This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Not to be confused with the Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. Currently, Della Reese holds the record for most wins in the category with seven.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
1970s Year Actress Series Ref 1970 Judy Pace The Young Lawyers 1971 Elena Verdugo Marcus Welby, M.D. 1972 – 79 colspan="3"
1980s Year Actress Series Ref 1980 Joan Pringle The White Shadow 1981 colspan="3" 1982 Cicely Tyson The Marva Collins Story 1983 Madge Sinclair Trapper John, M.D. 1984 – 87 colspan="3" 1988 Cicely Tyson Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story 1989 Alfre Woodard Unnatural Causes Anne-Marie Johnson In the Heat of the Night Beah Richards Frank's Place Holly Robinson 21 Jump Street Lynn Whitfield Heartbeat
1990s Year Actress Series Ref 1990 Alfre Woodard Mandela 1991 colspan="3" 1992 Alfre Woodard A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story 1993 Lynn Whitfield The Josephine Baker Story 1994 Regina Taylor I'll Fly Away Della Reese Picket Fences Denise Nicholas In the Heat of the Night Hattie Winston Homefront Victoria Dillard TriBeCa 1995 colspan="3" 1996 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Vanessa Bell Calloway Under One Roof Victoria Rowell Diagnosis: Murder Cree Summer Sweet Justice Cicely Tyson 1997 Della Reese Touched by an Angel S. Epatha Merkerson Law & Order Gloria Reuben ER Lauren Velez New York Undercover Vanessa Estelle Williams Chicago Hope 1998 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Vanessa Bell Calloway Orleans Shari Headley 413 Hope St. S. Epatha Merkerson Law & Order Lauren Velez New York Undercover 1999 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Victoria Rowell Diagnosis: Murder Rita Moreno Oz Lorraine Toussaint Any Day Now S. Epatha Merkerson Law & Order
2000s Year Actress Series Ref 2000 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Michael Michele Homicide: Life on the Street Rita Moreno Oz Victoria Rowell Diagnosis: Murder Lorraine Toussaint Any Day Now 2001 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Lorraine Toussaint Any Day Now Nicole Ari Parker Soul Food S. Epatha Merkerson Law & Order Vanessa Estelle Williams Soul Food 2002 Della Reese Touched by an Angel Nicole Ari Parker Soul Food Loretta Devine Boston Public Tangi Miller Felicity Lorraine Toussaint Any Day Now 2003 Vanessa Estelle Williams Soul Food Nicole Ari Parker Soul Food C. C. H. Pounder The Shield Lorraine Toussaint Any Day Now Malinda Williams Soul Food 2004 Nia Long Third Watch Nicole Ari Parker Soul Food C. C. H. Pounder The Shield Malinda Williams Soul Food Vanessa Estelle Williams 2005 Nia Long Third Watch Nicole Ari Parker Soul Food Vivica A. Fox 1-800-Missing Malinda Williams Soul Food Vanessa Estelle Williams 2006 Vivica A. Fox 1-800-Missing Khandi Alexander CSI: Miami Kimberly Elise Close to Home Marianne Jean-Baptiste Without a Trace C. C. H. Pounder The Shield 2007 Kimberly Elise Close to Home Jennifer Beals The L Word C. C. H. Pounder The Shield Roselyn Sanchez Without a Trace Regina Taylor The Unit 2008 Regina Taylor The Unit Jennifer Beals The L Word Wendy Davis Army Wives Nicki Micheaux Lincoln Heights C. C. H. Pounder The Shield 2009 Chandra Wilson Grey's Anatomy Wendy Davis Army Wives Loretta Devine Eli Stone Nicki Micheaux Lincoln Heights C. C. H. Pounder The Shield
2010s Year Actress Series Ref 2010 Jada Pinkett Smith HawthoRNe Regina King Southland Sandra Oh Grey's Anatomy Jill Scott The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Chandra Wilson Grey's Anatomy 2011 Regina King Southland Wendy Davis Army Wives Gugu Mbatha-Raw Undercovers Jada Pinkett Smith HawthoRNe Chandra Wilson Grey's Anatomy 2012 Regina King Southland Khandi Alexander Treme Taraji P. Henson Person of Interest Sandra Oh Grey's Anatomy Chandra Wilson 2013 Kerry Washington Scandal Khandi Alexander Treme Regina King Southland Sandra Oh Grey's Anatomy Chandra Wilson 2014 Kerry Washington Scandal Khandi Alexander Treme Nicole Beharie Sleepy Hollow Regina King Southland Chandra Wilson Grey's Anatomy 2015 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Nicole Beharie Sleepy Hollow Octavia Spencer Red Band Society Gabrielle Union Being Mary Jane Kerry Washington Scandal 2016 Taraji P. Henson Empire Nicole Beharie Sleepy Hollow Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Gabrielle Union Being Mary Jane Kerry Washington Scandal 2017 Taraji P. Henson Empire Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Jurnee Smollett-Bell Underground Kerry Washington Scandal Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar 2018 Taraji P. Henson Empire Jurnee Smollett-Bell Underground Kerry Washington Scandal Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder 2019 Taraji P. Henson Empire Alfre Woodard Luke Cage Naturi Naughton Power Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar
2020s Year Actress Series Ref 2020 Angela Bassett 9-1-1 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Regina King Watchmen Simone Missick All Rise Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar 2021 Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Angela Bassett 9-1-1 Simone Missick All Rise Jurnee Smollett Lovecraft Country Brandee Evans P-Valley 2022 Angela Bassett 9-1-1 Dawn-Lyen Gardner Queen Sugar Octavia Spencer Truth Be Told Queen Latifah The Equalizer (2021 TV series) Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar 2023 Angela Bassett 9-1-1 Brandee Evans P-Valley Queen Latifah The Equalizer (2021 TV series) Rutina Wesley Queen Sugar Zendaya Euphoria 2024 India Amarteifio Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton StoryAngela Bassett9-1-1Octavia SpencerTruth Be ToldQueen LatifahThe EqualizerZoe SaldañaSpecial Ops: Lioness2025 Queen Latifah The EqualizerAngela Bassett9-1-1Emayatzy CorinealdiReasonable DoubtShanola HamptonFoundZoe SaldañaLioness2026 Angela Bassett 9-1-1Emayatzy CorinealdiReasonable DoubtLovie SimoneForeverPatina MillerPower Book III: Raising KananQueen LatifahThe Equalizer
Multiple wins and nominations Wins
7 wins Della Reese
4 wins Taraji P. Henson
3 wins Angela Bassett Alfre Woodard
2 wins Viola Davis Regina King Nia Long Regina Taylor Cicely Tyson Kerry Washington Lynn Whitfield
Nominations
7 nominations Angela Bassett Viola Davis Della Reese
6 nominations Regina King C. C. H. Pounder Chandra Wilson Kerry Washington
5 nominations Taraji P. Henson Queen Latifah Nicole Ari Parker Lorraine Toussaint Vanessa A. Williams Rutina Wesley
4 nominations Khandi Alexander S. Epatha Merkerson
3 nominations Nicole Beharie Wendy Davis Sandra Oh
Victoria Rowell Jurnee Smollett Regina Taylor Malinda Williams Cicely Tyson Alfre Woodard Angela Bassett
2 nominations Jennifer Beals Vanessa Bell Calloway Emayatzy Corinealdi Loretta Devine Kimberly Elise Vivica A. Fox Nia Long Simone Missick Nicki Micheaux Rita Moreno Zoe Saldaña Jada Pinkett Smith Octavia Spencer Gabrielle Union Lynn Whitfield Lauren Velez
References