Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress


The Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress was first presented in 1956. The award has no nominees and there is no set number of winners per year. Each performance listed by year below was given an award and they are listed in no particular order. The award can be for a lead or supporting performance and in a play or musical. On occasion, the Obie Awards committee will give an actress an award for sustained excellence of performance to recognize their contributions to Off-Broadway theatre. There is also a separate ensemble award given to recognize entire casts without singling out a particular performer, as they have below. On occasion, the committee gives an actress an award for sustained lifetime achievement, listings for which are also included below. The Obie Award is for performances Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway in New York City only, and is one of the most respected theatre awards given in the United States. In 2014, Sydney Lucas became the youngest winner in OBIE history, at age 10.
‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award after transferring to Broadway.

1950s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
1956Peggy McCayUncle VanyaSofia
1956Shirlee EmmonsThe Mother of Us AllSusan B. Anthony
1956Nancy WickwireThe Cherry OrchardVarya
1956Julie BovassoThe MaidsClaire
1956Frances SternhagenThe Admirable BashvilleLydia Carew
1957Betty MillerExilesBeatrice
1957Marguerite Lenert The House of BreathGranny Ganchion
1957Colleen DewhurstThe Taming of the Shrew & The Eagle Has Two Heads & CamilleKate / The Queen / Marguerite Gautier
1957Jutta WolfExilesBertha
1958Grania O'MalleyGuests of the NationKate O'Connell
1958Nydia WestmanEndgameNell
1958Anne MeachamGarden DistrictCatharine Holly
1958Tammy GrimesClerambardThe Flounder
1959Nancy WickwireA Clearing in the WoodsVirginia
1959Kathleen MaguireThe Time of the CuckooLeona Samish
1959Anne FieldingIvanovSasha
1959Rosina FernhoffFashion & The Geranium HatGertrude / Anne-Betty

1960s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
1960Eileen BrennanLittle Mary SunshineMary Potts
1960Patricia FalkenhainPeer Gynt & Henry IV, Part 1The Greenclad Woman / Doll Tearsheet
1960Elisa LotiCome Share My House-
1960Nancy MarchandThe BalconyIrma
1961Joan HackettCall Me By My Rightful NameChris
1961Gerry JeddShe Stoops to ConquerKate Hardcastle
1961Surya KamariThe King of the Dark ChamberQueen Sudarshana
1961Anne MeachamHedda GablerHedda Gabler
1962Ruth WhiteHappy DaysWinnie
1962Sudie BondTheatre of the AbsurdNell
1962Barbara HarrisOh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung YouRosalie
1962Rosemary HarrisThe Tavern & The School for Scandal & The SeagullVirginia / Lady Teazle / Nina
1962Vinnette CarrollMoon on a Rainbow ShawlSophia
1963Olympia DukakisA Man's a ManLeocadia Begbick
1963Madeleine SherwoodHey You, Light Man!Lula Roca
1963Jacqueline BrookesSix Characters in Search of an AuthorThe Step/Daughter
1963Anne JacksonThe Typists & The TigerSylvia Payton / Gloria Fiske
1963Colleen DewhurstDesire Under the ElmsAbbie Putnam
1964Gloria FosterIn White AmericaClaudette Nevins
1964Marian SeldesThe Ginger ManMiss Frost
1964Lee GrantThe MaidsSolange
1964Joyce EbertThe Trojan WomenAndromache
1964Estelle ParsonsNext Time I'll Sing to You & In the Summer HouseLizzie / Gertrude Eastman Cuevas
1964Diana SandsThe Living Premise in Living ColorVarious Characters
1965Sada ThompsonTartuffeDorine
1965Rosemary HarrisJudith & Man and Superman & War and PeaceJudith / Violet Robinson / Natasha Rostova
1965Margaret DePriestThe Place for ChanceVarious Characters
1965Frances SternhagenThe Room & A Slight AcheRose / Flora
1966Clarice BlackburnThe Exhaustion of Our Son's LoveSara Calendar
1966Florence TarlowRed Cross & Istanbul & A Beautiful DayThe Maid / - / Various Characters
1966Jane WhiteCoriolanus & Love's Labour's LostVolumnia / Princess of France
1966Mari-Claire CharbaBirdbathVelma Sparrow
1966Sharon GansSoon Jack November-
1966Gloria FosterMedeaMedea
1967Bette HenritzeMeasure for Measure & The Long Christmas Dinner & Queens of France & The Displaced Person & The Rimers of Eldritch & All's Well That Ends WellMariana / Ermengarde / Mademoiselle Pointevin / Mrs. Shortley / Mary Windrod / Mariana
1968Peggy PopeMuzeekaEvelyn Landis
1968Mari GormanThe Memorandum & Walking to WaldheimMaria / Zelda Sher
1968Billie DixonThe BeardHarlow
1969Arlene RothleinThe Poor Little Match GirlGirl
1969Julie BovassoGloria and EsperanzaGloria B. Gilbert
1969Judith MalinaAntigoneAntigone

