Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Awarded for	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama of Series
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Country	United States
Currently held by	Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (2011)
Official website	http://www.emmys.com/

For the Daytime Emmy Awards, see Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – a Drama Series.

Superlatives

Superlative	Lead Actress - Drama Series		Supporting Actress - Drama Series		Overall
Actress with most awards	Tyne Daly, Michael Learned	4	Nancy Marchand	4	Tyne Daly	6
Actress with most nominations	Angela Lansbury	12	Tyne Daly	8	Tyne Daly	14
Actress with most nominations without ever winning	Angela Lansbury	12	Barbara Bosson	7	Angela Lansbury	12
Television program with most wins	Cagney and Lacey	6	Lou Grant	4	Cagney and Lacey	6
Television program with most nominations	Cagney and Lacey, Murder, She Wrote	12	Lou Grant	8	Hill Street Blues	19

Award winners

1950s

• 1952: Helen Hayes
• 1953: no award
• 1954: Loretta Young – The Loretta Young Show
• 1955: no award
• 1956: Loretta Young – The Loretta Young Show
• 1957: no award
• 1958: no award
• 1959: Loretta Young – The Loretta Young Show

1960s

1960: no award

1961: Barbara Stanwyck – The Barbara Stanwyck Show

1962-1965: no award

1966: Barbara Stanwyck – The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley

• Anne Francis - Honey West as Honey West
• Barbara Parkins - Peyton Place as Betty Anderson

1967: Barbara Bain – Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter

• Diana Rigg - The Avengers as Emma Peel
• Barbara Stanwyck - The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley

1968: Barbara Bain – Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter

• Diana Rigg - The Avengers as Emma Peel
• Barbara Stanwyck - The Big Valley as Victoria Barkley

1969: Barbara Bain – Mission: Impossible as Cinnamon Carter

• Joan Blondell - Here Come the Brides as Lottie Hatfield
• Peggy Lipton - The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes

1970s

1970: Susan Hampshire – The Forsyte Saga as Fleur

• Joan Blondell - Here Come the Brides
• Peggy Lipton - The Mod Squad

1971: Susan Hampshire – The First Churchills as Sarah Churchill

• Linda Cristal - The High Chaparral as Victoria Montoya
• Peggy Lipton - The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes

1972: Glenda Jackson – Elizabeth R as Queen Elizabeth I of England

• Peggy Lipton - The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
• Susan Saint James - McMillan & Wife as Sally McMillian

1973: Michael Learned – The Waltons as Olivia Walton

• Lynda Day George - Mission: Impossible as Lisa Casey
• Susan Saint James - McMillan & Wife as Sally McMillian

1974: Michael Learned – The Waltons as Olivia Walton

• Jean Marsh - Upstairs, Downstairs as Rose Buck
• Jeanette Nolan - Dirty Sally as Sally Fergus

1975: Jean Marsh – Upstairs, Downstairs as Rose Buck

• Angie Dickinson - Police Woman as Sgt. Leann Anderson
• Michael Learned - The Waltons as Olvia Walton

1976: Michael Learned – The Waltons as Olivia Walton

• Angie Dickinson - Police Woman as Sgt. Leann Anderson
• Anne Meara - Kate McShane as Kate McShane
• Brenda Vaccaro - Sara as Sara Yarnell

1977: Lindsay Wagner – The Bionic Woman as Jaime Sommers

• Angie Dickinson - Police Woman as Sgt. Leann Anderson
• Kate Jackson - Charlie's Angels as Sabrina Duncan
• Michael Learned - The Waltons as Olivia Walton
• Sada Thompson - Family as Kate Lawrence

1978: Sada Thompson – Family as Kate Lawrence

• Melissa Sue Anderson - Little House on the Prairie as Mary Ingalls
• Fionnula Flanagan - How the West Was Won as Aunt Molly Culhane
• Kate Jackson - Charlie's Angels as Sabrina Duncan
• Michael Learned - The Waltons as Olivia Walton
• Susan Sullivan - Having Babies as Dr. Julie Farr

