Carrie Coon has been a standby of prestige television for many years, and her best roles in TV shows have been noticed, earning her three Emmy nominations. While an actor doesn’t have to be nominated for an award to be taken seriously or worth watching onscreen, it’s always exciting when a talent like Coon is appreciated for all her hard work, as Coon throws herself into every role.
Carrie Coon’s best movies and TV shows do a great job of demonstrating her range as a performer, as it’s been proven many times over that there’s little she can’t do onscreen. Coon has yet to win an Emmy for her amazing work on television, but the upcoming awards might unfold in Coon’s favor, earning her an accolade that represents the hard work she’s put into her craft.
Though Coon brings the same gravitas and charisma to all her work, it’s amazing to see how differently she can present onscreen, as each of her Emmy-nominated roles illustrates a new side of her. Even if audiences don’t love every project she’s been nominated for, it can’t be argued that Coon is fantastic in each show and that her work has sparked lots of cultural conversations.
3
The Gilded Age (2022–Present)
As Bertha Russell
Period dramas are all the rage today, and few shows have been able to mine the seemingly low stakes of high society for as much unbelievable drama as The Gilded Age​​​​. Premiering in 2022 on HBO, The Gilded Age follows in the footsteps of many classic series set in the past, leaning into the gorgeous sets and costumes.
These immerse the audience in the glittering world of wealth and social climbing of the early 20th century. Coon’s character, Bertha Russell, represents the new money arriving in New York City, and displaying their riches and power to the disgust of the old money families with whom the Russells come into contact. However, Bertha is ready to fight for her place in the upper echelon of New York.
It’s been widely discussed that the Russells are loosely based on the real Vanderbilt family, who were involved in many social scandals and rivalries in the early 1900s (via Vogue). As The Gilded Age has progressed, the show has had fun touching upon real figures from the era and exploring the nuanced contexts of race, class, and gender dynamics through the lens of characters like Bertha.
Bertha is an immediately memorable character. When she enters a room, everyone takes notice, and she wants it that way. There’s nothing that can stop her from achieving her goals, even if that means playing dirty to get there. Fierce, independent, and a force to be reckoned with, it’s not surprising that so many audience members instantly connected with Bertha and became lifelong fans of Coon.
Coon was nominated for her work in The Gilded Age season 2, but the most recent season of the series might be its best so far. Bertha has already changed a lot from the beginning of the show, and since there’s little question that we’ll see the series back on our screens soon, it wouldn’t be surprising if Coon garnered another nomination, as she’s a highlight of the series.
2
Fargo (2014–Present)
As Gloria Burgle
Though the first season of FX’s anthology crime show, Fargo, drew direct inspiration from the original Coen Brothers movie of the same name, each installment has pushed the story’s formula and subverted the audience’s expectations. Coon leads the cast of the show in Fargo season 3, as the police chief Gloria Burgle, who leads the investigation in Eden Valley, Minnesota.
Coon’s breakout role was in The Leftovers, a few years before she was cast as Gloria in Fargo, and it’s easy to see why she was tapped to be part of the satirical thriller series. The season follows Coon’s character investigating the death of her stepfather, slowly circling the perpetrators. Though Fargo season 2 is widely regarded as the show’s best season, Coon elevates every moment of season 3.
Audiences who have discovered Coon more recently will be surprised by her role in Fargo, as it’s markedly different from the women she’s been playing over the past few years. However, there’s something effortlessly natural about her work as Gloria, which is likely why she was nominated for her performance, though she wasn’t the only actor to get a nod for their work in season 3.
Fargo season 3 was a turning point for the show, as it started to push the series’ formula and setting further away from the original premise, which was a risk. However, the terrific ensemble cast, which includes Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead alongside Coon, was more than up to the challenge. Fargo has an amazing way of allowing actors to step out of their comfort zones.
Though playing Burgle isn’t Coon’s best performance to date, the popularity and notoriety that the actors in Fargo gain were an important stepping stone in her career. Additionally, the offbeat tone and style of Fargo opened the door for Coon to explore different sides of herself as an actress, paving the way for her best work on television so far in the years that followed.
1
The White Lotus (2021–Present)
As Laurie Duffy
Image via Max
Each season of The White Lotus has taken bigger swings and risks, but all of them have stayed true to the heart and soul of the project. The White Lotus season 3 was the most ambitious installment of the show so far, and utilized one of the best ensembles, as Coon is far from the only iconic actor to lend their talents to the project.
Coon delivers some of the best quotes in The White Lotus season 3, as it was likely her monologue in the final episode of the season, “Amor Fati,” that ensured she would be nominated for an Emmy. The White Lotus is well known for the way it pokes fun at its characters and puts them through many humiliations, but moments like Coon’s give a taste of sincerity.
As Emmy season fast approaches, it will be interesting to see if Laurie is the role that Coon will finally win for. Though the competition is fierce, and her co-stars are among the people she’s nominated against, there’s a decent chance that this will be her year. However, even if Coon doesn’t win, that won’t take away the impact that playing Laurie has had on her and the audience.
It’s tough to argue that The White Lotus season 2 is the best installment so far, but the character dynamics in season 3 were some of the most complex. Coon’s character work and layered relationships with her friends, played by Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan, will be remembered for a long time, as it felt vividly real thanks to the writing and performances alike.
Though she didn’t end up being the most tragic figure of season 3, Laurie had a deep sadness and difficulty connecting with others that she overcame by the end of the season. However, this doesn’t mean that The White Lotus isn’t above critiquing her, or that Carrie Coon won’t make a fool of herself just before giving an emotionally poignant speech.
