2024 Emmy winner predictions: Guest actor and actress in comedy and drama

"The Bear," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and "Saturday Night Live" are among the series with multiple guest star nominees.

As expected, The Bear, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Saturday Night Live had a lot to celebrate when the Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a comedy and drama were announced on July 18. Though we lament the lack of guest nominations for Fallout (justice for Michael Emerson and Kyle MacLachlan!), there are plenty of stellar performers to root for in the four guest categories.

Here are our predictions for which special guests will earn gold at the Emmys on Sept. 18.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Sarah Paulson, Claire Foy, and Michaela Coel
Sarah Paulson on 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'; Claire Foy on 'The Crown'; and Michaela Coel on 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'.

Michaela Coel, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Claire Foy, The Crown
Marcia Gay HardenThe Morning Show
Sarah PaulsonMr. & Mrs. Smith
Parker Posey, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Who will win: Claire Foy
The actress won once before in this category, for her flashback appearance as Princess Elizabeth in The Crown season 4.

Who should win: Sarah Paulson and Michaela Coel
All of Mr. & Mrs. Smith's nominees are deserving, but boy were Paulson and Coel above-and-beyond spectacular — the former as a cheery, humble-braggy couples' therapist attempting to counsel assassins John (Donald Glover) and Jane Smith (Maya Erskine), and the latter as Bev, an equanimous rival spy who befriends John.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Nestor Carbonell in 'Shōgun'
Néstor Carbonell on 'Shōgun'.

Katie Yu/FX

Néstor CarbonellShōgun
Paul DanoMr. & Mrs. Smith
Tracy Letts, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Jonathan PryceSlow Horses
John TurturroMr. & Mrs. Smith

Who will/should win: Néstor Carbonell
The first-time nominee (!) radiates hilarious swagger and swashbuckling charm as Shōgun's Vasco Rodrigues, a mercenary sailor who helped stranded British sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) acclimate to Japanese culture.

Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Jamie Lee Curtis Da'vine and Kaitlin Olson Emmy Guest Stars
Jamie Lee Curtis on 'The Bear'; Da'Vine Joy Randolph on 'Only Murders in the Building'; Kaitlin Olson on 'Hacks'.

FX/Hulu/Max

Olivia ColmanThe Bear
Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
Kaitlin OlsonHacks
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Only Murders in the Building
Maya RudolphSaturday Night Live
Kristen WiigSaturday Night Live

Who will/should win: Jamie Lee Curtis
It's going to be a tight race between Supporting Actress Oscar winners Jamie Lee Curtis and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, but love of The Bear's star-packed extravaganza "Fishes" — and the recent return of Donna Berzatto in the season 3 episode "Ice Chips" — will push Curtis to the top. But a shoutout is also due to Kaitlin Olson, who blends endearing pathos with perfect comic timing as Hacks' DJ. Say it with us: What a c---!

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Ryan Gosling and Bob Odenkirk
Ryan Gosling on 'Saturday Night Live'; Bob Odenkirk on 'The Bear'.

NBC; FX

Jon BernthalThe Bear
Matthew BroderickOnly Murders in the Building
Ryan GoslingSaturday Night Live
Christopher LloydHacks
Bob OdenkirkThe Bear
Will PoulterThe Bear

Who will win: Ryan Gosling
That viral Beavis & Butt-Head sketch will not be denied.

Who should win: Bob Odenkirk
Yes, he was great as The Bear's obnoxious "Uncle" Lee Lane in "Fishes," but Bob Odenkirk is still owed an Emmy (or 6) for his masterful performance as Better Call Saul's Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman/Gene Takavic. For shame, Emmy voters.

The Emmys are voted upon each year by the members of the Television Academy. The final round of voting will come to a close on Aug. 26, less than a month before the ceremony is set to air live on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ABC.

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