2025 Emmy Nominations Show Diverse Talent in Limited Series Categories

LOS ANGELES, CA — The 2025 Emmy nominations spotlight exceptional talent in the limited series and TV movie acting categories. The nominees include Javier Bardem, Renée Zellweger, Stephen Graham, Jenny Slate, Brian Tyree Henry, Elizabeth Banks, and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Bardem portrays Jose Menendez, a father and accused molester, in Netflix‘s upcoming project. Zellweger returns to her iconic role as a British romantic heroine in “Mad About the Boy.” Graham co-created and stars in “Adolescence,” which focuses on a family facing the aftermath of a brutal murder committed by their teenage son.

During a recent roundtable discussion, the nominees explored their experiences with the emotional weight of their roles. Banks stated, “The degree of difficulty with comedy is much higher. It’s really hard to sustainably make people laugh over time, whereas with drama, everyone relates to loss and pining for love that’s unrequited.” Henry added, “There’s always humor somewhere in the drama. My character has a codependency with a friend, and there’s a moment where it gets really funny yet terrifying at the same time.”

Zellweger shared her reflections on revisiting Bridget Jones after 25 years, noting, “Nobody’s the same from one moment to the next. It’s been an interesting experiment to revisit a character through different phases of her life.” She emphasized the importance of showing growth and dealing with loss in her character’s journey.

Graham expressed how filming heavier scenes affects him and the crew, stating, “After emotionally intense moments, we often embraced or applauded each other. It reminded us that while we dive deep into our characters, we must also balance our personal lives.” Bardem echoed this sentiment, explaining the importance of separating their roles from personal life.

Slate described her role in “Dying for Sex” as emotionally charged, portraying a supportive friend to a terminally ill character. She mentioned, “This job required me to balance my natural peppy personality while stepping into the shoes of someone navigating grief.”

As the nominees delve into serious themes, they maintain a light-hearted approach to their work. Cohen reflected on portraying understated characters, stating, “It took me time to figure out my character’s journey, which was different from my previous roles like Ali G and Borat.”

The roundtable highlighted the blend of humor and drama in their performances, with each actor emphasizing the complexity of their characters.