2023 Emmy Predictions for Drama Series & Performances: Matt Roush’s Picks
![emmy-predictions-2024-drama-series-actor-actress](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/emmy-predictions-2024-drama-series-actor-actress-000-6-1014x570.jpg)
Emmys
Better late than never? That’s the hope when Fox airs the 75th Emmy Awards, delayed four months by the writers’ and actors’ strikes that paralyzed the TV industry in 2023. Some of the contenders, including the much-nominated second season of The White Lotus, aired all the way back in late 2022. (Anything since June of last year was not eligible.) So this year’s ceremony will be as much a memory tour as a guessing game as we try to predict what the TV Academy’s voters will reward.
Scroll down for our critic Matt Roush‘s picks for Outstanding Drama Series as well as the drama acting categories, ahead of the 2023 Emmy Awards.
75th Primetime Emmy Awards, Monday, January 15, 8/7c, Fox
![Diego Luna in 'Andor' for Disney+](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/andor-diego-luna-cassian-00-1014x570.jpg)
Drama Series
Andor, Disney+
Better Call Saul, AMC
The Crown, Netflix
House of the Dragon, HBO
The Last of Us, HBO
Succession, HBO
The White Lotus, HBO
Yellowjackets, Showtime
![Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey — 'The Last of Us'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-last-of-us-pascal-ramsey-1014x570.jpg)
The safest bet this year is a win for the riveting final season of Succession. I’m sad that Better Call Saul never got the Emmy love of its predecessor Breaking Bad, and if The Last of Us has a great sophomore season its time may come. But nothing can top the power plays that backfired so spectacular for the Roy family.
![Brian Cox and Matthew Macfadyen in 'Succession' Season 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-season-4-Brian-Cox-Matthew-Macfadyen-00-1014x570.jpg)
Will win:
Succession
![Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen-'Succession'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SUCCESSION-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should win:
Succession
![Charmaine Bingwa as Carmen Moyo in The Good Fight](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-good-fight-501-carmen-moyo-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should have been nominated:
The Good Fight, Paramount+
![Pedro Pascal as Joel in Season 1 of The Last of Us](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pedro-pascal-last-of-us-finale-00-1014x570.jpg)
Lead Actor, Drama
Jeff Bridges, The Old Man
Brian Cox, Succession
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Jeremy Strong, Succession
![Bob Odenkirk in 'Better Call Saul'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/better-call-saul-609-bob-odenkirk-1014x570.jpg)
There’s a deserved groundswell of support for Saul’s Bob Odenkirk, and as the heroic lead of The Last of Us, the charismatic Pedro Pascal reminded us he should never be hidden under a Mandalorian helmet. The only way either is likely to triumph is if Succession’s Roy men cancel each other out. While it’s possible Jeremy Strong could win a second Emmy as the disastrously driven Kendall—Brian Cox would have fared better in supporting for his diminished role—most think it’s Kieran Culkin’s turn as Roman, the family’s conflicted man-child, whose meltdown at his father’s funeral was a sight to behold.
![Kieran Culkin in 'Succession' Season 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-season-3-kieran-culkin-2-00-1014x570.jpg)
Most likely to win:
Kieran Culkin
![Kieran Culkin in 'Succession' - Season 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-season-2-kieran-culkin2-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should win:
Kieran Culkin
![Andor Season 1 Diego Luna](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/andor-season-1-diego-luna-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should have been nominated:
Diego Luna, Andor
![Keri Russell as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/keri-russell-the-diplomat-00-1014x570.jpg)
Lead Actress, Drama
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Sarah Snook, Succession
![Sarah Snook in 'Succession'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-409-sarah-snook-1014x570.jpg)
Apologies to those who are bored by sweeps at awards shows, but it’s unlikely anyone can beat Sarah Snook as Succession’s alpha female.
