predicted winner of this category, owing to her compelling performance as an orphan who realizes that she is part of a strange and frightening scientific conspiracy. Maslany shows her acting chops by playing many different roles as multiple clones of the main character, Sarah. Maslany is affecting and captivating as the damaged character, who is searching for the person that is killing off the clones one by one.