2:35 PM PDT, August 27, 2013
The 2013 Emmys are closing in, and ET is breaking down your list of contenders! This week, we turn our attention to the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy category.
Lena Dunham burst onto the television scene last year with the premiere season of her creation Girls, in which she also stars.
The 27-year-old actress, producer, director, and writer was showered with nominations for the comedy series, including a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of New Yorker "Hannah Horvath."
While she didn't win an Emmy from her first batch of nominations, Dunham went on to win two Golden Globes, including Best Actress, a few months later.
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Lena Dunham - 'Girls'
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The 2013 Emmys are closing in, and ET is breaking down your list of contenders! This week, we turn our attention to the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy category.
Lena Dunham burst onto the television scene last year with the premiere season of her creation Girls, in which she also stars.
The 27-year-old actress, producer, director, and writer was showered with nominations for the comedy series, including a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of New Yorker "Hannah Horvath."
While she didn't win an Emmy from her first batch of nominations, Dunham went on to win two Golden Globes, including Best Actress, a few months later.
Lena Dunham burst onto the television scene last year with the premiere season of her creation Girls, in which she also stars.
The 27-year-old actress, producer, director, and writer was showered with nominations for the comedy series, including a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of New Yorker "Hannah Horvath."
While she didn't win an Emmy from her first batch of nominations, Dunham went on to win two Golden Globes, including Best Actress, a few months later.
Amy Poehler - 'Parks and Recreation'
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Emerging into prominence for her comedy sketches, most notably Weekend Update, on Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler has become a comedy fan-favorite.
Poehler has also become a favorite at the Emmys, dating back to her time with SNL, for which she received two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Now starring in the mokumentary series Parks and Recreation, the 41-year-old comedic actress has continued to rake in Emmy nominations for her character "Leslie Knope" and also for her writing on the show.
Although she has yet to capture her first Emmy, Poehler has been nominated for an award at the last six ceremonies, including four consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Poehler has also become a favorite at the Emmys, dating back to her time with SNL, for which she received two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Now starring in the mokumentary series Parks and Recreation, the 41-year-old comedic actress has continued to rake in Emmy nominations for her character "Leslie Knope" and also for her writing on the show.
Although she has yet to capture her first Emmy, Poehler has been nominated for an award at the last six ceremonies, including four consecutive nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - 'Veep'
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After accumulating a multitude of nominations and an award for her supporting role on Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has recently pulled in even more Emmy nominations as a lead actress.
Louis-Dreyfus was granted her second Emmy for her first season of The New Adventures of Old Christine in 2006 and followed suit last year by receiving her third Emmy for her first season of Veep.
On the show, the funny lady plays Vice President of the United States (often referred to as "veep" on the show) "Selina Meyer," who struggles to stay relevant in the world of politics.
However, she certainly remains relevant in the real-life world of television. After seven nominations for Seinfeld and an additional five for each season of New Adventures, Louis-Dreyfus has now amassed a total of 14 nominations, surpassing the long-held record by TV comedy icon Lucille Ball.
Louis-Dreyfus was granted her second Emmy for her first season of The New Adventures of Old Christine in 2006 and followed suit last year by receiving her third Emmy for her first season of Veep.
On the show, the funny lady plays Vice President of the United States (often referred to as "veep" on the show) "Selina Meyer," who struggles to stay relevant in the world of politics.
However, she certainly remains relevant in the real-life world of television. After seven nominations for Seinfeld and an additional five for each season of New Adventures, Louis-Dreyfus has now amassed a total of 14 nominations, surpassing the long-held record by TV comedy icon Lucille Ball.
Tina Fey - '30 Rock'
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As creator and lead actress of 30 Rock, Tina Fey has amassed an impressive number of Emmy nominations during the show's first six seasons.
Among the wide array of nominations and awards she's received for 30 Rock, Fey has been nominated for Outstanding Actress for each of the show's six seasons, once receiving the award in 2008.
In total, Fey has been awarded seven Emmys out of 22 nominations, spanning from her writing on Saturday Night Live in 2002 (her first) to her guest stint as politician Sarah Palin in 2009 to her writing and acting on 30 Rock.
To the dismay of fans, Fey's role as "Liz Lemon" on 30 Rock has been retired, as the show concluded in January. However, that somber fact may even enhance Fey's awards chances at the 2013 Emmys.
Among the wide array of nominations and awards she's received for 30 Rock, Fey has been nominated for Outstanding Actress for each of the show's six seasons, once receiving the award in 2008.
In total, Fey has been awarded seven Emmys out of 22 nominations, spanning from her writing on Saturday Night Live in 2002 (her first) to her guest stint as politician Sarah Palin in 2009 to her writing and acting on 30 Rock.
To the dismay of fans, Fey's role as "Liz Lemon" on 30 Rock has been retired, as the show concluded in January. However, that somber fact may even enhance Fey's awards chances at the 2013 Emmys.
Edie Falco - 'Nurse Jackie'
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Edie Falco has had marvelous success at the Emmys from her first year at the awards show.
The Brooklyn native, best known for her role as "Carmela Soprano" on The Sopranos, won an Emmy after her first-ever nomination for the first season of The Sopranos.
Her fortune didn't stop there, as she was then nominated for all but one of The Sopranos' seven seasons.
Ten nominations and four awards later, Falco is back on an Emmy spree once again for her leading role as "Jackie Peyton" on Nurse Jackie.
Concurrent with her Sopranos Emmy fate, Falco won an Emmy for her first nomination for Nurse Jackie and has received four straight nominations for the comedy series.
The Brooklyn native, best known for her role as "Carmela Soprano" on The Sopranos, won an Emmy after her first-ever nomination for the first season of The Sopranos.
Her fortune didn't stop there, as she was then nominated for all but one of The Sopranos' seven seasons.
Ten nominations and four awards later, Falco is back on an Emmy spree once again for her leading role as "Jackie Peyton" on Nurse Jackie.
Concurrent with her Sopranos Emmy fate, Falco won an Emmy for her first nomination for Nurse Jackie and has received four straight nominations for the comedy series.
Laura Dern - 'Enlightened'
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Laura Dern's Amy Jellicoe in HBO's comedic Enlightened is a well-intentioned employee determined to make her industrial company more responsible – and expose it as a corrupt, greedy company polluting the environment.
In addition to landing a nom for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for that HBO show, this versatile film and television star has been nominated four previous times for Emmys, twice in guest roles -- for Ellen's controversial coming-out episode in 1997 and Fallen Angels in 1994.
Her other two noms were for her forays into the HBO projects Recount, as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, and Afterburn, in which she plays an Air Force widow.
Check out our other Emmy Spotlight galleries:
Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Supporting Actress in a Drama
Supporting Actor in a Drama
In addition to landing a nom for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for that HBO show, this versatile film and television star has been nominated four previous times for Emmys, twice in guest roles -- for Ellen's controversial coming-out episode in 1997 and Fallen Angels in 1994.
Her other two noms were for her forays into the HBO projects Recount, as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, and Afterburn, in which she plays an Air Force widow.
Check out our other Emmy Spotlight galleries:
Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Supporting Actress in a Drama
Supporting Actor in a Drama