![Sarah Snook in 'Succession' - Season 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-season-4-sarah-snook-as-shiv-00-1014x570.jpg)
Most likely to win:
Sarah Snook
![Sarah Snook in Succession finale](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/sarah-snook-succession-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should win:
Sarah Snook
![Christine Baranski in The Good Fight](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/christine-baranski-the-good-fight-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should have been nominated:
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
![F. Murray Abraham in 'The White Lotus' Season 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-white-lotus-season-2-f-murray-abraham-as-bert-di-grasso-00-1014x570.jpg)
Supporting Actor, Drama
F. Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso, The White Lotus
Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch, Succession
Michael Imperioli as Dominic Di Grasso, The White Lotus
Theo James as Cameron Sullivan, The White Lotus
Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans, Succession
Alan Ruck as Connor Roy, Succession
Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller, The White Lotus
Alexander Skarsgård as Lukas Matsson, Succession
![Matthew Macfadyen in 'Succession'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/succession-406-matthew-macfadyen-1014x570.jpg)
The dominance of Succession and The White Lotus in the supporting characters is overwhelming, and while the vacationers were fun to watch, this is Succession’s year. And while the competition is fierce, it’s hard to imagine Matthew Macfadyen not repeating as the “human grease stain” he described his smarmy character upon accepting his Golden Globe this year.
![Matthew Macfadyen in 'Succession'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/matthew-macfadyen-succession-00-1014x570.jpg)
Most likely to win:
Matthew Macfadyen
![Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans in 'Succession,' Season 3, episode 9: 'All the Bells Say](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Matthew-Macfadyen-Succession-S3E9-HBO-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should win:
Matthew Macfadyen
![John Lithgow in The Old Man](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/john-lithgow-the-old-man-2_jpg-1014x570.jpg)
Should have been nominated:
![Elizabeth Debicki in 'The Crown'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-crown-season-5-elizabeth-debicki-princess-diana-1014x570.jpg)
Supporting Actress, Drama
Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, The White Lotus
Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales, The Crown
Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan, The White Lotus
Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina, The White Lotus
Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller, The White Lotus
Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, Better Call Saul
J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman, Succession
Simona Tabasco as Lucia Greco, The White Lotus
![Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler - Better Call Saul - Season 6, Episode 7](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/better-call-saul-season-6-rhea-seehorn-3-00-1014x570.jpg)
There are no luckier people than those who check into The White Lotus, because the Emmy voters can’t get enough of them. (Five in this category alone?) Everyone expects Jennifer Coolidge to repeat as the doomed Tanya (“These gays, they’re trying to murder me!”), though I was more fascinated this season by Aubrey Plaza’s nuanced work as a diffident spouse. And who wouldn’t love to see Rhea Seehorn finally recognized for her peerless performance as Saul’s savvy yet ultimately appalled partner in crime.
![Jennifer Coolidge in 'The White Lotus' Season 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-white-lotus-season-2-jennifer-coolidge-tanya-00-1014x570.jpg)
Most likely to win:
Jennifer Coolidge
![Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy on 'The White Lotus'](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-white-lotus-harper-daphne-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should win:
Aubrey Plaza or Rhea Seehorn
![Kelly Reilly in Yellowstone](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/kelly-reilly-as-beth-dutton-on-yellowstone-00-1014x570.jpg)
Should have been nominated:
Kelly Reilly, Yellowstone
Andor
Better Call Saul
Emmys
House of the Dragon
Succession
The Crown
The Good Fight
The Last of Us
The White Lotus
Alan Ruck
Alexander Skarsgård
Aubrey Plaza
Bella Ramsey
Bob Odenkirk
Brian Cox
Christine Baranski
Daniel Radcliffe
Diego Luna
Elisabeth Moss
Elizabeth Debicki
F. Murray Abraham
J. Smith-Cameron
Jeff Bridges
Jennifer Coolidge
Jeremy Strong
Jessica Chastain
John Lithgow
Kelly Reilly
Keri Russell
Kieran Culkin
Kumail Nanjiani
Matthew Macfadyen
Meghann Fahy
Melanie Lynskey
Michael Imperioli
Michael Shannon
Nicholas Braun
Pedro Pascal
Rhea Seehorn
Sabrina Impacciatore
Sarah Snook
Sharon Horgan
Simona Tabasco
Taron Egerton
Theo James
Will Sharpe
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