1979: Mariette Hartley – The Incredible Hulk as Dr. Caroline Fields

• Barbara Bel Geddes - Dallas as Miss Ellie Ewing
• Rita Moreno - The Rockford Files as Rita Capkovick
• Sada Thompson - Family as Kate Lawrence

1980s

1980: Barbara Bel Geddes – Dallas as Miss Ellie Ewing

• Lauren Bacall - The Rockford Files
• Mariette Hartley - The Rockford Files
• Kristy McNichol - Family as Buddy Lawrence
• Sada Thompson - Family as Kate Lawrence

1981: Barbara Babcock – Hill Street Blues as Grace Gardner

• Barbara Bel Geddes - Dallas as Miss Ellie Ewing
• Linda Gray - Dallas as Sue Ellen Ewing
• Veronica Hamel - Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
• Michael Learned - Nurse as Nurse Mary Benjamin
• Stefanie Powers - Hart to Hart as Jennifer Hart

1982: Michael Learned – Nurse as Nurse Mary Benjamin

• Debbie Allen - Fame as Lydia Grant
• Veronica Hamel - Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
• Michele Lee - Knots Landing as Karen Fairgate
• Stefanie Powers - Hart to Hart as Jennifer Hart

1983: Tyne Daly – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey

• Debbie Allen - Fame as Lydia Grant
• Linda Evans - Dynasty as Krystle Carrington
• Sharon Gless - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney
• Veronica Hamel - Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport

1984: Tyne Daly – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey

• Debbie Allen - Fame as Lydia Grant
• Joan Collins - Dynasty as Alexis Colby
• Sharon Gless - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney
• Veronica Hamel - Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport

1985: Tyne Daly – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey

• Debbie Allen - Fame as Lydia Grant
• Sharon Gless - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney
• Veronica Hamel - Hill Street Blues as Joyce Davenport
• Angela Lansbury - Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher

1986: Sharon Gless – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney

• Tyne Daly - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey
• Angela Lansbury - Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Cybill Shepherd - Moonlighting as Maddie Hayes
• Alfre Woodard - St. Elsewhere as Dr. Roxanne Turner

1987: Sharon Gless – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney

• Tyne Daly - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey
• Susan Dey - L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
• Jill Eikenberry - L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
• Angela Lansbury - Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher

1988: Tyne Daly – Cagney and Lacey as Det. Mary Beth Lacey

• Susan Dey - L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
• Jill Eikenberry - L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
• Sharon Gless - Cagney & Lacey as Det. Chris Cagney
• Angela Lansbury - Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher

1989: Dana Delany – China Beach as Nurse Colleen McMurphy

• Susan Dey - L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen
• Jill Eikenberry - L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
• Linda Hamilton - Beauty and the Beast as Catherine Chandler
• Angela Lansbury - Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher

1990s

1990: Patricia Wettig – thirtysomething as Nancy Krieger-Weston

• Dana Delany – China Beach as Nurse Colleen McMurphy
• Jill Eikenberry – L.A. Law as Ann Kelsey
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Piper Laurie – Twin Peaks as Catherine Martell

1991: Patricia Wettig – thirtysomething as Nancy Krieger-Weston

• Dana Delany – China Beach as Nurse Colleen McMurphy
• Sharon Gless – The Trials of Rosie O'Neill as Rosie O'Neill
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher

1992: Dana Delany – China Beach as Nurse Colleen McMurphy

• Sharon Gless – The Trials of Rosie O'Neill as Rosie O'Neill
• Shirley Knight – Law & Order
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Regina Taylor – I'll Fly Away as Lilly Harper

1993: Kathy Baker – Picket Fences as Dr. Jill Brock

• Swoosie Kurtz – Sisters as Alex Reed
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Regina Taylor – I'll Fly Away as Lilly Harper
• Janine Turner – Northern Exposure as Maggie O'Connell

1994: Sela Ward – Sisters as Teddy Reed

• Kathy Baker – Picket Fences as Dr. Jill Brock
• Swoosie Kurtz – Sisters as Alex Reed
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Jane Seymour – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Dr. Michaela Quinn

1995: Kathy Baker – Picket Fences as Dr. Jill Brock

• Claire Danes – My So-Called Life as Angela Chase
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Sherry Stringfield – ER as Dr. Susan Lewis
• Cicely Tyson – Sweet Justice as Carrie Grace Battle

