The Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role is an annual Canadian television award, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television to the best leading performance by an actress in a Canadian television series. Previously presented as part of the Gemini Awards, since 2013 it has been presented as part of the Canadian Screen Awards.
Prior to the creation of the Gemini Awards in 1986, the predecessor ACTRA Awards presented only a single award for Best Performance in a Continuing Role, differentiating neither by gender nor for the distinction between comedy and drama."Awards show will be telecast on April 16 on CBC: Finalists for ACTRA awards announced". The Globe and Mail, March 31, 1983.
In August 2022, the academy announced that beginning with the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, a gender-neutral award for Best Leading Performance in a Drama Series will be presented.Joseph Pugh, "Canadian Screen Awards switching to gender-neutral performance categories". CBC News, August 25, 2022.
1980s Year Actor Series Ref 1986 1st Gemini Awards Marnie McPhail The Edison Twins "Green Gables big Gemini awards winner". Windsor Star, December 5, 1986. Jennifer Dale Night Heat Sid Adilman, "Anne leads field in Geminis race". Toronto Star, October 16, 1986. Susan Walden Danger Bay 1987 2nd Gemini Awards Dixie Seatle Adderly Bill Anderson, "Seeing Things shines in Gemini spotlight". Ottawa Citizen, December 10, 1987. Stacie Mistysyn Degrassi Junior High John Haslett Cuff, "Seeing Things, Night Heat top Gemini nomination list". The Globe and Mail, October 22, 1987. Nicole Stoffman Degrassi Junior High Amber-Lea Weston The Campbells 1988 3rd Gemini Awards Sonja Smits Street Legal "Gemini awards ceremony reveals surprising winners". Windsor Star, December 1, 1988. Ocean Hellman Danger Bay Henry Mietkiewicz, "Nominated for Canadian TV's best: The Gemini Awards". Toronto Star, October 13, 1988. Sarah Polley Ramona Jessica Steen Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future 1989 4th Gemini Awards Stacie Mistysyn Degrassi Junior High "Glory enough for all at CBC as docudrama wins 9 Geminis". Montreal Gazette, December 6, 1989. Alex Amini T. and T. "Banting series tops Gemini nominees". Edmonton Journal, October 26, 1989. Janet-Laine Green The Beachcombers Dixie Seatle Adderly Joanne Vannicola 9B
1990s Year Nominee Series Ref 1990 5th Gemini Awards Jackie Burroughs Road to Avonlea Antonia Zerbisias, "CBC celebrates at k.d.'s cafe as it sweeps Gemini awards". Toronto Star, December 4, 1990. Angela Deiseach Degrassi High "Canadian TV shows vie for Geminis". Edmonton Journal, October 4, 1990. Stacie Mistysyn Degrassi High Marsha Moreau My Secret Identity Sarah Polley Road to Avonlea 1991 6th Gemini Awards Jackie Burroughs Road to Avonlea Christopher Harris, "CBC drama tops Gemini ceremonies: Journey into Darkness wins all six categories in which it was nominated". The Globe and Mail, March 9, 1992. Sara Botsford E.N.G. "And the nominees are ...". Hamilton Spectator, March 7, 1992. Cynthia Dale Street Legal Jennifer Dale No Place Like Home Amanda Stepto Degrassi High 1992 7th Gemini Awards Sara Botsford E.N.G. Wendy McCann, "CBC has big night at Gemini Awards". Waterloo Region Record, March 8, 1993. Cynthia Dale Street Legal "Avonlea pulls ahead of E.N.G; CBC drama captures 13 Gemini nominations". Edmonton Journal, January 20, 1993. Sarah Polley Road to Avonlea Sonja Smits Street Legal 1993 8th Gemini Awards Jackie Burroughs Road to Avonlea Christopher Harris, "Geminis annoint controversial mini-series: From ban to blessing, seven awards put The Boys of St. Vincent in a state of grace". The Globe and Mail, March 7, 1994. Catherine Disher Forever Knight Greg Quill, "The Gemini nominees are...". Toronto Star, January 26, 1994. Tina Keeper North of 60 Sophie Michaud Counterstrike Sarah Polley Road to Avonlea 1994 9th Gemini Awards Lally Cadeau Road to Avonlea Tony Atherton, "Geminis come of age: Due South, Browning show score big". Ottawa Citizen, March 6, 1995. Jackie Burroughs Road to Avonlea "Major Gemini Nominations". Toronto Star, January 18, 1995. Tracey Cook North of 60 Cynthia Dale Street Legal Tina Keeper North of 60 1995 10th Gemini Awards Joely Collins Madison Eric Kohanik, "Geminis flock Due South". Windsor Star, March 4, 1996. Tracey Cook North of 60 "Major Gemini nominees; Awards gala to be broadcast March 3". Montreal Gazette, January 25, 1996. Catherine Disher Forever Knight Tina Keeper North of 60 Enuka Okuma Madison Sarah Strange Madison 1996 11th Gemini Awards Tina Keeper North of 60 "And the Gemini winners are ...". Ottawa Citizen, March 3, 1997. Stacy Grant Madison Christopher Harris, "CBC-TV tops Geminis: News, current affairs lead nominations". