National Television Awards pick first all-female shortlist for drama acting award

NTA Drama Acting Category Goes All-Women for the First Time

Constantvpn.com – The National Television Awards have handed over their most prestigious acting honour to an entirely female slate of nominees, marking a first in the ceremony’s nearly three-decade history. The best drama performance shortlist, confirmed through a public ballot, features five actresses whose work across streaming platforms, broadcast television, and prestige period drama spans the breadth of British and international screen storytelling.

The significance of this particular shortlist extends beyond the individual performances. For the first time since the NTAs began recognising excellence in British television in 1995, no male actor appears among the five finalists for the drama acting gong. The initial longlist, from which the public vote narrowed the field, had included heavyweight male names such as David Tennant, Gary Oldman, Idris Elba, James Norton, and Tom Hiddleston. That the final cut landed exclusively on women underscores both the strength of the year’s female-led dramatic output and the shifting centre of gravity in prestige television casting.

The Five Nominees

Sheridan Smith returns to the category as a previous winner, this time nominated for her portrayal of campaigner Ann Ming in ITV’s true-crime drama I Fought The Law. Smith’s earlier NTA win cemented her status as a leading dramatic force, and her return to the shortlist signals continued critical and audience respect for her range.

Ruth Jones, best known to a generation of viewers as Jo in BBC’s beloved sitcom Gavin & Stacey, is nominated for her role as Elena Ravenscroft in the Netflix thriller Run Away. The nomination marks a notable pivot from comedy into tense, character-driven drama on a global streaming platform.

Vicky McClure earns her nod for playing Lana Washington in Trigger Point, a role that places her squarely in the arena of high-stakes political thriller television. McClure’s body of work, built over years of gritty British drama, makes this nomination a natural extension of her established screen presence.

Ella Bruccoleri is shortlisted for her performance as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister, an alternative period drama that reimagines the Austen universe from a different character’s perspective. The nomination highlights the continued appetite for period storytelling that subverts its own conventions.

Judy Parfitt rounds out the list for her ongoing role as Sister Monica Joan in Call The Midwife, a long-running ITV series set in post-war London. Parfitt’s nomination acknowledges sustained, multi-season dramatic work rather than a single breakout performance.

A Second Round of Voting Opens

With the shortlists now published, a second stage of public voting is underway across all 15 NTA categories. Viewers will cast their ballots from the present moment until midday on 8 September, the day of the ceremony itself. The winners will be announced live at London’s O2 Arena, with the event hosted once again by comedian Joel Dommett and broadcast simultaneously on ITV1 and ITVX from 20:00 BST.

The NTAs, which have operated since 1995, are structured to celebrate the best of British television over the preceding twelve months. Their public-vote format distinguishes them from peer-judged awards, placing the final decision squarely in the hands of audiences rather than industry panels.

Stacey Solomon’s Hat-Trick and the Presenter Category

Elsewhere on this year’s shortlists, Stacey Solomon has accumulated a hat-trick of nominations, including best TV presenter. That particular award carries particular resonance this cycle: last year it was claimed by Gary Lineker, then outgoing Match of the Day presenter, in a result that ended Ant and Dec’s extraordinary 23-year consecutive winning streak in the category.

For the current year, Solomon will face competition from the Geordie comedy duo themselves, from Sir David Attenborough in the year marking his 100th birthday, from the hit quiz format Traitors, from chat-show host Claudia Winkleman, and from Love Island alum Alison Hammond.

Reality Docuseries and Comedy Nominations

The inaugural celebrity-led reality docuseries category pits Solomon and her partner Joe Swash against a field that includes boxer Tyson Fury, motoring presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Emmerdale actor-turned-farmer Kelvin Fletcher, and the comedy-fishing duo of Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse.

In best comedy, Mrs Brown’s Boys holds a nomination despite the show’s creator and star Brendan O’Carroll suffering a broken jaw this week, which prompted the official cancellation of its festive specials. Other comedy nominees include Amandaland, Changing Ends, Last One Laughing, and Not Going Out.

Drama, Serial, and Factual Entertainment Fields

The new drama category features A Woman of Substance, Believe Me, Heated Rivalry, I Fought The Law, and The Other Bennet Sister. The Canadian breakout romance Heated Rivalry qualifies for British consideration owing to its co-production with Sky. Returning drama nominees include Blue Lights, Bridgerton, Call the Midwife, Stranger Things, and Trigger Point.

Serial drama and serial drama performance categories recognise long-running soaps such as Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, and Casualty, with individual acting nods going to Aaron Thiara, Gareth Pierce, Jeff Hordley, Paul Bradley, and Sue Devaney for their respective roles.

The factual entertainment, daytime, talent show, quiz show, authored documentary, and Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award categories round out the 15-award structure, ensuring that the ceremony spans the full spectrum of British television output from the past year.