1970s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
1970Rue McClanahanWho's Happy Now?Faye Precious
1970Sada ThompsonThe Effect of Gamma RaysBeatrice Hunsdorfer
1970Roberta MaxwellA Whistle In the DarkBetty Carney
1970Pamela Payton-WrightThe Effect of Gamma RaysMatilda "Tillie" Hunsdorfer
1970Fredricka WeberThe Last Sweet Days of IsaacIngrid / Alice
1971Ruby DeeBoesman and LenaLena
1971Margaret BraidwoodSavedMary
1971Joan MacIntoshCommuneBig Time Clementine
1971Susan BatsonAC/DCSadie
1972Elizabeth WilsonSticks and BonesHarriet ‡
1972Jeanne HeppleThe Reliquary of Mr. and Mrs. PotterfieldChloe Potterfield
1972Marilyn ChrisKaddishNaomi Livergant Ginsberg
1972Kathleen WiddoesThe Beggar's OperaPolly Peachum
1972Salome BeyLove Me, Love My ChildrenVarious Characters
1972Marilyn SokolThe Beggar's OperaLucy Lockit
1973Alice PlaytenNational Lampoon LemmingsVarious Characters
1973Jessica TandyNot IThe Mouth
1973Mari GormanThe Hot l BaltimoreJackie
1973Lola PashalinskiCornLola-Lola
1973Roxie RokerThe River NigerMattie Williams ‡
1974Barbara BarrieThe KilldeerSparky
1974Loretta GreeneThe SirensPepper
1974Barbara MontgomeryMy Sister, My SisterMama
1974Elizabeth SturgesWhen You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?Angel
1974Conchata FerrellThe Sea HorseGertrude Blum
1974Zypora SpaismanStempenyu-
1975Cara Duff-MacCormickCraig's WifeHarriet Craig
1975Tovah FeldshuhYentlYentl ‡
1975Priscilla SmithFragments of a Greek TrilogyMedea / Electra / Andromache
1975Tanya BerezinThe Mound BuildersD.K. Eriksen
1976Crystal FieldDay Old Bread-
1976Kate ManheimRhoda in PotatolandRhoda
1976Pamela Payton-WrightJesse and the Bandit QueenBelle Starr
1976June GableThe Comedy of ErrorsAdriana
1976Priscilla SmithThe Good Woman of SzechwanShen Te
1976Joyce AaronAcademics-
1976Priscilla LopezA Chorus LineDiana Morales ‡
1977Marian SeldesIsadora Duncan Sleeps with the Russian NavyIsadora Duncan
1977Jo HendersonLadyhouse BluesLiz
1977Lucinda ChildsEinstein on the BeachVarious Characters
1977Anne DeSalvoGeminiLucille Grande
1977Roberta MaxwellAshesAnne
1977Lola PashalinskiDer Ring Gott FarblonjetBrunnhilda
1977Margaret WrightA ManoirA Woman in White
1978Swoosie KurtzUncommon Women and OthersRita Altabel
1978Kaiulani LeeSafe House-
1978Alma CuervoUncommon Women and OthersHolly Kaplan
1978Nell CarterAin't MisbehavinNell ‡
1979Mary AliceJulius Caesar & NongogoPortia / Queeny
1979Elizabeth WilsonTaken in MarriageAunt Helen
1979Constance CummingsWingsEmily Stilson ‡

