Alexis Bledel Withdraws From Emmy Race for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Due to New Guest Actor Rules (EXCLUSIVE)

Alexis Bledel has withdrawn herself from Emmy consideration for “The Handmaid’s Tale” following rule changes to the guest acting categories.

Bledel, who plays Dr. Emily Malek/Ofglen in the Hulu drama, had been submitted for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her appearance in the series finale, “610 – The Handmaid’s Tale.” However, due to a newly enforced Emmy rule disqualifying actors previously nominated in a lead or supporting category for the same show, the Television Academy notified Bledel and her team that she would be moved to the supporting actress race. As a result, she opted to withdraw her name from consideration and will not appear on the nomination ballot when voting begins on June 12.

Bledel won the guest actress Emmy in 2017 and was nominated again in 2020 and 2021. In 2018, after appearing in seven of 13 episodes that season, she was deemed ineligible as a guest and was nominated instead in the supporting drama actress category. That’s sole supporting drama actress nom has made her ineligible to compete in guest.

The updated policy has sparked confusion and criticism across the industry.

Meryl Streep, for example, will be ineligible for guest actress consideration for her role in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” despite appearing in just four of the 10 episodes. She will now compete in the supporting comedy actress category. Meanwhile, Paul Rudd was nearly eligible for guest actor in the same series but appeared in one episode too many. Rudd plays two different characters across Seasons 3 and 4: Ben Glenroy, a murdered Hollywood actor, and Glen Stubbins, his Irish-born former stunt double, used as a comedic twist in the upcoming season.

A supporting drama actress awards run for Bledel’s sole episode appearance would put her against her “Handmaid’s Tale” co-stars, in addition to multiple women from “Andor,” “Severance” and “The White Lotus.”

Despite Bledel’s withdrawal, “The Handmaid’s Tale” still has 35 entries across both the Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy categories. Notable acting submissions include Elisabeth Moss for lead actress and for directing the penultimate episode, “Execution.” Supporting actor submissions include Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella and O-T Fagbenle, while Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley and Ann Dowd are entered in the supporting actress category.

With Bledel out of the guest actress category, Hulu still has Emmy winner Cherry Jones for Episode “602” and D’Arcy Carden for Episode “608.”

Since its debut, “The Handmaid’s Tale” has earned 76 Emmy nominations and 15 wins, including the historic outstanding drama series win in its first season — the first ever for a streaming platform.

See Variety’s Emmy Predictions:

Awards Circuit: Emmys