While everyone is out here talking about whether it will be Jean Smart for Hacks or Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback to take home the hardware at the 2026 Emmy Awards for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, I have been silently sitting back and watching another contender move up the rankings — could Elle Fanning and Margo’s Got Money Troubles shake up a sure thing?

From the very start of this Apple TV comedy, I’ve been feeling like we are going to see some last-minute additions to the Emmy conversation; there’s no way to have Michelle Pfeiffer playing a botoxed baddie and Nick Offerman playing a retired pro wrestler and not have these legends potentially slip into their respective categories. Just as much, coming off her Oscar nomination for Sentimental Value, I figured that Elle Fanning would probably have some buzz behind her heading into TV’s biggest night. Now? She might just be the winner.

In Episode 6, “Grudge Match,” Margo (Fanning) finally gets into the niche side of OnlyFans that the series has been teasing since the beginning, embracing her true HungryGhost persona and facing the music that goes along with it. It’s a 37-minute crash course in playing both the highest highs and lowest lows of any woman, especially a young woman, who is in a vexing position.

Not that this is the ultimate indication of what is trophy-worthy, but when it comes to dissecting the Emmy race each year, I often ask myself about the moments in a TV show that are going to be etched into voters’ brains for the foreseeable future. More than that — and this is where it starts to get complicated — I ask: Did this person do something that no one else in their category did? In the same way that I think musical performances should be granted bonus points at the Oscars (you’re telling me this person had to learn vocals and dances and be measured on the same scale as their non-singing counterparts?!), I think that looking at individuality and uniqueness helps to establish breakout performances.

Explanation out of the way, I cannot think about another person that Elle Fanning will face off against who painted their entire body green, scarfed down an entire bag of Sun Chips, and danced in a sexy alien costume for content creation purposes. It’s the kind of episode and performance that will sit with me for a while, thanks to its wild, youthful, and (true to life) all-encompassing moments.

Many of the episode’s biggest moments, be it the dance scene in her Hungry Ghost alien outfit or the run-in with her professor/baby daddy at a Christmas event, rely on Fanning making the most out of mere glances and quick shots. 35 minutes is not a lot of time in any situation, but when you’re trying to do as Episode 6 does and also make it funny, it’s vital that your key player be able to do a lot with the abbreviated scenes they’re given. This is where, unsurprisingly, Fanning shines.

In each scene, she brings a believable and recognizable character to life with humor and heart, making even the most gut-wrenching scenes (like being doxxed while at a house party with her friend) feel even more sickening and shocking. It’s the power of an actress like Fanning to be able to make us laugh and make us cry in 30 seconds and it’s exactly what she has done week after week, but especially in Episode 6.

Look out Kudrow, Smart, and anyone else hoping to take home an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series this year, a ghost has entered the chat and she is hungry.

The first six episodes of Margo’s Got Money Troubles are now streaming on Apple TV.

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