A list of actresses and television series that won and were nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
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1950s
- 1954note : Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks as Constance "Connie" Brooks
- Lucille Ball for I Love Lucy as Lucy Ricardo
- Imogene Coca for Your Show of Shows as various characters
- Dinah Shore for The Dinah Shore Show as herself
- Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- 1955note : Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- Gracie Allen for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as Gracie Allen
- Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks as Constance "Connie" Brooks
- Lucille Ball for I Love Lucy as Lucy Ricardo
- Ann Sothern for Private Secretary as Susan "Susie" McNamara
- 1956note : Lucille Ball for I Love Lucy as Lucy Ricardo
- Gracie Allen for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as Gracie Allen
- Eve Arden for Our Miss Brooks as Constance "Connie" Brooks
- Jean Hagen for Make Room for Daddy as Margaret Williams
- Ann Sothern for Private Secretary as Susan "Susie" McNamara
- 1957note : Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- Jan Clayton for Lassie as Ellen Miller
- Ida Lupino for Four Star Playhouse as various characters
- Peggy Wood for Mama as Marta Hansen
- Jane Wyman for Fireside Theater as various characters
- 1958note : Jane Wyatt for Father Knows Best as Margaret Anderson
- Eve Arden for The Eve Arden Show as Liza Hammond
- Spring Byington for December Bride as Lily Ruskin
- Jan Clayton for Lassie as Ellen Miller
- Ida Lupino for Mr. Adams and Eve as Eve Adams / Eve Drake
- 1959note : Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- Phyllis Kirk for The Thin Man as Nora Charles
- June Lockhart for Lassie as Ruth Martin
- Jane Wyman for Fireside Theater as various characters
1960s
- 1960note : Jane Wyatt for Father Knows Best as Margaret Anderson
- Donna Reed for The Donna Reed Show as Donna Stone
- Teresa Wright as NBC Sunday Showcase as Margaret Bourke-White
- Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- 1961note : Barbara Stanwyck for The Barbara Stanwyck Show as various characters
- Donna Reed for The Donna Reed Show as Donna Stone
- Loretta Young for The Loretta Young Show as various characters
- 1962note : Shirley Booth for Hazel as Hazel Burke
- Gertrude Berg for The Gertrude Berg Show as Sarah Green
- Donna Reed for The Donna Reed Show as Donna Stone
- Mary Stuart for Search for Tomorrow as Joanne "Jo" Gardner
- Cara Williams for Pete and Gladys as Gladys Porter
- 1963note : Shirley Booth for Hazel as Hazel Burke
- Lucille Ball for The Lucy Show as Lucy Carmichael
- Shirl Conway for Nurses as Liz Thorpe
- Mary Tyler Moore for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Laura Petrie
- Irene Ryan for The Beverly Hillbillies as Daisy May Moses / Granny Clampett
- 1964note : Mary Tyler Moore for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Laura Petrie
- Shirley Booth for Hazel as Hazel Burke
- Patty Duke for The Patty Duke Show as Patty Duke / Cathy Duke
- Irene Ryan for The Beverly Hillbillies as Daisy May Moses / Granny Clampett
- Inger Stevens for The Farmer's Daughter as Katrin "Katy" Holstrum
- 1965note :
- Leonard Bernstein for New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein as himself
- Lynne Fontanne for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Fanny Bowditch Holmes
- Alfred Lunt for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
- Barbra Streisand for My Name Is Barbra as herself
- Dick Van Dyke for The Dick Van Dyke Show as Robert "Rob" Petrie
- Julie Andrews for The Andy Williams Show as herself
- Johnny Carson for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as himself
- Gladys Cooper for The Rogues as Margaret St. Clair
- Robert Coote for The Rogues as Timmy St. Clair
- Richard Crenna for Slattery's People as James Slattery
- Julie Harris for Hallmark Hall of Fame as Florence Nightingale
- Bob Hope for Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special as himself
- Dean Jagger for Mr. Novak as Albert Vane
- Danny Kaye for The Danny Kaye Show as himself
- David McCallum for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as Illya Kuryakin
- Red Skelton for The Red Skelton Show as himself
- 1966note : Barbara Stanwyck for The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley
- Anne Francis for Honey West as Honey West
- Barbara Parkins for Peyton Place as Betty Anderson
- 1967note : Barbara Bain for Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter
- Diana Rigg for The Avengers as Emma Peel
- Barbara Stanwyck for The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley
- 1968note : Barbara Bain for Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter
- Diana Rigg for The Avengers as Emma Peel
- Barbara Stanwyck for The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley
- 1969note : Barbara Bain for Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter
- Joan Blondell for Here Come the Brides as Lottie Hatfield
- Peggy Lipton for The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
1970s
- 1970note : Susan Hampshire for The Forsyte Saga as Fleur Mont
- Joan Blondell for Here Come the Brides as Lottie Hatfield
- Peggy Lipton for The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
