When the public is so unsure about who actually votes for the Emmy awards, the whole process can seem very arbitrary. Well, we all know that it all starts with nominations, and usually a television program submits eligible names. But that's not the only way it can happen...
Typically, when actors self-submit their names, they're not nominated. And certainly, the Game of Thrones actors surprised everyone for the millionth time when they refused to adhere to the Emmys' standardised practice.
After it emerged that HBO hadn't submitted Gwendoline Christie, Alfie Allen or Carice van Houten for nomination, the actors revealed that they'd done it themselves.
The three actors - who respectively played Brienne of Tarth, Theon Greyjoy and Melisandre in Game of Thrones - shocked everyone, even HBO, when it was revealed that they were officially nominated on Tuesday.
Turns out, all you need to submit yourself is a representative and $225 to enter. Easy as pie.
While this method rarely works, it did this time for the drama series. Christie made it into the nominations for Best Supporting Actress, Allen for Best Supporting Actor, and Van Houten for Best Guest Actress.
Good on all of them, but Christie stood out the most after Julie DiCaro's tweet went viral. The sports journalist wrote: "HBO didn't submit Gwendoline Christie for an Emmy so she submitted herself and got a nomination. Be your own biggest cheerleader."
Even if the three actors don't win, it's likely Game of Thrones will take home something. HBO did submit Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams for nomination.
However, it doesn't seem like there's any bad blood between the show's nominees. Had HBO submitted the other three on top of these names, some speculate that they would've undercut the others' chances. Also, the program had to make revisions somewhere with so many freaking characters in the series.
Game of Thrones had a total of 32 nominations this year, setting a record for the Emmys' drama series category.
With nominations, people vote for those in their category. For example, in the performer category, lead actor peer groups vote for other lead actors. Then, accountants hand-check the ballots and official nominees are announced.
Next, final-round voting occurs when voters pick their favourites in each category in which they're eligible. Again, hand-checked ballots declare winners.
So I guess we'll have to wait until September to see if it pays to be your own biggest cheerleader. Fingers crossed!
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