1980s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
1980Lindsay CrouseReunion & Dark Pony & The Sanctity of MarriageCarol Mindler / Daughter / Wife
1980Hattie WinstonMother Courage and Her Children & The MichiganYvette Pottier / -
1980Elizabeth FranzSister Mary Ignatius Explains & The Actor's NightmareSister Mary Ignatius / Sarah Siddons
1980Dianne WiestThe Art of DiningElizabeth Barrow Colt
1980Madeleine le Rouxla Justice-
1981Meryl StreepAlice in ConcertAlice
1981Michele ShayMeetingsJean
1981Mary Beth HurtCrimes of the HeartMeg MaGrath ‡
1981Mary McDonnellStill LifeCheryl
1982Carole ShelleyTwelve DreamsDorothy Trowbridge
1982Irene WorthThe Chalk GardenMiss Madrigal
1982Christine EstabrookPastoraleRachel
1982E. Katherine KerrCloud NineEllen / Mrs. Saunders
1983Glenn CloseThe Singular Life of Albert NobbsAlbert Nobbs
1983Christine BaranskiA Midsummer Night's DreamHelena
1983Ruth MaleczechHajjThe Woman
1984Kathy BakerFool for LoveMay
1984Ruth MaleczechThrough the LeavesAnnette
1984Pamela Reedfor sustained excellence of performance-
1984Sheila DabneySaritaSarita
1984Dianne WiestSerenading Louie & Other Places Gabby / Deborah
1985Laurie MetcalfBalm in GileadDarlene
1985Frances Fosterfor sustained excellence of performance-
1985Meredith Monkfor sustained excellence of performance-
1986Norma AleandroAbout Love and Other Stories About LoveVarious Characters
1986Jill EikenberryLemon Sky & Life Under WaterRonnie / Jinkx
1986Elizabeth WilsonAnteroomFay Leland
1986Kathryn PogsonAunt Dan and LemonLemon
1986Helen StenborgTalley & SonNetta Talley
1986Elisabeth WelchTime to Start Living Various Characters
1986Swoosie KurtzThe House of Blue LeavesBananas Shaughnessy ‡
1987Robin BartlettThe Early GirlJean
1987Dana IveyDriving Miss DaisyDaisy Werthan
1987Laura HicksOn the VergeAlexandra Cafuffle
1987Gcina MhlopeBorn in the RSASindiswa
1987Clarice TaylorMomsMoms Mabley
1988Kathy BatesFrankie and JohnnyFrankie
1988Yvonne BrycelandThe Road to MeccaMiss Helen
1988Tina ShepardThe Three Lives of Lucie CabrolLucie Cabrol
1988Gordana RashovichA Shayna MaidelLusia Weiss Pechenik
1988Lauren TomAmerican NotesPauline
1988Peggy ShawDress Suits to HireDeeluxe
1988Amy IrvingThe Road to MeccaElsa Barlow
1989Kathy NajimyThe Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel LivesVarious Characters
1989Irene Worthfor sustained lifetime achievement-
1989Nancy MarchandThe Cocktail HourAnn
1989Gloria FosterThe Forbidden CityMolly Hoffenburg
1989Mo GaffneyThe Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel LivesVarious Characters

