It’s an honor to be nominated … or so they say. Ellen Pompeo, Charlie Hunnam and more of Hollywood’s most recognizable TV actors have somehow evaded the Emmy Awards throughout their careers.
Pompeo has been a television staple since Grey’s Anatomy first aired in 2005, but her work has yet to be celebrated by the Television Academy. Overall, the ABC drama has earned 39 nominations and five wins, with Katherine Heigl winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2007. Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight were all nominated for their work on the medical drama as well.
Despite never having scored Emmy recognition for her portrayal of Meredith Grey, Pompeo celebrated her former costar’s groundbreaking 2018 nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. At the time, Oh became the first Asian American actress to be nominated in that category for her role on Killing Eve.
“I was not on my phone yesterday and clearly missed A LOT!!! Congratulations @IamSandraOh this is beyond well-deserved and your history making is incredibly moving. Can’t wait to hear your speech!! Which will have us in tears and laughing at the same time no I’m sure,” the Massachusetts native tweeted in July 2018. “No one can touch this girl’s dedication to storytelling or her talent.”
While Pompeo has taken her snubs in stride, Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam wasn’t as cordial after losing out on a nomination every year from 2008 to 2014.
“Lest we forget, it doesn’t matter at all,” the British actor told reporters in July 2014 after his final opportunity to be nominated for the FX series had passed. “I feel there’s this perception that we’re upset about this and … I really don’t give a s–t. I make this for the people that watch the show and I really care for me about the work that I do and for my friends that watch it. People don’t appreciate it. You can’t win them all.”
Scroll down to see which famous TV stars have never been nominated for an Emmy.
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Ellen Pompeo, Charlie Hunnam and More Major TV Stars Who’ve Never Been Nominated for an Emmy
It's an honor to be nominated ... or so they say. Ellen Pompeo, Charlie Hunnam and more of Hollywood's most recognizable TV actors have somehow evaded the Emmy Awards throughout their careers. Pompeo has been a television staple since Grey's Anatomy first aired in 2005, but her work has yet to be celebrated by the Television Academy. Overall, the ABC drama has earned 39 nominations and five wins, with Katherine Heigl winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2007. Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight were all nominated for their work on the medical drama as well. Despite never having scored Emmy recognition for her portrayal of Meredith Grey, Pompeo celebrated her former costar's groundbreaking 2018 nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. At the time, Oh became the first Asian American actress to be nominated in that category for her role on Killing Eve. "I was not on my phone yesterday and clearly missed A LOT!!! Congratulations @IamSandraOh this is beyond well-deserved and your history making is incredibly moving. Can't wait to hear your speech!! Which will have us in tears and laughing at the same time no I'm sure," the Massachusetts native tweeted in July 2018. "No one can touch this girl's dedication to storytelling or her talent." [sendtonews type="float" key="r9JYhJoObc-3112821-14453"] While Pompeo has taken her snubs in stride, Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam wasn't as cordial after losing out on a nomination every year from 2008 to 2014. "Lest we forget, it doesn't matter at all," the British actor told reporters in July 2014 after his final opportunity to be nominated for the FX series had passed. "I feel there's this perception that we're upset about this and ... I really don't give a s--t. I make this for the people that watch the show and I really care for me about the work that I do and for my friends that watch it. People don't appreciate it. You can't win them all." Scroll down to see which famous TV stars have never been nominated for an Emmy. [podcast_block]
From 2008 to 2014, Hunnam gave a gripping performance as Jax Teller on FX's Sons of Anarchy. His work earned him two Critics' Choice Television Awards, a Satellite Award, and a Pan-American Association of Film & Television Journalists award — but never an Emmy nod.
A favorite of populist award shows such as the People’s Choice Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, Ashton Kutcher has kept TV audiences laughing for two decades with his roles in That ’70s Show, Two and a Half Men and The Ranch, yet still has not received an Emmy nomination.
One of the longest-serving stars of The Walking Dead, Norman Reedus’ performance as Daryl Dixon on the AMC hit has captivated fans for eight-plus seasons but has come up lacking in the Emmy department.
Grey's Anatomy fans may be stunned to learn that Ellen Pompeo has yet to land a nomination, despite her 10-plus seasons of bringing title character Meredith Grey to life. A number of Grey's cast members have managed to earn Emmy voters' attentions, with Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) and former costar Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang) previously landing nominations for their contributions to ABC's long-running medical drama.
The CW's Gossip Girl was not exactly awards-show bait, but Blake Lively's six seasons as Serena van der Woodsen earned her legions of fans and propelled her to a major film career.
Ian Somerhalder turned heads in his lone season on ABC's Lost, but it's as Damon Salvatore on the CW's The Vampire Diaries that he truly earned viewers' undying adoration.
Amy Poehler racked up a slew of Emmy nominations for playing lovable Leslie Knope on NBC's Parks and Recreation, but the same cannot be said for Chris Pratt, who brought Andy Dwyer to life before launching his hugely successful movie career.
Her role as Jackie Burkhart on Fox's That '70s Show landed Mila Kunis numerous Teen Choice Award nominations. Alas, Emmy voters weren't quite as generous.