The Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil films. The awards were extended to "Best Actress" in 1972. The year indicates the year of release of the film.
Superlatives SuperlativeRecipient(s)RecordMost winsSujatha, Radhika Sarathkumar, Revathi, Nayanthara3Most consecutive winsSujatha, Revathi3Most nominationsJyothika16Most consecutive nominationsJyothika8Most nominations without a winKhushbu Sundar7Youngest winnerMalvika Nair16Youngest nomineeSridevi14Oldest winnerTrisha Krishnan36Oldest nomineeRevathi55 Actresses Sujatha won the most awards in the 1970s with three. Saritha and Radhika Sarathkumar won the award twice in the 1980s, and Revathi won three times in the 1990s for the most in that decade. Laila had two wins in the 2000s, while Nayanthara won the award thrice in the 2010s. Sai Pallavi leads the 2020s with two wins. Shoba, Archana and Priyamani have won Filmfare award for Best Actress Tamil and National Film Award for Best Actress for their performances in Pasi (1979), Veedu (1988) and Paruthiveeran (2006), respectively while [Revathi] have won National Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Thevar Magan. Jyothika and Trisha Krishnan have won both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil Radhika Sarathkumar, Simran and Jyothika have won awards in 2 different categories other than this category. Radhika Sarathkumar won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 2015. Simran has won both Debut award in 1997 and Best Supporting Actress Award in 2008, while Jyothika won Debut award in 1999 and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – South in 2015. Radhika Sarathkumar,Simran and Parvathy Thiruvothu have won both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award -Tamil Aishwarya Lekshmi is the only actress to receive Best Actress Nominations in three different languages namely Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu in a same year (2023). J. Jayalalithaa, Revathi and Samantha Ruth Prabhu are the only three actresses to win both Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu in the same year for their performances in the year 1972, 1992 and 2012 respectively. Lakshmi and Poornima Bhagyaraj won Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for their performances in the same year (1974 and 1982 respectively). Eight actresses have won for their debut Tamil films, in chronological order Manisha Koirala (1995), Shruti (1996), Sandhya (2004), Bhavana (2006), Parvathy Thiruvothu (2008), Malavika Nair (2014), Ritika Singh (2016) and Nimisha Sajayan (2023).
Multiple wins
The following individuals have received multiple Best Actress awards:
WinsActress3Sujatha, Radhika Sarathkumar, Revathi, Nayanthara2J. Jayalalithaa, Lakshmi, Saritha, Laila, Anjali, Sai Pallavi
Multiple nominations The following individuals have received multiple Best Actress nominations:
NominationsActress16Jyothika11Revathi8Saritha, Radhika Sarathkumar7Lakshmi, Sridevi, Khushbu Sundar, Nayanthara, Trisha6Asin, Sujatha, Meena, Sneha
Winners and nominees + Table key Indicates the winner
1970s Year Actress Film Role(s)1972 (20th) J. Jayalalithaa Pattikada PattanamaKalpana1973 (21st) SuryagandhiRadha1974 (22nd) Lakshmi Dikkatra ParvathiParvathiSujatha Aval Oru Thodar KathaiKavithaSumithraAvalum Penn ThaaneSita1975 (23rd) Sujatha Uravu Solla OruvanSumathiK. R. VijayaAayirathil OruthiJanakiSrividyaApoorva RaagangalBhairavi1976 (24th) Sujatha AnnakiliAnnakiliAalamManmadha LeelaiRekhaJ. JayalalithaaChitra PournamiRaniRani Chandra BhadrakaliSrideviMoondru MudichuSelvi1977 (25th) Sujatha AvargalAnuLakshmiSila Nerangalil Sila ManithargalGangaSridevi16 VayathinileMayilSripriyaAattukara AlameluAlameluSumithraBhuvana Oru Kelvi KuriBhuvana1978 (26th) Latha Vattathukkul Chaduram AnuLakshmi Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral KalyaniRadhika Sarathkumar Kizhakke Pogum Rail PanchaliSridevi Sigappu Rojakkal SharadaSripriya Aval Appadithan Manju1979 (27th) Shoba Pasi KuppammaAshwini Uthiripookkal LakshmiJaya Prada Ninaithale Inikkum SonaSridevi Pagalil Oru Iravu BindhuSripriya Neeya? Naga Rani
