Emmy Award Nominations 2007: Focus on James Spader

James Spader, who has already won two Emmys (in 2004 and 2005) for playing Alan Shore (once on 'Boston Legal' and once on its parent series 'The Practice'), is nominated again this year. If he wins this year, it will be his third Emmy as "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" for playing this role. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe award for playing this same character in 2005 and been nominated for many other awards for other work over the years.

His competition in this category for this year's award are actors Kiefer Sutherland ('24'), Hugh Laurie ('House'), Denis Leary ('Rescue Me'), and James Gandolfini ('The Sopranos'). Definitely some worthy competition, and it will be interesting to see who is awarded in this category.

My personal pick would be James Spader. The hard work he does to bring us a believable, interesting, multi-layered character who seems very real (in a series whose events often seem somewhat "unreal") is effective and "invisible." The hard work is definitely there, or we wouldn't see the excellent characterization we see. But it is "invisible" because it appears so effortless. It is preparation, perspiration and craft manifesting itself as inspiration and art.

And the effect is thoroughly entertaining and riveting. It is this character that brings me back to this show week after week, even when the plots delve a bit into the ridiculous. James Spader's depiction has made an exceptionally interesting character development possible. Without his range to play drama, comedy, intensity, disappointment, incredulity and more, the kind of growth this character has experienced could never have taken place.

Most importantly, he brings to the viewers what most actors rarely do - and that is a bit of what is "human" in the character he is playing. In addition to tone of voice, delivery and physicality in his portrayal, he gives us subtlety. He does this with inflection, the way he holds his head, the way he turns toward another character, and more. In short, he gives of himself generously, as only the best actors/artists do.