Which Actors Will Get Nominations?

While Leslie Bibb is a magnetic presence on this season of “The White Lotus” as MAGA-friendly housewife Kate Bohr, most of her role consists of sly reaction shots as her character figures out how to navigate the waters between Jaclyn and Laurie. But could Kate’s jaw-dropping dinner scene explaining her Trump support — coupled with her fantastic bob — sneak her into the Emmy race?

Carrie Coon seems the like the closest thing to a sure bet for a “White Lotus” acting nomination this season. Her portrayal of Laurie Duffy was complex and multifaceted, as her character went through some of the most growth through the season. Laurie was first introduced as the mild-mannered sidekick of TV star Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), but then was later seen living out loud and bedding a sketchy scammer. Her season finale monologue on friendship solidified a masterful performance built on subtle facial expressions that made her a meme-worthy audience surrogate all season.

Scott Glenn, who portrayed wealthy hotel owner Jim Hollinger, only appeared in two episodes, all but securing him a spot in the guest actor category.

2025 is the year the internet went wall-to-wall Walton Goggins, and he seems likely to be a serious contender for his “White Lotus” portrayal of the troubled Rick Hatchett. While much of his performance reflected a man who bottles up his emotions, the moments where a more vulnerable Rick came through demonstrated Goggins’ craft, from letting his guard down in the bedroom with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), emotional breakthroughs after meeting with Amrita (Shalini Peiris) and even that sly smile after first confronting Jim (Scott Glenn). Combine that with Goggins’ history as a Peak TV scene stealer and his batshit-wild role on “The Righteous Gemstones” — which ran concurrently on HBO with “White Lotus” — and a nod seems like a sure thing.

“The White Lotus” player Jason Isaacs’ story of preparing to play fallen-from-grace patriarch Timothy Ratliff has been perfect fodder for the award circuit: At the advice of series creator Mike White, the actor studied similarly-troubled “Southern Charm” alum Thomas Ravenel to nail the accent and mannerisms. Timothy certainly shows some of the biggest emotions on the show, visualizing killing his family members and himself to avoid financial ruin once returning to the States. But is Timothy too zonked out on Lorazepam to get Isaacs in the conversation alongside some of the flashier performances?

There wasn’t much development to the “White Lotus” character Mook, and we wanted more! Hopefully, this role will land Lalisa Manoban (a.k.a. pop superstar Lisa) meatier parts where she can flex her acting chops. Unfortunately, this won’t resonate enough to get her a nomination. Maybe we’ll get to know her better in a future season of “White Lotus”? She could always transfer!

Another key breakout this season of “The White Lotus” was Sam Nivola, with his portrayal of the youngest Ratliff sibling, Lochlan. While he was involved in the most shocking storyline of the series — via the drugged-up handjob he gave his brother Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) — the character was much more of an observer who went along with his family to keep the peace than an active participant. Will his season finale admission that he’s just a “people pleaser,” as well as his near-death experience, elevate his stature among this stacked cast?

“The White Lotus” Season 3 was a fantastic reminder that Parker Posey is one of the most dynamic actors of her generation. Her character, Victoria Ratliff, is largely seen as comic relief and doesn’t have much of a character arc. But yet, she’s an essential flavor, and her accent has become shorthand for fans and late-night fodder. While Posey’s timing is impeccable, a nomination seems like a bit of a stretch unless Posey’s overall career and likability are taken into account.

Surprise “The White Lotus” cast member Sam Rockwell, who popped up in episode 5 as Rick’s longtime friend Frank, delivered the most shocking monologue of the season. It was initially assumed the actor would end up in the guest actor race, but since he appeared in half of this season’s episodes, he’s ineligible in that category. So can Rockwell break into the supporting category alongside the rest of the cast? It’s a definite possibility — and there’s a fair argument he had more to do than some of the other characters.

Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda is a returning “White Lotus” fan favorite who experienced a wild arc this season, which ended in a hush-money windfall. While it was satisfying to see Belinda protect herself, archive her dreams and ultimately end up echoing Tanya McQuoid, her lack of flashy moments and monologues might not make waves compared to other cast members. Yet it’s possible, as Rothwell is previously Emmy-nominated for the role.

Fans of HBO’s “The Staircase” already knew that Patrick Schwarzenegger is talented, but “White Lotus” cemented his status as an acting force. His character, Saxon Ratliff, started the season as a stereotypical douche. But each episode peeled back new layers as Saxon encountered new people, ideas and realizations about himself that left him fundamentally changed on the boat ride home. Whether wrestling with the extensional confusion that not every woman wants to sleep with him, or trying to unpack the club drugs that opened up his mind to receive a handjob from his brother, Schwarzenegger did a fantastic job of not overplaying a character whose personality was turned inside out during their stay at the White Lotus. Also, Saxon’s look of longing during the finale — both lamenting and inspired by Chelsea’s devotion to Rick — was a quiet and gorgeous moment in a busy episode. A nomination seems likely.

While Gaitok was bad at his job as a security guard at “The White Lotus,” Tayme Thapthimthong did an excellent job portraying him. From his beginnings as a lovesick daydreamer to his ambitious plans to make colleague Mook (Lalisa Manobal) respect him by leveling up at work, Gaitok’s arc ended in a tragic place as he gunned down Rick. Gaitok did a lot of growing up during the series, and Thapthimthong’s portrayal of a pacifist pushed over the edge was ultimately chilling. Although he landed the admiration of Mook, was praised as a hero and landed a huge promotion in the wake of the violent event, it seems like a dark chapter for Gaitok’s soul, and his breaking bad could very well bring a nomination.

The Season 3 “White Lotus” breakout was undoubtedly Aimee Lou Wood and her emotionally vulnerable portrayal of Chelsea, making an nomination all but certain. While Chelsea might have seemed flighty on the surface, her devotion to Rick and commitment to spirituality showed a maturity that belied the stereotypes of May-December relationships. The last look at poor Chelsea as she met her violent end gives a tragic underline to her hope to be with Rick forever, and is likely to stick with voters.