- 1971note : Susan Hampshire for The First Churchills as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough
- Linda Cristal for The High Chaparral as Victoria Montoya-Cannon
- Peggy Lipton for The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
- 1972note : Glenda Jackson for Elizabeth R as Queen Elizabeth I of England
- Peggy Lipton for The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
- Susan Saint James for McMillan & Wife as Sally McMillan
- 1973note : Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- Lynda Day George for Mission: Impossible as Lisa Casey
- Susan Saint James for McMillan & Wife as Sally McMillan
- 1974note : Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- Jean Marsh for Upstairs Downstairs as Rose Buck
- Jeanette Morton for Dirty Sally as Sally Fergus
- 1975note : Jean Marsh for Upstairs Downstairs as Rose Buck
- Angie Dickinson for Police Woman as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson
- Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- 1976: Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- Angie Dickinson for Police Woman as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson
- Anne Meara for Kate McShane as Kate McShane
- Brenda Vaccaro for Sara as Sara Yarnell
- 1977: Lindsay Wagner for The Bionic Woman as Jamie Sommers
- Angie Dickinson for Police Woman as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson
- Kate Jackson for Charlie's Angels as Sabrina Duncan
- Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- Sada Thompson for Family as Kate Lawrence
- 1978: Sada Thompson for Family as Kate Lawrence
- Melissa Sue Anderson for Little House on the Prairie as Mary Ingalls
- Fionnula Flanagan for How the West Was Won as Molly Culhane
- Kate Jackson for Charlie's Angels as Sabrina Duncan
- Michael Learned for The Waltons as Olivia Walton
- Susan Sullivan for Having Babies as Dr. Julie Farr
- 1979: Mariette Hartley for The Incredible Hulk as Dr. Caroline Fields
- Barbara Bel Geddes for Dallas as Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing
- Rita Moreno for The Rockford Files as Rita Capkovick
- Sada Thompson for Family as Kate Lawrence
1980s
- 1980: Barbara Bel Geddes for Dallas as Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing
- Lauren Bacall for The Rockford Files as Kendall Warren
- Mariette Hartley for The Rockford Files as Althea Morgan
- Kristy McNichol for Family as Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence
- Sada Thompson for Family as Kate Lawrence
- 1981: Barbara Babcock for Hill Street Blues as Grace Gardner
- Barbara Bel Geddes for Dallas as Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Ewing
- Linda Gray for Dallas as Sue Ellen Ewing
- Veronica Hamel for Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
- Michael Learned for Nurse as Mary Benjamin
- Stefanie Powers for Hart to Hart as Jennifer Hart
- 1982: Michael Learned for Nurse as Mary Benjamin
- Debbie Allen for Fame as Lydia Grant
- Veronica Hamel for Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
- Michele Lee for Knots Landing as Karen Fairgate-MacKenzie
- Stefanie Powers for Hart to Hart as Jennifer Hart
- 1983: Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Debbie Allen for Fame as Lydia Grant
- Linda Evans for Dynasty as Krystle Carrington
- Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Veronica Hamel for Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
- 1984: Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Debbie Allen for Fame as Lydia Grant
- Joan Collins for Dynasty as Alexis Colby
- Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Veronica Hamel for Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
- 1985: Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Debbie Allen for Fame as Lydia Grant
- Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Veronica Hamel for Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- 1986: Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Cybill Shepherd for Moonlighting as Madolyn "Maddie" Hayes
- Alfre Woodard for St. Elsewhere as Dr. Roxanne Turner
- 1987: Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Susan Dey for L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
- Jill Eikenberry for L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- 1988: Tyne Daly for Cagney & Lacey as Mary Beth Lacey
- Susan Dey for L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
- Jill Eikenberry for L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
- Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey as Christine Cagney
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- 1989: Dana Delany for China Beach as Colleen McMurphy
- Susan Dey for L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
- Jill Eikenberry for L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
- Linda Hamilton for Beauty and the Beast as Christine Cagney
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
1990s
- 1990: Patricia Wetting for thirtysomething as Nancy Krieger-Weston
- Jill Eikenberry for L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
- Dana Delany for China Beach as Colleen McMurphy
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Piper Laurie for Twin Peaks as Catherine Martell
- 1991: Patricia Wetting for thirtysomething as Nancy Krieger-Weston
- Dana Delany for China Beach as Colleen McMurphy
- Sharon Gless for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill as Fiona "Rosie" O'Neill
