Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series


The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 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 36 actresses, with 31 winning for performances in a drama series. At four awards, Tyne Daly and Michael Learned hold the record for most wins in the category. Angela Lansbury is the most nominated actress in the category with twelve nominations, though she has never won the award. Jodie Comer is the current recipient of the award for her work on Killing Eve.

Winners and nominations

Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees.
KeyMeaning
Indicates 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

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Programs with multiple awards

;6 awards
;3 awards
;2 awards
;12 nominations
;9 nominations
;8 nominations
;7 nominations
  • ER
  • L.A. Law
;6 nominations
  • Hill Street Blues
  • House of Cards
  • The Loretta Young Show
  • Mad Men
  • The Waltons
;5 nominations
  • The Closer
  • Family
  • Homeland
  • Killing Eve
  • Six Feet Under
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
;4 awards
;3 awards
;2 awards
;12 nominations
;8 nominations
;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations