Claire Foy earned Outstanding Leading Actress in a Drama Series nominations for her acclaimed performance in “The Crown” in both 2017 and 2018. She then won a Guest Actress in a Drama Series Emmy in 2021 for the same character in the same series. Foy is not the same actress who has accomplished this, Ron Cephas Jones also pulled this feat off for “This Is Us.” Moving forward, this will no longer be allowed. That was the biggest takeaway from new Primetime Emmys rules announced by the Television Academy this morning.
READ MORE: “A Complete Unknown,” “Wicked,” “Shogun” and “The Bear” top 2025 SAG Awards nominations
The Television Academy noted, “If a performer has been nominated or has won in a Lead or Supporting Performer category, the performer will not be eligible to submit in a Guest Performer category in a subsequent Emmy year for playing the same character role in the same series. They may, however, continue to enter in a Lead or Supporting category.”
Among other new rules for the 77th Emmy Awards, the Television Academy is now allowing directors to submit for more than one program per category. Previously, a director could only submit for one series in said category.
“An eligible individual or the identical team may now enter multiple achievements per category if the achievements are for different programs. Previously, directors were allowed to submit only one entry per category. This change will allow the director to submit an episode from each of the programs they directed.”
The organization also announced small changes to the Casting and Main Title categories for the 78th Emmy Awards in 2026.
More changes may be revealed when the Television Academy drops its 2025 Rules & Procedures book the week of Jan 20.