The IFTA Award for Lead Actress – Drama is an award presented annually by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA). It has been presented since the 1st Irish Film & Television Awards ceremony in 2003 to an Irish actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role on television.
The record for most wins is two, held by Clare Dunne, Charlie Murphy and Lola Petticrew. The record for most nominations is eight, held by Caitríona Balfe, who has won the award once. Petticrew is the award's most recent winner, winning the award for the second time for their performance in Trespasses (2025).
Eligibility The award is exclusively open to Irish actresses. The rules define an Irish person as follows: Born in Ireland (32 counties) or Have Irish Citizenship or Be full-time resident in Ireland (minimum of 3 years)
Winners and nominees In the following table, the years are listed as the year of television. The first three ceremonies were held at the end of the year, but since the 4th Irish Film & Television Awards the ceremonies have generally been held the following year. As there was no ceremony in 2019, the 16th Irish Film & Television Awards covered a period of two years.
+ Table key ‡ Indicates the winner
2000s Year Actress Programme 2003(1st) Any Time Now Home for Christmas Ros na Rún 2004(2nd) Shameless Proof Servants Silent Witness Too Good to Be True 2005(3rd) Pure Mule Fingersmith Shameless 2006(4th) Stardust Legend 2007(5th) Aifric Brotherhood Prosperity 2008(6th) Raw Little White Lie Whistleblower BitterSweet 2009(7th) Harper's Island Rásaí na Gaillimhe Best: His Mother's Son Pure Mule: The Last Weekend
2010s Year Actress Programme 2010(8th) Love/Hate Mistresses Fair City Raw 2011(9th) Shirley Corp + Anam Game of Thrones Raw 2012(10th) Love/Hate Sinbad Rásaí na Gaillimhe Threesome 2013(11th) Amber Love/Hate Moone Boy 2014(12th) Love/Hate Outlander Corp + Anam 2015(13th) Rebellion Outlander No Offence Rebellion Critical 2016(14th) Striking Out Outlander No Offence Murder: The Lost Weekend Preacher 2017(15th) Outlander Acceptable Risk Paula Striking Out Preacher 2018/19(16th) Outlander Dublin Murders Preacher Death and Nightingales
2020s Year Actress Programme 2020/21(17th) Smother Raised by Wolves Black Narcissus Behind Her Eyes 2021/22(18th) Kin Deceit Hidden Assets Three Families Smother 2022/23(19th) Bad Sisters Outlander Smother Holding Conversations with Friends 2023(20th) Kin Malpractice Outlander Obituary Best Interests Northern Lights 2024(21st) Say Nothing Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale Bridgerton Bodkin Bad Sisters 2025(22d) Trespasses Outlander Obituary Hidden Assets
Multiple awards and nominations The following individuals have received two or more Lead Actress awards: Wins Actress Nominations 2 Charlie Murphy 3 Clare Dunne 2 Lola Petticrew
The following individuals have received two or more Lead Actress nominations: Nominations Actress 8 Caitríona Balfe 7 Elaine Cassidy 5 Niamh Algar 4 Ruth Bradley Orla Brady Anne-Marie Duff Charlene McKenna Ruth Negga Aisling O'Sullivan 3 Siobhán Cullen Sharon Horgan Amy Huberman Dervla Kirwan Charlie Murphy 2 Angeline Ball Maria Doyle Kennedy Clare Dunne Michelle Fairley Roisin Gallagher Sarah Greene Deirdre O'Kane Lola Petticrew Catherine Walker
Notes
References
External links IFTA.ie (official IFTA website)