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- 1992: Dana Delany for China Beach as Colleen McMurphy
- Sharon Gless for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill as Fiona "Rosie" O'Neill
- Shirley Knight for L.A. Law as Melanie Cullen
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Regina Taylor for I'll Fly Away as Lilly Harper
- Kate Nelligan for Road to Avonlea as Sydney Carver
- 1993: Kathy Baker for Picket Fences as Jill Brock
- Swoosie Kurtz for Sisters as Alexandra "Alex" Reed
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Regina Taylor for I'll Fly Away as Lilly Harper
- Janine Turner for Northern Exposure as Maggie O'Connell
- 1994: Sela Ward for Sisters as Theodora "Teddy" Reed
- Kathy Baker for Picket Fences as Jill Brock
- Swoosie Kurtz for Sisters as Alexandra "Alex" Reed
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Jane Seymour for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn
- 1995: Kathy Baker for Picket Fences as Jill Brock
- Claire Danes for My So-Called Life as Angela Chase
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Sherry Stringfield for ER as Dr. Susan Lewis
- Cicely Tyson for Sweet Justice as Carrie Grace Battle
- 1996: Kathy Baker for Picket Fences as Jill Brock
- Gillian Anderson for The X-Files as Special Agent Dana Scully
- Christine Lahti for Chicago Hope as Dr. Kate Austin
- Angela Lansbury for Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
- Sherry Stringfield for ER as Dr. Susan Lewis
- 1997: Gillian Anderson for The X-Files as Special Agent Dana Scully
- Roma Downey for Touched by an Angel as Monica
- Christine Lahti for Chicago Hope as Dr. Kate Austin
- Julianna Margulies for ER as Dr. Carol Hathaway
- Sherry Stringfield for ER as Dr. Susan Lewis
- 1998: Christine Lahti for Chicago Hope as Dr. Kate Austin
- Gillian Anderson for The X-Files as Special Agent Dana Scully
- Roma Downey for Touched by an Angel as Monica
- Julianna Margulies for ER as Dr. Carol Hathaway
- Jane Seymour for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn
- 1999: Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Gillian Anderson for The X-Files as Special Agent Dana Scully
- Lorraine Bracco for The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- Christine Lahti for Chicago Hope as Dr. Kate Austin
- Julianna Margulies for ER as Dr. Carol Hathaway
2000s
- 2000: Sela Ward for Once and Again as Lily Manning
- Lorraine Bracco for The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- Amy Brenneman for Judging Amy as Amy Gray
- Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Julianna Margulies for ER as Dr. Carol Hathaway
- 2001: Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Lorraine Bracco for The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- Amy Brenneman for Judging Amy as Amy Gray
- Marg Helgenberger for CSI as Catherine Willows
- Sela Ward for Once and Again as Lily Manning
- 2002: Allison Janney for The West Wing as Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
- Amy Brenneman for Judging Amy as Amy Gray
- Frances Conroy for Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
- Jennifer Garner for Alias as Sydney Bristow
- Rachel Griffiths for Six Feet Under as Brenda Chenowith
- 2003: Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Frances Conroy for Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
- Jennifer Garner for Alias as Sydney Bristow
- Marg Helgenberger for CSI as Catherine Willows
- Allison Janney for The West Wing as Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
- 2004: Allison Janney for The West Wing as Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
- Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Jennifer Garner for Alias as Sydney Bristow
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Amber Tamblyn for Joan of Arcadia as Joan Girardi
- 2005: Patricia Arquette for Medium as Allison DuBois
- Glenn Close for The Shield as Captain Monica Rawling
- Frances Conroy for Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
- Jennifer Garner for Alias as Sydney Bristow
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- 2006: Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Frances Conroy for Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
- Geena Davis for Commander in Chief as President Mackenzie "Mac" Allen
- Allison Janney for The West Wing as Claudia Jean "C.J." Cregg
- Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer as Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
- 2007: Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker
- Patricia Arquette for Medium as Allison DuBois
- Minnie Driver for The Riches as Dahlia Malloy
- Edie Falco for The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer as Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
- 2008: Glenn Close for Damages as Patricia "Patty" Hewes
- Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Holly Hunter for Saving Grace as Grace Hanadarko
- Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer as Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
- 2009: Glenn Close for Damages as Patricia "Patty" Hewes
- Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Holly Hunter for Saving Grace as Grace Hanadarko
- Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer as Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
- Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men as Margaret "Peggy" Olson