1990s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
1990Lillias WhiteRomance in Hard TimesHennie
1990Mary Shultzfor sustained excellence of performance-
1990Isabell MonkLearGloucester
1990Jean StapletonThe Birthday Party & Mountain LanguageMeg Bowles / Elderly Woman
1990Ruth MaleczechLearLear
1990Danitra VanceSpunkVarious Characters
1990Pamala TysonImperceptible Mutabilities in the Third KingdomVeronica / Us-seer / Aretha / Mrs. Smith
1990Karen Evans-KandelLearEdna
1990Marcia Jean KurtzThe Loman Family Picnic & When She DancedDoris Loman / Miss Belzer
1990Elżbieta CzyżewskaCrowbar-
1991Kathleen WiddoesTower of EvilMargaret of Burgundy
1991Joan CopelandThe American PlanEva Adler
1991Jan Leslie HardingSincerity ForeverFurball #2
1991Anne PitoniakPygmalionMrs. Higgins
1991Jodie MarkellMachinalThe Young Woman
1991Stockard ChanningSix Degrees of SeparationOuisa Kittredge ‡
1991Angela GoethalsThe Good Times are Killing MeEdna Arkins
1991Eileen AtkinsA Room of One's OwnVirginia Woolf
1992Lynne ThigpenBoesman and LenaLena
1992Cherry JonesThe Baltimore WaltzAnna
1992S. Epatha MerkersonI'm Not StupidMother
1992Deborah HedwallSight UnseenPatricia
1992Laura EstermanMarvin's RoomBessie
1992Ofelia Gonzalesfor sustained excellence of performance-
1992Randy Dansonfor sustained excellence of performance-
1992Anna Deavere SmithFires in the MirrorVarious Characters
1993Jane AlexanderThe Sisters RosensweigSara Goode ‡
1993Míriam Colónfor sustained excellence of performance-
1993Frances ConroyThe Last YankeePatricia Hamilton
1993Hallie FooteNightingale & Spring DanceAnnie Gayle Long
1993Ellen Parkerfor sustained excellence of performance-
1993Linda StephensWingsEmily Stilson
1994Myra CarterThree Tall WomenA
1994Judith IveyThe Moonshot TapeDiane
1994Holly Hughesfor sustained excellence of performance-
1994Alice PlaytenFirst Lady SuiteMamie Eisenhower / Lady Bird Johnson
1994Carolee CarmelloHello AgainThe Young Wife
1994Anna Deavere Smith'Various Characters ‡
1994Gail GrateThe America PlayLucy
1994Claudia ShearBlown Sideways Through LifeVarious Characters
1995Mary Beth PeilThe Naked Truth & A Cheever Evening & Missing PersonsNan Bemiss / Various Characters / Addie Pencke
1995Linda LavinHotline & Central Park WestDorothy / Carol
1995Kristine NielsenDog OperaMadeline Newell
1995Eileen AtkinsVita and VirginiaVirginia Woolf
1995Barbara Eda-Young Slavs!Mrs. Domik / First Babushka
1995Felicity HuffmanThe CryptogramDonny
1995Joanna AdlerThe Boys in the Basement-
1995Camryn ManheimMissing PersonsGemma Calabrese
1995Vanessa RedgraveVita and VirginiaVita Sackville-West
1996Mary Louise WilsonFull GallopDiana Vreeland
1996Uta Hagenfor sustained lifetime achievement-
1996Terri KlausnerBed and SofaLudmilla
1996Adina PorterVenusMrs. Sartje Baartman / The Venus Hottentot
1996Lisa Gay HamiltonValley SongVeronica Jonkers
1996Virginia RambalThe Elf Lady & Troy of AmericaAngela / -
1996Kathleen Chalfantfor sustained excellence in performance-
1996Marty PottengerCity Water Tunnel #3Various Characters
1997Karen Evans-KandelPeter and WendyThe Narrator
1997Mary-Louise ParkerHow I Learned to DriveLi'l Bit
1997Tsai ChinGolden ChildEng Siu-Yong
1997Jennifer DundasGood as NewMaggie
1997Sharon ScruggsThe Trojan WomenCassandra
1997Ching Valdes-AranFlipzoidsAying
1997Joanne Campfor sustained excellence of performance-
1998Adriane LenoxDinah WasMama Jones
1998Marie MullenThe Beauty Queen of LeenaneMaureen Folan ‡
1998J. Smith-CameronAs Bees In Honey DrownAlexa Vere de Vere
1998Lea DeLariaOn the TownHildy Esterhazy
1998Yvette FreemanDinah WasDinah Washington
1998Elizabeth MarvelMisalliance & Thérèse RaquinLina Szczepanowska / Thérèse Raquin
1998Mary TestaOn the Town & From AboveMadame Maude P. Dilly ‡ / Roz
1998Kate Valkfor sustained excellence of performance-
1998Joan MacIntoshMore Stately MansionsDeborah Harford
1998Heather GillespieMamba's DaughtersHagar
1998Karen FinleyThe American ChestnutVarious Characters
1999Kristine NielsenBetty's Summer VacationMrs. Siezmagraff
1999Swoosie KurtzThe Mineola TwinsMyra / Myrna
1999Kathleen ChalfantW;tVivian Bearing
1999Viola DavisEverybody's RubyRuby McCollum
1999Mina Bernfor sustained excellence of performance-
1999Peggy ShawMenopausal GentlemanVarious Characters
1999Carmelita Tropicanafor sustained excellence of performance-
1999Lisa Kron'2.5 Minute Ride''Lisa

2000s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
2000Eileen HeckartThe Waverly GalleryGladys Green
2000Debra MonkThe Time of the CuckooLeona Samish
2000Cynthia HopkinsAnother Telepathic ThingThe Narrator
2000Elizabeth MarvelA Streetcar Named DesireBlanche Dubois
2000Lynne ThigpenJar the FloorLola
2000Charlayne WoodardIn the BloodHester
2000Lola PashalinskiGertrude and AliceGertrude Stein
2000Deb Margolinfor sustained excellence of performance-
2000Dominique DibbellJet LagLincoln
2001Mary-Louise ParkerProofCatherine ‡
2001Pamela IsaacsNewyorkersVarious Characters
2001Jackie HoffmanThe Book of LizVarious Characters
2001Janie DeeComic PotentialJacie Triplethree
2001Stephanie BerryThe Shaneequa ChroniclesShaneequa
2001Marian Seldesfor sustained lifetime achievement-
2002Elaine StritchElaine Stritch At LibertyElaine ‡
2002Martha PlimptonHobson's ChoiceMaggie Hobson
2002Yvette GanierBreath, BoomPrix
2002Linda EmondHomebody/KabulThe Homebody
2002Juliana FrancisMaria del BoscoMaria
2003Rosemary HarrisAll OverThe Wife
2003Fiona ShawMedeaMedea ‡
2004Jayne HoudyshellWellAnn Kron ‡
2004Viola DavisIntimate ApparelEsther
2004Lili TaylorAunt Dan and LemonLemon
2004Zilah MendozaLiving OutAna Hernandez
2004Tonya PinkinsCaroline, or ChangeCaroline Thibodeaux ‡
2004Sarah JonesBridge and Tunnel Various Characters ‡
2004Lisa EmeryIronFay
2004Maude MitchellMaybou Mines DollHouseNora Helmer
2005Elizabeth MarvelHedda GablerHedda Gabler
2005Rosemary AllenGood SamaritansRosemary
2005Mercedes RuehlWoman Before a GlassPeggy Guggenheim
2005Cherry Jones'Sister Aloysius Beauvier ‡
2005Deirdre O'Connellfor sustained excellence of performance-
2005Vivienne BeneschGoing to St. IvesCora Gage
2005LaChanzeDessa RoseDessa Rose
2005L. Scott CaldwellGoing to St. IvesMary N'Kame
2006Lois SmithThe Trip to BountifulCarrie Watts
2006Sherie Rene ScottLandscape of the BodyRosalie
2006Julie WhiteThe Little Dog LaughedDiane ‡
2006Dana IveyMrs. Warren's ProfessionKitty Warren
2006Christine EbersoleGrey GardensEdith Bouvier Beale
2006Meg MacCaryWhat ThenDiane
2006S. Epatha MerkersonBirdie BlueBirdie Blue
2006Marin IrelandCycloneErin
2007Roslyn RuffSeven GuitarsVera
2007Nina HellmanTrouble in ParadiseLily
2007Betsy Aidemfor sustained excellence of performance-
2007Nancy OpelMy DeahMy Deah Hedgepeth / Lillie V
2007Donna Lynne ChamplinThe Dark at the Top of the StairsCora Flood
2007Nilaja SunNo ChildVarious Characters
2008Veanne Coxfor sustained excellence of performance-
2008Rebecca WisockyAmazons and Their MenThe Frau
2008Lisa Gay HamiltonOhio State MurdersSuzanne Alexander
2008Kate MulgrewIphigenia 2.oClytemnestra
2008Heidi SchreckDrum of the Waves of HorikawaVarious Characters
2009Birgit HuppuchTelephoneMiss St
2009Saidah Arrika Ekulona 'Ruined''Mama Nadi

2010s

YearWinnersPlay / MusicalCharacter
2010Laurie MetcalfA Lie of the MindMeg
2010Juliet RylanceAs You Like ItRosalind
2011Brenda WehleThe Intelligent Homosexual's Guide To...Clio
2011Charlayne WoodardThe Witch of EdmontonElizabeth Sawyer
2011Laurie MetcalfThe Other PlaceJuliana ‡
2012Cherise BoothMilk Like SugarTalisha
2012Mary Louise Wilson4000 MilesVera Joseph
2012Linda LavinThe LyonsRita Lyons ‡
2012Susan ParfourTribesSylvia
2013Lois Smithfor sustained lifetime achievement-
2013Frances Sternhagenfor sustained lifetime achievement-
2013Eisa Davisfor sustained excellence of performance-
2014Estelle Parsonsfor sustained lifetime achievement-
2014Johanna DayAppropriateAntoinette 'Toni' Lafayette
2014Marylouise Burkefor sustained excellence of performance-
2014Sydney LucasFun HomeSmall Allison Bechdel
2014Mia KatigbakAwake and Sing!Bessie Berger
2015Brooke BloomYou Got OlderMae
2015April Matthisfor sustained excellence of performance-
2016Emily DonahoeThe ChristiansJenny
2016Georgia EngelJohnMertis Katherine Graven
2016Jayne HoudyshellThe HumansDeirdre Blake ‡
2016Tamara TunieFamiliarMarvelous
2017Kecia LewisMarie and RosettaSister Rosetta Tharpe
2017Heather MacRaeCome Back, Little ShebaLola Delaney
2017Amy RyanLove, Love, LoveSandra
2018Carrie CoonMary JaneMary Jane
2018Dame-Jasmine HughesIs God IsRacine
2018Denise GoughPeople, Places & ThingsEmma
2018Jessica HechtAdmissionsSherri Rosen-Mason
2019Cherise BoothFabulation, or the Re-Education of UndineUndine Barnes Calles
2019Heather SimmsFabulation, or the Re-Education of UndineGrandma / Caseworker / Inmate / Dr.Khdair
2019Mia BarronHurricane DianeCarol Fleischer
2019Quincy Tyler Bernstinefor sustained excellence of performance-
2020April MathisToni StoneToni Stone
2020Deirdre O'ConnellDana H.Dana Higginbotham
2020Elizabeth RodriguezHalfway Bitches Go Straight to HeavenMiss Rivera
2020Emily DavisIs This A RoomReality Winner
2020Liza Colón-ZayasHalfway Bitches Go Straight to HeavenSarge
2020Vinie Burrowsfor sustained lifetime achievement-

Winners of more than one award

3 Wins
2 Wins