1980s YearActressFilmRole(s)1980 (28th) Saritha Vandichakkaram VadivuLakshmi Avan Aval AdhuSridevi Varumayin Niram Sigappu DeviSripriya Avan Aval AdhuSuhasini Nenjathai Killathe Viji1981 (29th) Sridevi Meendum KokilaKokilaSaritha Thanneer Thanneer SevanthiSuhasini Palaivana Solai Geetha1982 (30th) Poornima Bhagyaraj Payanangal MudivathillaiRadhaSaritha Agni Sakshi KannammaSridevi Moondram Pirai Bhagyalakshmi / VijiSripriya Vazhve Mayam RadhaSuhasini Gopurangal Saivathillai Arukkani1983 (31st) Lakshmi UnmaigalRevathi Mann Vasanai MuthupechiSaritha Malaiyoor Mambattiyan KannaathaaSujatha Sumangali Thulasi VedarathnamUrvashi Mundhanai Mudichu Parimala1984 (32nd) Saritha Achamillai AchamillaiThenmozhiLakshmi Sirai BhagirathiNalini Nooravathu Naal DeviRevathi Pudhumai Penn SeethaSujatha Alaya Deepam1985 (33rd) Radha Muthal MariyathaiKuyilKalpana Chinna Veedu BhagyalakshmiNadhiya Poove Poochooda Vaa SundariRevathi Kanni Rasi DhanalakshmiSaritha Kalyana Agathigal AmmuluSuhasini Sindhu Bhairavi Sindhu1986 (34th) Radhika Sarathkumar Dharma DevathaiJhansi RaniAmala Mythili Ennai Kaathali MythiliLakshmi Samsaram Adhu Minsaram UmaNadhiya Nilave Malare Janaki / SheelaRadha Amman Kovil Kizhakale KanmaniRevathi Mouna Ragam Divya1987 (35th) Radhika Sarathkumar Neethikku ThandanaiChithraAmala Vedham Pudhithu VaidehiArchana Rettai Vaal Kuruvi TulasiNadhiya Anbulla Appa RadhaRadha Enga Chinna Rasa Rukmini1988 (36th) Archana VeeduSudhaRadhika Sarathkumar Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran SivagamiSaritha Poo Potha NandavanamShobana Idhu Namma Aalu BanuSuhasini En Bommukutty Ammavukku Lakshmi1989 (37th) Bhanupriya Aararo AariraroMeenakshiRadhika Sarathkumar Thendral Sudum RadhikaGeetha Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal GowriKanaka Karakattakkaran KamakshiSeetha Pudhea Paadhai sita
1990s YearActressFilmRole(s)1990 (38th) Radhika Sarathkumar Keladi KannmaniiSharadaGautami Namma Ooru Poovatha PoovathaRevathi Anjali ChitraKizhakku Vaasal ThaayammaUrvashi Michael Madana Kama Rajan Thiripurasundari1991 (39th) Gautami Nee Pathi Naan PathiNivedhaBhanupriya Azhagan Priya RanjanHeera Idhayam GeethaJayabharathi Marupakkam JanakiKhushbu Sundar Chinna Thambi Nandhini1992 (40th) Revathi Thevar MaganPanchavarnamKhushbu Sundar Rickshaw Mama BhuvanaMadhoo Roja RojaSukanya Chinna Gounder DeivaanaiVijayashanti Mannan Shanthi Devi1993 (41st) Revathi MarupadiyumThulasiBhanupriya Gokulam Mary / GayathriKhushbu Sundar Jaathi Malli SriranjiniMeena Yajaman Vaitheeswari VaanavarayanPriya Raman Valli ValliRadhika Sarathkumar Kizhakku Cheemayile Virumaayi1994 (42nd) Revathi PriyankaPriyankaKhushbu Sundar Nattamai LakshmiNagma Kaadhalan ShruthiRajashree Karuthamma KaruthammaSukanya Mahanadhi YamunaUrvashi Magalir Mattum Janaki1995 (43rd) Manisha Koirala BombayShaila banuKalpana Sathi Leelavathi LeelavathiKhushbu Sundar Kolangal GangaMeena Muthu RanganayagiRadhika Sarathkumar Pasumpon NachiyarSuvaluxmi Aasai saraswathi1996 (44th) Shruti KalkiKalkiDevayani Kadhal Kottai KamaliMeena Avvai Shanmugi JanakiSangita Poove Unakkaga PriyadarshiniSuvaluxmi Gokulathil Seethai NilaUrvashi Irattai Roja Uma1997 (45th) Meena Bharathi KannammaKannammaDevayani Surya Vamsam NandhiniKhushbu Sundar PaththiniMeena Porkkaalam MaragadhamShalini Kadhalukku Mariyadhai Mini1998 (46th) Kausalya PooveliMahalakshmiKhushbu Sundar Simmarasi Sivagami JayanthiRambha Ninaithen Vandhai Swapna Gokula KrishnanRevathi Thalaimurai NachiyarRoja Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen Radha1999 (47th) Ramya Krishnan PadayappaNeelambariAbitha Sethu Abitha KujalambalDevayani Nee Varuvai Ena NandhiniSimran Vaalee PriyaShalini Amarkkalam Mohana
