The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is an award presented annually in the U.S. by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role on a television drama series for the primetime network season.
The award was first presented at the 6th Primetime Emmy Awards on February 11, 1954. The acting awards presented during the inaugural years were not genre-specific, with actresses in either drama or comedy series receiving nominations and awards. While Eve Arden was the first winner in the female acting category, Loretta Young was the first actress to win for a lead performance in a drama series. By 1966, the acting awards were split into drama and comedy categories, undergoing several name changes until settling with the current title.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 157 actresses, with 31 winning for performances in a drama series. Tyne Daly and Michael Learned hold the record for most wins in the category, with four each. Angela Lansbury is the most nominated actress in the category, with twelve nominations, though she never won. In 2015, Viola Davis became the first African-American woman to win, for her performance as Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder. In 2020, Zendaya became the youngest winner, at age 24, for Euphoria. She won again in 2022, becoming the first African-American to win twice. Kathy Bates is the oldest nominee, at age 77, for her role in Matlock. In 2024, Anna Sawai became the first Asian woman to win, for her role in Shogun. As of 2026, Rhea Seehorn is the most recent winner, receiving the award for her work on Pluribus.
Winners and nominations Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees. Key MeaningIndicates the winning actress # Indicates a performance in a miniseries or television film, prior to the category's creation § Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation
1950s Year Actress Role Program NetworkBest Female Star of a Regular Series 1954(6th)Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre-specific acting categories Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks CBS Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy CBS Imogene Coca Various characters Your Show of ShowsNBC Dinah Shore Herself The Dinah Shore Show Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young ShowBest Actress Starring in a Regular Series 1955(7th) Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC Gracie Allen Gracie Allen The George Burns and Gracie Allen ShowCBS Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy Ann Sothern Susie McNamara Private SecretaryBest Actress – Continuing Performance 1956(8th) Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy CBS Gracie Allen Gracie Allen The George Burns and Gracie Allen ShowCBS Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks Jean Hagen Margaret Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC Ann Sothern Susie McNamara Private Secretary CBSBest Continuing Performance by an Actress 1957(9th) Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC Jan Clayton Ellen Miller LassieCBS Ida Lupino Various characters Four Star Playhouse Peggy Wood Mama Mama Jane Wyman Various characters Jane Wyman Theatre NBCBest Continuing Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series 1958(10th) Jane Wyatt Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best NBC Eve Arden Liza Hammond The Eve Arden Show CBS Spring Byington Lily Ruskin December Bride Jan Clayton Ellen Miller Lassie Ida Lupino Eve Drake Mr. Adams and EveBest Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series 1959(11th) Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC Phyllis Kirk Nora Charles The Thin Man NBC June Lockhart Ruth Martin Lassie CBS Jane Wyman Various characters The Jane Wyman Show NBC
1960s Year Actress Role Program NetworkOutstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support) 1960(12th) Jane Wyatt Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best CBS Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC Teresa Wright Margaret Bourke-White NBC Sunday Showcase NBC Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young ShowOutstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) 1961(13th) Barbara Stanwyck Various characters The Barbara Stanwyck Show NBC Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBCOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) 1962(14th) Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC Gertrude Berg Sarah Green The Gertrude Berg Show CBS Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC Mary Stuart Joanne Gardner Search for TomorrowCBS Cara Williams Gladys Porter Pete and Gladys 1963(15th) Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC Lucille Ball Lucy Carmichael The Lucy ShowCBS Shirl Conway Liz Thorpe The Nurses Mary Tyler Moore Laura Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show Irene Ryan Granny The Beverly Hillbillies 1964(16th) Mary Tyler Moore Laura Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC Patty Duke Patty and Cathy Lane The Patty Duke Show ABC Irene Ryan Granny The Beverly Hillbillies CBS Inger Stevens Katy Holstrum The Farmer's Daughter ABCOutstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment – Actors and Performers 1965 Leonard Bernstein Conductor New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein CBS Lynn Fontanne Fanny Bowditch HolmesHallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"| rowspan="2"|NBC|-style="background:#FAEB86" | Alfred Lunt| Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.