Emmy Nominations 2023 Predictions: See All of Our Nominee Picks

Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets

Helen Mirren, 1923

Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Sarah Snook, Succession

This category is likely still Sarah Snook’s to lose, but there’s plenty of mystery in who might fill in the category alongside the Succession standout. Lynskey seemed very close to winning this category last year, so even though Yellowjackets stumbled a bit in its second season, we’re saving a slot for her. Mirren has been all over the campaign trail for 1923, while Ramsey, like Snook, gets to be the only nominee in their category for a buzzy HBO show. Russell was nominated three times for The Americans but never won, and the raves around The Diplomat ought to have her in the mix once more. And our true dark horse pick is Horgan for Bad Sisters, a dramedy that might be a bit of an odd fit alongside these heavier dramas, but has been so well-loved we’d feel, well, bad leaving it out. —K.R.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus

Nicholas Braun, Succession

Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul

John Lithgow, The Old Man

Matthew Macfadyen, Succession

Alan Ruck, Succession

Alexander Skarsgård, Succession

Matt Smith, House of the Dragon

Begun, the Succession wars have. With three of the Emmy hoovers biggest machers duking it out in the male-lead category, there’s more room than ever for the show’s deeper bench to get recognized in supporting. That means poor, long-suffering Alan Ruck should finally—finally!—get the recognition he deserves (in nomination form, if not the award itself), alongside his costars Macfadyen, Braun, and Skarsgård. Like HBO shows? So do Emmy voters, which is why Abraham (the most likely contender of a strong White Lotus crew that also includes potential spoiler Michael Imperioli) and Smith (likely the only face from House of the Dragon to make the Emmy cut) should show up on nomination day as well. The category should be rounded out by two beloved, oft-nominated TV vets: Lithgow, who won just a few years ago for The Crown, and Esposito, in his last shot at winning an Emmy for playing Gus Fring. —H.B.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series 

J. Smith-Cameron, Succession

Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus

Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown

Anne-Marie Duff, Bad Sisters

Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus

Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus

Christina Ricci, Yellowjackets

Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul

Just as it completely dominated this lineup on the limited-series side last year, The White Lotus is set to cause a lot of heartbreak here. The ensemble dramedy has too many rich female performances to deny in this category, beginning with front-runner Jennifer Coolidge and continuing onto Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy, the hottest of the new cast additions who appear primed to pick up their first career nods. There are a ton of returning nominees who will have to work on not getting bumped by the trio. Among the safest: Rhea Seehorn, for the final season of Better Call Saul (with her new costar Carol Burnett a potential addition); Christina Ricci, still a standout on Yellowjackets; and J. Smith-Cameron, fortunately Succession’s only major player here. The Handmaid’s Tale vets like Ann Dowd and Yvonne Strahovski may have a tougher road, though, with still more fresh blood angling for a slot. The Crown’s performance this Emmy cycle remains a big question mark, but Elizabeth Debicki’s Diana feels like the strongest chance at some love (Lesley Manville is also in the mix, but her Margaret was not too present). And if Bad Sisters found many fans among the actors’ branch, I suspect Anne-Marie Duff could pull off a surprise for her wrenching work in the last few episodes. —D.C.

Writing for a Drama Series

Jesse Armstrong, Succession (“Connor’s Wedding”)