2000s YearActressRole(s)Film2000 (48th) Jyothika KushiJennifer / SelviDevayani Bharathi Chellamal BharathiMeena Rhythm Chitra SrikanthShalini Alai Payuthey Dr.Sakthi2001 (49th) Laila NandhaaKalyaniDevayani Aanandham BharathiJyothika Poovellam Un Vaasam Chella2002 (50th) Simran Kannathil MuthamittalIndira ThiruchelvanNandita Das Azhagi Dhanalakshmi aka DhanamSoundarya Ivan DikshanyaSneha April Maadhathil Shwetha2003 (51st) Laila PithamaganManjuJyothika Dhool EeswariKaakha Kaakha Maya AnpbuselvanSneha Parthiban Kanavu Sathya and Janani2004 (52nd) Sandhya KaadhalAishwaryaAsin M. Kumaran S/O MahalakshmiMythiliJyothikaPerazhagan Priya / ShenbagamManmadhan MythiliReema Sen Chellamae 2005 (53rd) Asin GhajiniKalpanaAsin Majaa Seetha LakshmiJyothika Chandramukhi Ganga SenthilnathanMeera Jasmine Kasthuri Maan Umashankari VetrivelSadha Anniyan Nandhini2006 (54th) Bhavana Chithiram PesuthadiCharuJyothika Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Kundavi GowthamVettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu AaradhanaSandhya Dishyum SindhyaSneha Pudhupettai Krishnaveni2007 (55th) Priyamani ParuthiveeranMuththazhaguSadhaUnnale Unnale JhansiAsin Pokkiri ShruthiJyothika Mozhi ArchanaNayanthara Billa SashaTamannaah Bhatia Kalloori Shobana2008 (56th) Parvathy Thiruvothu PooMaariAsin Dasavathaaram AndalGenelia D'Souza Santosh Subramaniam HasiniNayanthara Yaaradi Nee Mohini KeerthiSneha Pirivom Santhippom VisalatchiSwathi Reddy Subramaniapuram ThulasiTrisha Krishnan Abhiyum Naanum Abi2009 (57th) Pooja Umashankar Naan KadavulHamshavalliPadmapriya Janakiraman Pokkisham NadhiraSneha Achchamundu! Achchamundu! Malini KumarSriya Reddy Kanchivaram AnnamTamannaah Bhatia Kanden Kadhalai Anjali
2010s YearActressRole(s)Film2010 (58th) Anjali Angadi TheruSermakkaniAmala Paul Mynaa MynaaNayanthara Boss Engira Bhaskaran Chandrika ShanmugasundaramReema Sen Aayirathil Oruvan Anitha PandiyanTamannaah Bhatia Paiyaa CharulathaTrisha Krishnan Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Jessy2011 (59th) Anjali Engaeyum EppothumManimegalai RamasamyAnushka Shetty Deiva Thirumagal Anuradha RagunathanAsin Kaavalan MeeraIneya Vaagai Sooda Vaa MadhiRicha Gangopadhyay Mayakkam Enna YaminiShruti Haasan 7 Aum Arivu Subha2012 (60th) Neethaane En PonvasanthamNithya VasudevanAmala Paul Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi ParvathiLakshmi Menon Kumki AlliShruti Haasan 3 JananiSunaina Neerparavai Esther2013 (61st) Nayanthara Raja RaniRegina JohnParvathy Thiruvothu Maryan PanimalarPooja Umashankar Vidiyum Munn RekhaSneha Haridas AmudhavalliTrisha Krishnan Endrendrum Punnagai PriyaVedhika Paradesi Angamma2014 (62nd) Malavika Nair CuckooSudhanthirakodiAmala Paul Velaiilla Pattadhari ShaliniCatherine Tresa Madras KalaiarasiSamantha Ruth Prabhu Kaththi AnkithaVedhika Kaaviya Thalaivan Vadivambal2015 (63rd) Nayanthara Naanum Rowdy DhaanKadhambariAishwarya Rajesh Kaaka Muttai motherGautami Papanasam Rani SuyambulingamJyothika 36 Vayadhinile Vasanthi TamizhselvanNithya Menen O Kadhal Kanmani Tara Kalingarayar2016 (64th) Ritika Singh Irudhi SuttruEzhil MadhiNayanthara Iru Mugan Meera GeorgeSamantha Ruth Prabhu 24 SathyaTheri Mithra VijaykumarTamannaah Bhatia Devi DeviTrisha Krishnan Kodi Rudhra2017 (65th) Nayanthara ArammMadhivadhani IASAditi Balan Aruvi AruviAmala Paul Thiruttu Payale 2 Agalya SelvamAndrea Jeremiah Taramani Althea JohnsonJyothika Magalir Mattum PrabhavathiRevathi Pa. Pandi Poothendral2018 (66th) Trisha Krishnan '96Janaki DeviAishwarya Rajesh Kanaa Kousalya MurugesanJyothika Kaatrin Mozhi Vijayalakshmi BalakrishnanNayanthara Kolamaavu Kokila KokilaSai Pallavi Maari 2 Anandhi
2020s