The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given to honor an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the daytime drama industry.
The 1st Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony was held in 1974, with Elizabeth Hubbard receiving the award for her role as Althea Davis on The Doctors. The award has undergone several name changes, originally honoring actresses in leading and supporting roles. Following the introduction of a new category in 1979, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, the award's name was altered to Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, before changing once again, to its current title, years later. The awards ceremony was not aired on television in 1983 and 1984, having been criticized for voting integrity. In 1985, another category was introduced: Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series; one criterion for this category was altered, requiring all actresses to be aged 26 or above.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 30 actresses. Erika Slezak has won the award six times, which is more than any other performer. Susan Flannery and Kim Zimmer are tied for second place, each having won the award four times. Susan Lucci has one win from 21 nominationsthe most nominations of any actress in the category. For her portrayal of Amanda Sinclair on The Young and the Restless, Mishael Morgan made Daytime Emmy history by winning the award in 2022, making her the first Black actress to receive this honor. This milestone follows Debbi Morgan's nomination in 2009, where she became the first Black woman nominated in the category. In 2026, Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie of Beyond the Gates, in the soap's first year of eligibility, were both nominated, marking the first time two Black actresses were nominated in this category in the same year. As of the 2025 ceremony, Nancy Lee Grahn is the most recent winner in this category for her portrayal of Alexis Davis on General Hospital.
Winners and nominees Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees. + Table key Indicates the winner
1970s Year Actress Program Role Network 1974 (1st) Elizabeth Hubbard The Doctors Althea Davis Rachel Ames General Hospital Audrey Hardy Mary Fickett All My Children Ruth Martin Mary Stuart Search for TomorrowJoanne Vincente 1975 (2nd) Susan Flannery Days of Our Lives Laura Horton Rachel Ames General Hospital Audrey Hardy Susan Seaforth Hayes Days of Our Lives Julie Banning Ruth Warrick All My ChildrenPhoebe Tyler 1976 (3rd) Helen Gallagher Ryan's Hope Maeve Ryan Denise Alexander General Hospital Dr. Lesley Williams Susan Seaforth Hayes Days of Our Lives Julie Anderson Frances Heflin All My Children Mona Kane Mary Stuart Search for TomorrowJoanne Vincente 1977 (4th) Helen Gallagher Ryan's Hope Maeve Ryan Nancy AddisonRyan's Hope Jillian Coleridge Beverlee McKinsey Another World Iris Carrington Mary Stuart Search for TomorrowJoanne Vincente Ruth Warrick All My ChildrenPhoebe Tyler 1978 (5th) Laurie Heineman Another World Sharlene Frame Mary Fickett All My Children Ruth Martin Jennifer Harmon One Life to LiveCathy Craig Susan Seaforth Hayes Days of Our Lives Julie Williams Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Beverlee McKinsey Another World Iris Bancroft Victoria Wyndham Another World Rachel Cory 1979 (6th) Irene Dailey Another World Liz Matthews Nancy AddisonRyan's Hope Jill Coleridge Helen GallagherRyan's Hope Maeve Ryan Susan Seaforth Hayes Days of Our Lives Julie Williams Beverlee McKinsey Another World Iris Bancroft Victoria Wyndham Another World Rachel Cory
1980s Year Actress Program Role Network 1980 (7th) Judith Light One Life to Live Karen Wolek Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Leslie Charleson General Hospital Monica Quartermaine Kim Hunter The Edge of Night Nola Madison Beverlee McKinsey Another World Iris Bancroft Kathleen Noone All My Children Ellen Dalton 1981 (8th) Judith Light One Life to Live Karen Wolek Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Helen GallagherRyan's Hope Maeve Ryan Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Robin Strasser One Life to Live Dorian Cramer Lord 1982 (9th) Robin Strasser One Life to Live Dorian Lord Callison Leslie Charleson General Hospital Monica Quartermaine Ann Flood The Edge of Night Nancy Pollock Sharon Gabet The Edge of Night Raven Whitney Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1983 (10th) Dorothy Lyman All My Children Opal Gardner Leslie Charleson General Hospital Monica Quartermaine Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Riley Robin Strasser One Life to Live Dorian Cramer Lord 1984 (11th) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Buchanan Ann Flood The Edge of Night Nancy Pollock Sharon Gabet The Edge of Night Raven Whitney Deidre Hall Days of Our Lives Marlena Evans Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1985 (12th) Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Deidre Hall Days of Our Lives Marlena Evans Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Gillian Spencer All My Children Daisy CortlandtRobin Strasser One Life to Live Dorian Cramer Lord 1986 (13th) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Buchanan Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Peggy McCay Days of Our Lives Caroline BradyKim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne 1987 (14th) Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Frances Reid Days of Our Lives Alice Horton Marcy Walker Santa Barbara Eden Capwell 1988 (15th) Helen Gallagher Ryan's Hope Maeve Ryan Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Buchanan Marcy Walker Santa Barbara Eden Capwell 1989 (16th) Marcy Walker Santa Barbara Eden Capwell Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane