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1997. Barbara Eve Harris Side Effects Jennifer Podemski The Rez Sarah Strange Madison Gema Zamprogna Road to Avonlea 1997 12th Gemini Awards Patricia Harras Jake and the Kid John McKay, "CBC piles up more honors on second Gemini night". Canadian Press, February 28, 1998. Cynthia Belliveau Wind at My Back John McKay, "CBC's 5th Estate leads the pack for 1997". Canadian Press, January 13, 1998. Tina Keeper North of 60 Sarah Strange Madison Peta Wilson Nikita 1998 13th Gemini Awards Sheila McCarthy Emily of New Moon John McKay, "Bach series continues Gemini streak". Canadian Press, October 3, 1998. Christina Cox F/X: The Series John McKay, "CBC tops Gemini nominations but Bach doc gets single-show nod". Canadian Press, October 3, 1998. Shirley Douglas Wind at My Back Rebecca Jenkins Black Harbour Julie Stewart Cold Squad 1999 14th Gemini Awards Arsinée Khanjian Foolish Heart "Complete list of Gemini winners". Toronto Star, November 8, 1999. Kathryn Greenwood Wind at My Back "Major Gemini Awards nominations". Toronto Star, September 22, 1999. Rebecca Jenkins Black Harbour Sheila McCarthy Emily of New Moon Sonja Smits Traders Peta Wilson Nikita
2000s Year Actor Series Ref 2000 15th Gemini Awards Torri Higginson The City John McKay, "Geminis honour best Canadian TV". Waterloo Region Record, October 31, 2000. Sarah Chalke Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy "Here are the nominees for the 15th annual Gemini Awards". Canadian Press, September 19, 2000. Kari Matchett Power Play Caroline Néron Cover Me Sonja Smits Traders Julie Stewart Cold Squad 2001 16th Gemini Awards Babz Chula These Arms of Mine Alex Strachan, "Da Vinci victorious: Series wins Gemini for best drama, best actor; B.C. movie Scorn honoured". Vancouver Sun, October 30, 2001. Maria del Mar Blue Murder John McKay, "The show must go on: It'll be business as usual for Canada's Gemini Awards galas". Montreal Gazette, October 27, 2001. Tamara Hickey The Associates Julie Stewart Cold Squad Amanda Tapping Stargate SG-1 2002 17th Gemini Awards Julie Stewart Cold Squad Alex Strachan, "B.C. productions shine at Geminis: Da Vinci's Inquest among big winners at TV awards". Vancouver Sun, November 5, 2002. Tamara Hickey The Associates Gayle MacDonald, "Made in Canada leads Gemini pack". The Globe and Mail, September 25, 2002. Janet Kidder Tom Stone Victoria Snow Paradise Falls Venus Terzo Da Vinci's Inquest 2003 18th Gemini Awards Marina Orsini The Last Chapter II: The War Continues "CTV's Eleventh Hour and 100 Days in the Jungle tops at 2003 Gemini Awards". Peterborough Examiner, October 21, 2003. Tamara Hickey Blue Murder Alex Strachan, "CTV's Eleventh Hour leads the Gemini pack". Edmonton Journal, September 10, 2003. Mimi Kuzyk Blue Murder Julie Stewart Cold Squad Waneta Storms The Eleventh Hour 2004 19th Gemini Awards Catherine Disher Snakes & Ladders J. Kelly Nestruck, "Hard drama, hosers at Geminis". Montreal Gazette, December 14, 2004. Martha Burns Slings & Arrows "Gemini nominations". Peterborough Examiner, December 11, 2004. Cara Pifko This is Wonderland Waneta Storms The Eleventh Hour Tracy Waterhouse Blue Murder 2005 20th Gemini Awards Cara Pifko This is Wonderland "CBC, CTV win Geminis; Best drama series already cancelled". Peterborough Examiner, November 21, 2005. Tammy Isbell Paradise Falls "Cancelled Eleventh Hour leads Gemini nods with 15". Waterloo Region Record, October 12, 2005. Victoria Snow Paradise Falls Julie Stewart Cold Squad Waneta Storms The Eleventh Hour 2006 21st Gemini Awards Martha Burns Slings and Arrows Alex Strachan, "Slings & Arrows sweeps Gemini Awards". Vancouver Sun, November 6, 2006. Martha Henry At the Hotel Alex Strachan, "Cancelled show could be Gemini winner: This Is Wonderland nets 12 nominations". Vancouver Sun, August 30, 2006. Erin Karpluk Godiva's Andrea Menard Moccasin Flats Cara Pifko This Is Wonderland 2007 22nd Gemini Awards Martha Burns Slings and Arrows "And the Gemini goes to..." Regina Leader-Post, October 29, 2007. Susan Coyne Slings and Arrows John Kennedy, "Two series top Gemini Awards nominations; The CBC, with a host of nominations, looks like this year's big winner". Vancouver Sun, August 29, 2007. Gabrielle Miller Robson Arms Klea Scott Intelligence 2008 23rd Gemini Awards Hélène Joy Durham County Mark Medley, "Global drama cleans up at 23rd Geminis; Durham County; Former 90210 star hosts Toronto ceremony". National Post, November 29, 2008. Kristin Booth MVP Alex Strachan, "All grown up; The Englishman's Boy receives 12 nominations for Gemini awards". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, August 27, 2008. Natalie Dormer The Tudors Jewel Staite Stargate: Atlantis Camille Sullivan Intelligence 2009 24th Gemini Awards Erin Karpluk Being Erica Eric Volmers and Stephen Hunt, "Flashpoint picks up Gemini for top drama; Erin Karpluk named best actress, Enrico Colantoni best actor". Montreal Gazette, November 15, 2009. Natalie Dormer The Tudors Lisa Wilton, "Gemini Awards predictions". Toronto Sun, November 13, 2009. Amy Jo Johnson Flashpoint Andrea Menard Rabbit Fall Amanda Tapping Sanctuary
2010s