|-style="background:#FAEB86" | Barbra Streisand| Herself| My Name Is BarbraCBS Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show Julie Andrews Herself The Andy Williams Show: "November 30, 1964"NBC Johnny Carson Host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Gladys Cooper Margaret St. ClairThe Rogues Robert Coote Timmy St. Clair Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS Julie Harris Florence Nightingale Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror"NBC Bob Hope Himself Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special Dean Jagger Principal Albert Vane Mr. Novak Danny Kaye Host The Danny Kaye Show CBS David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC Red Skelton Himself The Red Skelton Hour CBSOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series 1966(18th) Barbara Stanwyck Victoria Barkley The Big Valley ABC Anne Francis Honey West Honey WestABC Barbara Parkins Betty Anderson Cord Peyton Place 1967(19th) Barbara Bain Cinnamon Carter Mission: Impossible CBS Diana Rigg Emma Peel The AvengersABC Barbara Stanwyck Victoria Barkley The Big Valley 1968(20th) Barbara Bain Cinnamon Carter Mission: Impossible CBS Diana Rigg Emma Peel The AvengersABC Barbara Stanwyck Victoria Barkley The Big Valley 1969(21st) Barbara Bain Cinnamon Carter Mission: Impossible CBS Joan Blondell Lottie Hatfield Here Come the BridesABC Peggy Lipton Julie Barnes The Mod Squad
1970s Year Actress Role Program Network Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series 1970(22nd) Susan Hampshire # Fleur Mont The Forsyte Saga NET Joan Blondell Lottie Hatfield Here Come the BridesABC Peggy Lipton Julie Barnes The Mod Squad 1971(23rd) Susan Hampshire # Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough The First Churchills PBS Linda Cristal Victoria Montoya The High Chaparral NBC Peggy Lipton Julie Barnes The Mod Squad ABC 1972(24th) Glenda Jackson # Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth R PBS Peggy Lipton Julie Barnes The Mod Squad ABC Susan Saint James Sally McMillian McMillan & Wife NBC Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama Series - Continuing) 1973(25th) Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS Lynda Day George Lisa Casey Mission: Impossible CBS Susan Saint James Sally McMillian McMillan & Wife NBC Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series 1974(26th) Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS Jean Marsh Rose Buck Upstairs, Downstairs PBS Jeanette Nolan Sally Fergus Dirty Sally CBS Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 1975(27th) Jean Marsh Rose Buck Upstairs, Downstairs PBS Angie Dickinson Sgt. Leann Anderson Police Woman NBC Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS 1976(28th) Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS Angie Dickinson Sgt. Leann Anderson Police Woman NBC Anne Meara Kate McShane Kate McShaneCBS Brenda Vaccaro Sara Yarnell Sara 1977(29th) Lindsay Wagner Jaime Sommers The Bionic Woman ABC Angie Dickinson Sgt. Leann Anderson Police Woman NBC Kate Jackson Sabrina Duncan Charlie's Angels ABC Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS Sada Thompson Kate Lawrence Family ABC 1978(30th) Sada Thompson Kate Lawrence Family ABC Melissa Sue Anderson Mary Ingalls Little House on the Prairie NBC Fionnula Flanagan Aunt Molly Culhane How the West Was WonABC Kate Jackson Sabrina Duncan Charlie's Angels Michael Learned Olivia Walton The Waltons CBS Susan Sullivan Julie Farr Having Babies ABC 1979(31st) Mariette Hartley § Carolyn Fields The Incredible Hulk CBS Barbara Bel Geddes Miss Ellie Ewing Dallas CBS Rita Moreno § Rita Capkovick The Rockford Files NBC Sada Thompson Kate Lawrence Family ABC
1980s Year Actress Role Program Network 1980(32nd) Barbara Bel Geddes Miss Ellie Ewing Dallas CBS Lauren Bacall § Kendall WarrenThe Rockford FilesNBC Mariette Hartley § Althea Morgan Kristy McNichol Buddy LawrenceFamilyABC Sada Thompson Kate Lawrence 1981(33rd) Barbara Babcock § Grace Gardner Hill Street Blues NBC Barbara Bel Geddes Miss Ellie EwingDallasCBS Linda Gray Sue Ellen Ewing Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Hill Street Blues NBC Michael Learned Mary Benjamin Nurse CBS Stefanie Powers Jennifer Hart Hart to Hart ABC 1982(34th) Michael Learned Mary Benjamin Nurse CBS Debbie Allen Lydia Grant FameNBC Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Hill Street Blues Michele Lee Karen Fairgate Knots Landing CBS Stefanie Powers Jennifer Hart Hart to Hart ABC 1983(35th) Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & Lacey CBS Debbie Allen Lydia Grant Fame NBC Linda Evans Krystle Carrington Dynasty ABC Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & Lacey CBS Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Hill Street Blues NBC 1984(36th) Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & Lacey CBS Debbie Allen Lydia Grant Fame Syndicated Joan Collins Alexis Colby Dynasty ABC Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & Lacey CBS Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Hill Street Blues NBC 1985(37th) Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & Lacey CBS Debbie Allen Lydia Grant Fame Syndicated Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & Lacey CBS Veronica Hamel Joyce Davenport Hill Street Blues NBC Angela Lansbury Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote CBS 1986(38th) Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & Lacey CBS Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & LaceyCBS Angela Lansbury Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote Cybill Shepherd Maddie Hayes Moonlighting ABC Alfre Woodard Roxanne Turner St. Elsewhere NBC 1987(39th) Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & Lacey CBS Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & Lacey CBS Susan Dey Grace Van OwenL.A. LawNBC Jill Eikenberry Ann Kelsey Angela Lansbury Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote CBS 1988(40th) Tyne Daly Mary Beth Lacey Cagney & Lacey CBS Susan Dey Grace Van OwenL.A. LawNBC Jill Eikenberry Ann Kelsey Sharon Gless Christine Cagney Cagney & LaceyCBS Angela Lansbury Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote 1989(41st) Dana Delany Colleen McMurphy China Beach ABC Susan Dey Grace Van OwenL.A. LawNBC Jill Eikenberry Ann Kelsey Linda Hamilton Catherine Chandler Beauty and the BeastCBS Angela Lansbury Jessica Fletcher Murder, She Wrote
1990s