2010s
- 2010: Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer as Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
- Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights as Tami Taylor
- Glenn Close for Damages as Patricia "Patty" Hewes
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- January Jones for Mad Men as Elizabeth "Betty" Draper
- Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick
- 2011: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick
- Kathy Bates for Harry's Law as Harriet "Harry" Korn
- Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights as Tami Taylor
- Mireille Enos for The Killing as Detective Sarah Linden
- Mariska Hargitay for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Olivia Benson
- Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men as Margaret "Peggy" Olson
- 2012: Claire Danes for Homeland as Carrie Mathison
- Kathy Bates for Harry's Law as Harriet "Harry" Korn
- Glenn Close for Damages as Patricia "Patty" Hewes
- Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey as Lady Mary Crawley
- Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick
- Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men as Margaret "Peggy" Olson
- 2013: Claire Danes for Homeland as Carrie Mathison
- Connie Britton for Nashville as Rayna Jaymes
- Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey as Lady Mary Crawley
- Vera Farmiga for Bates Motel as Norma Bates
- Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men as Margaret "Peggy" Olson
- Kerry Washington for Scandal as Olivia Pope
- Robin Wright for House of Cards as Claire Underwood
- 2014: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick
- Lizzy Caplan for Masters of Sex as Virginia Johnson
- Claire Danes for Homeland as Carrie Mathison
- Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey as Lady Mary Crawley
- Kerry Washington for Scandal as Olivia Pope
- Robin Wright for House of Cards as Claire Underwood
- 2015: Viola Davis for How to Get Away with Murder as Annalise Keating
- Claire Danes for Homeland as Carrie Mathison
- Taraji P. Henson for Empire as Loretha "Cookie" Lyon
- Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black as various characters
- Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men as Margaret "Peggy" Olson
- Robin Wright for House of Cards as Claire Underwood
- 2016: Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black as various characters
- Claire Danes for Homeland as Carrie Mathison
- Viola Davis for How to Get Away with Murder as Annalise Keating
- Taraji P. Henson for Empire as Loretha "Cookie" Lyon
- Keri Russell for The Americans as Elizabeth Jennings
- Robin Wright for House of Cards as Claire Underwood
- 2017: Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid's Tale as June Osborne / Offred
- Viola Davis for How to Get Away with Murder as Annalise Keating
- Claire Foy for The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II of England
- Keri Russell for The Americans as Elizabeth Jennings
- Evan Rachel Wood for Westworld as Dolores Abernathy
- Robin Wright for House of Cards as Claire Underwood
- 2018: Claire Foy for The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II of England
- Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black as various characters
- Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid's Tale as June Osborne / Offred
- Sandra Oh for Killing Eve as Eve Polastri
- Keri Russell for The Americans as Elizabeth Jennings
- Evan Rachel Wood for Westworld as Dolores Abernathy
- 2019: Jodie Comer for Killing Eve as Villanelle / Oksana Astankova
- Emilia Clarke for Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen
- Viola Davis for How to Get Away with Murder as Annalise Keating
- Laura Linney for Ozark as Wendy Byrde
- Mandy Moore for This Is Us as Rebecca Pearson
- Sandra Oh for Killing Eve as Eve Polastri
- Evan Rachel Wood for Westworld as Dolores Abernathy
2020s
- 2020: Zendaya for Euphoria as Ruby "Rue" Bennett
- Jennifer Aniston for The Morning Show as Alexandra "Alex" Levy
- Olivia Colman for The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II of England
- Jodie Comer for Killing Eve as Villanelle / Oksana Astankova
- Laura Linney for Ozark as Wendy Byrde
- Sandra Oh for Killing Eve as Eve Polastri
- 2021: Olivia Colman for The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II of England
- Uzo Aduba for In Treatment as Dr. Brooke Taylor
- Emma Corrin for The Crown as Diana, Princess of Wales
- Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid's Tale as June Osborne / Offred
- MJ Rodriguez for Pose as Blanca Rodriguez
- Jurnee Smollett for Lovecraft Country as Letitia "Leti" Lewis
- 2022: Zendaya for Euphoria as Ruby "Rue" Bennett
- Jodie Comer for Killing Eve as Villanelle / Oksana Astankova
- Laura Linney for Ozark as Wendy Byrde
- Melanie Lynskey for Yellowjackets as Shauna Sadecki
- Sandra Oh for Killing Eve as Eve Polastri
- Reese Witherspoon for The Morning Show as Bradley Jackson
- 2023: Sarah Snook for Succession as Siobhan "Shiv" Roy
- Sharon Horgan for Bad Sisters as Eva Garvey
- Melanie Lynskey for Yellowjackets as Shauna Sadecki
- Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid's Tale as June Osborne / Offred
- Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us as Ellie Williams
- Keri Russell for The Diplomat as Kate Wyler