1990s Year Actress Program Role Network 1990 (17th) Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Finola Hughes General Hospital Anna Devane Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1991 (18th) Finola Hughes General Hospital Anna Devane Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1992 (19th) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Buchanan Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Jessica Tuck One Life to Live Megan Gordon Harrison 1993 (20th) Linda Dano Another World Felicia Gallant Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Ellen Dolan As the World Turns Margo Hughes Maeve Kinkead Guiding Light Vanessa Chamberlain Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1994 (21st) Hillary B. Smith One Life to Live Nora Hanen Gannon Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Linda Dano Another World Felicia Gallant Fiona Hutchison Guiding Light Jenna Bradshaw Kathleen Widdoes As the World Turns Emma Snyder 1995 (22nd) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Carpenter Leslie Charleson General Hospital Monica Quartermaine Marj Dusay Guiding Light Alexandra Spaulding Maeve Kinkead Guiding Light Vanessa Chamberlain Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1996 (23rd) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Carpenter Jensen Buchanan Another World Vicky Hudson Linda Dano Another World Felicia Gallant Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Jess Walton The Young and the Restless Jill Abbott 1997 (24th) Jess Walton The Young and the RestlessJill Abbott Jensen Buchanan Another World Vicky Hudson Genie Francis General Hospital Laura Spencer Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane 1998 (25th) Cynthia Watros Guiding Light Annie Dutton Eileen Davidson Days of Our Lives Kristen Blake Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Jacklyn Zeman General Hospital Bobbie Spencer Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne 1999 (26th) Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Elizabeth Hubbard As the World Turns Lucinda Walsh Melody Thomas Scott The Young and the Restless Nikki Newman Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne
2000s Year Actress Program Role Network 2000 (27th) Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Finola Hughes All My Children Alex Devane Hillary B. Smith One Life to Live Nora HanenJess Walton The Young and the Restless Jill Abbott 2001 (28th) Martha Byrne As the World Turns Lily Walsh Snyder / Rose D'Angelo Julia Barr All My Children Brooke English Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Marcy Walker All My Children Liza Colby 2002 (29th) Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Martha Byrne As the World Turns Lily Walsh Snyder / Rose D'Angelo Finola Hughes All My Children Alex Devane / Anna Devane Susan Lucci All My Children Erica Kane Colleen Zenk PinterAs the World Turns Barbara Ryan 2003 (30th) Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Eileen Davidson The Young and the Restless Ashley Abbott Nancy Lee GrahnGeneral Hospital Alexis DavisMichelle Stafford The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers AbbottKim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Lewis 2004 (31st) Michelle Stafford The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers Abbott Tamara BraunGeneral Hospital Carly Corinthos Nancy Lee GrahnGeneral Hospital Alexis Davis Maura West As the World TurnsCarly SnyderKim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Lewis 2005 (32nd) Erika Slezak One Life to Live Victoria Lord Davidson Martha Byrne As the World Turns Lily Walsh Snyder Kassie DePaiva One Life to Live Blair Cramer Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie ForresterNancy Lee GrahnGeneral Hospital Alexis DavisJuliet MillsPassions Tabitha Lenox Michelle Stafford The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers Abbott Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Lewis 2006 (33rd) Kim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Lewis Bobbie Eakes All My Children Krystal Carey Beth Ehlers Guiding Light Harley Cooper Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Kelly Monaco General Hospital Sam McCall 2007 (34th) Maura West As the World Turns Carly Snyder Crystal Chappell Guiding Light Olivia Spencer Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Michelle Stafford The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers NewmanKim Zimmer Guiding Light Reva Shayne Lewis 2008 (35th) Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Crystal Chappell Guiding Light Olivia Spencer Nicole Forester Guiding Light Cassie Layne WinslowMichelle Stafford The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers Newman Maura West As the World TurnsCarly Tenney 2009 (36th) Susan Haskell One Life to Live Dr. Marty Saybrooke Jeanne Cooper The Young and the Restless Katherine Chancellor Susan Flannery The Bold and the Beautiful Stephanie Forrester Debbi Morgan All My Children Angie Hubbard Maura West As the World TurnsCarly Tenney
2010s