Carrie Coon Shines in 2025: Why Now’s the Perfect Time to Revisit Her Powerful Role in The Leftovers

Carrie Coon is having a banner year. With standout performances in The White Lotus season 3 and The Gilded Age season 3, the Emmy-nominated actress has firmly cemented herself as one of television’s most compelling talents. But as she continues to collect critical acclaim in 2025, fans and new viewers alike shouldn’t overlook the role that truly launched her career into prestige drama territory — Nora Durst in HBO’s The Leftovers.

Carrie Coon’s Career Peaks in 2025

This year has marked a high point for Coon. Her portrayal of Laurie, the overlooked and emotionally layered character in The White Lotus, has earned her a 2025 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Meanwhile, she continues to dazzle audiences as the fiercely ambitious Bertha Russell in The Gilded Age. With each role, Coon reaffirms her versatility and emotional depth.

Yet, as her star rises, her earlier work demands revisiting — especially in a show as poignant and powerful as The Leftovers.

The Leftovers: Coon’s Most Underrated Triumph

The Leftovers (2014–2017), created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, imagines a world where 2% of the global population vanishes without explanation in an event called The Sudden Departure. The show explores how the remaining 98% cope with a grief they can’t explain and trauma they can’t heal.

Carrie Coon’s role as Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family in that moment, is one of the most emotionally raw and unforgettable performances in the series. Her portrayal of grief, existential crisis, and eventual renewal is heartbreakingly real — and incredibly layered.

An Emmy-Worthy Role That Went Unrecognized

Despite being hailed by critics and fans as one of the most powerful characters in television drama, Coon was never nominated for an Emmy for The Leftovers. That omission now feels glaring in light of her three nominations for later works:

In comparison, her Nora Durst performance — navigating both profound sorrow and a search for meaning — remains just as deserving, if not more.

Where to Watch The Leftovers

The Leftovers is available to stream on HBO Max, and there’s never been a better time to experience this masterpiece. Whether you’re a fan of deep emotional storytelling or intrigued by Carrie Coon’s rising trajectory, this series offers a haunting, poetic, and redemptive journey that resonates long after the credits roll.

Final Thoughts

Carrie Coon’s 2025 accolades are long overdue recognition of her immense talent. As she continues to dominate the screen in The White Lotus and The Gilded Age, take a moment to look back at The Leftovers — a series that didn’t just showcase Coon’s brilliance but also redefined what television drama can achieve.

Powerful, human, and unforgettable — Nora Durst remains one of Carrie Coon’s finest creations.