British Emmy Nominee: Michael Sheen – Why No ’30 Rock’ Nod?

Michael Sheen has played Tony Blair three times, and it’s a testament to Sheen’s immense talent that he’s brought new levels of depth to the character with each passing portrayal. He played the former UK prime minister one last time in the telefilm The Special Relationship, which portrayed Blair’s complicated partnership with President Bill Clinton (fellow nominee Dennis Quaid). Sheen was rewarded for his work last month with an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries. Watch the trailer for the film:

The other nominees up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries are:

Jeff Bridges, A Dog Year
Ian McKellen, The Prisoner
Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack

That’s a tough category. Will Emmy voters be able to resist Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian?

It’s a shame that Sheen wasn’t nominated in the Guest Actor in a Comedy category for his uproarious work on this past season’s 30 Rock. As Liz Lemon’s boyfriend named, hilariously, Wesley Snipes, he’s brought much-needed laughs to a sitcom that has seen better days:

Counting down to the Emmys on August 29th…