Emmys spotlight: Saskia Reeves is heartbreakingly good in ‘Slow Horses’
“Slow Horses” has gone from strength to strength across its three seasons so far. Based on Mick Herron‘s book and created by showrunner Will Smith (no, not that one — this is “The Thick of It” writer and actor), the Apple TV+ drama follows disgraced MI5 agents working at Slough House, a department for intelligence agents who have made serious mistakes. Gary Oldman stars as the head of this band of misfits, Jackson Lamb.
Saskia Reeves plays Lamb’s assistant Catherine Standish, who is herself a recovering alcoholic. This British stage veteran delivers a fine performance, exuding intelligence and restraint that juxtaposes nicely with Oldman’s boisterous, brash Lamb. Critics have noted Reeves’ fine work, too.
Samantha Nelson (IGN) noted: “Reeves delivers an excellent, reserved performance as a woman who’s spent a long career operating in the background of the intelligence game – and picked up a few tricks of the trade along the way.”
Rachael Sigee (iNews) stated: “It is gratifying to see Standish at the heart of the storyline. Her complicated working relationship with Lamb has lurked in the background and Reeves has been the understated star of a show full of impressive performances.”
Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert) opined: “And while Oldman and Lowden are the show’s center, everyone is perfectly cast, including legends like Pryce and Thomas and supporting players like Saskia Reeves and Christopher Chung. There’s not one player who feels like they don’t fit.”
Chris Connor (Flickering Myth) observed: “It is as ever a perfect interpretation of Mick Heron’s source material and the cast across the board from Jack Lowden and Gary Oldman to Saskia Reeves and Kristin Scott Thomas continue to be perfect for their respective roles.”
This critical support could finally get Reeves an Emmy nomination.
Currently, she sits just outside of our predicted lineup of Best Drama Supporting Actress nominees: Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown”), Lesley Manville (“The Crown”), Christine Baranski (“The Crown”), Greta Lee (“The Morning Show”), Cynthia Nixon (“The Gilded Age”), co-star Thomas, Nicole Beharie (“The Morning Show”), and Holland Taylor (“The Morning Show”). However, you shouldn’t rule out Reeves just out.
Firstly, you might think having to compete against her co-star, Thomas, might hurt her chances. In fact, it does the opposite. There has been at least one show that produced multiple Best Drama Supporting Actress nominees at each of the last 10 ceremonies. The last year the nominees were the lone representatives of their series was in 2013, when Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad”), Morena Baccarin (“Homeland”), Christine Baranski (“The Good Wife”), Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), and Maggie Smith (“Downton Abbey”) were nominated.
After that, Emmy voters have loved doubling up in this category. Some recent examples include “Succession” duo J. Smith Cameron and Sarah Snook; “The Crown” trio Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson, and Emerald Fennell; “The Handmaid’s Tale” quartet Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski, and Samira Wiley; and “Big Little Lies” pair Laura Dern and Meryl Streep.
In fact, in 2023, voters nominated five actresses from “The White Lotus:” Jennifer Coolidge, Meghann Fahy, Sabrina Impacciatore, Aubrey Plaza, and Simona Tabasco. So, Reeves could easily be paired up with Thomas and nominated alongside her co-star.
Reeves is also a respected, veteran actress and this profile of performer always does well in this category. Recent such nominees include Smith-Cameron (“Succession”), Patricia Arquette (“Severance”), Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Streep (“Big Little Lies”), and Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”).
And, finally, Reeves is something of an unsung hero. She has been a journeywoman actress, popping up in various respected projects (such as “Wolf Hall,” “Luther,” “Our Kind of Traitor,” and even the “Dune” miniseries) but never receiving the love and attention herself. These types of performers can often be recognized by Emmy voters in these supporting categories. Recent examples include Coolidge (“The White Lotus”), Smith-Cameron (“Succession”), and Archie Panjabi (“The Good Wife”).
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