1996: Kathy Baker – Picket Fences as Dr. Jill Brock

• Gillian Anderson – The X-Files as Dana Scully
• Christine Lahti – Chicago Hope as Dr. Kathryn Austin
• Angela Lansbury – Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher
• Sherry Stringfield – ER as Dr. Susan Lewis

1997: Gillian Anderson – The X-Files as Dana Scully

• Roma Downey - Touched by an Angel as Monica
• Christine Lahti – Chicago Hope as Dr. Kathryn Austin
• Julianna Margulies – ER as Nurse Carol Hathaway
• Sherry Stringfield – ER as Dr. Susan Lewis

1998: Christine Lahti – Chicago Hope as Dr. Kathryn Austin

• Gillian Anderson – The X-Files as Dana Scully
• Roma Downey – Touched by an Angel as Monica
• Julianna Margulies – ER as Nurse Carol Hathaway
• Jane Seymour – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Dr. Michaela Quinn

1999: Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano

• Gillian Anderson – The X-Files as Dana Scully
• Lorraine Bracco – The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
• Christine Lahti – Chicago Hope as Dr. Kathryn Austin
• Julianna Margulies – ER as Nurse Carol Hathaway

2000s

2000: Sela Ward – Once and Again as Lily Manning

• Lorraine Bracco – The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
• Amy Brenneman – Judging Amy as Amy Gray
• Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
• Julianna Margulies – ER as Nurse Carol Hathaway

2001: Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano

• Lorraine Bracco – The Sopranos as Dr. Jennifer Melfi
• Amy Brenneman – Judging Amy as Amy Gray
• Marg Helgenberger – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Catherine Willows
• Sela Ward – Once and Again as Lily Manning

2002: Allison Janney – The West Wing as C.J. Cregg

• Amy Brenneman – Judging Amy as Amy Gray
• Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
• Jennifer Garner – Alias as Sydney Bristow
• Rachel Griffiths – Six Feet Under as Brenda Chenowith

2003: Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano

• Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
• Jennifer Garner – Alias as Sydney Bristow
• Marg Helgenberger – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Catherine Willows
• Allison Janney – The West Wing as C.J. Cregg

2004: Allison Janney – The West Wing as C.J. Cregg

• Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
• Jennifer Garner – Alias as Sydney Bristow
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• Amber Tamblyn – Joan of Arcadia as Joan Girardi

2005: Patricia Arquette – Medium as Allison DuBois

• Glenn Close – The Shield as Capt. Monica Rawling
• Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
• Jennifer Garner – Alias as Sydney Bristow
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson

2006: Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson

• Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under as Ruth Fisher
• Geena Davis – Commander in Chief as President Mackenzie Allen
• Allison Janney – The West Wing as C.J. Cregg
• Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson

2007: Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker

• Patricia Arquette – Medium as Allison DuBois
• Minnie Driver – The Riches as Dahlia Malloy
• Edie Falco – The Sopranos as Carmela Soprano
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson

2008: Glenn Close – Damages as Patty Hewes

• Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• Holly Hunter – Saving Grace as Grace Hanadarko
• Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson

2009: Glenn Close – Damages as Patty Hewes

• Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters as Nora Walker
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• Holly Hunter – Saving Grace as Grace Hanadarko
• Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men as Peggy Olson
• Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson

2010s

2010: Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer as Brenda Leigh Johnson

• Connie Britton – Friday Night Lights as Tami Taylor
• Glenn Close – Damages as Patty Hewes
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• January Jones – Mad Men as Betty Draper
• Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick

2011: Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife as Alicia Florrick

• Kathy Bates – Harry's Law as Harriet "Harry" Korn
• Connie Britton – Friday Night Lights as Tami Taylor
• Mireille Enos – The Killing as Sarah Linden
• Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Det. Olivia Benson
• Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men as Peggy Olson

Multiple winners

4 wins

• Tyne Daly (3 consecutive)
• Michael Learned (2 consecutive)

3 wins

• Barbara Bain (consecutive)
• Kathy Baker (2 consecutive)
• Edie Falco
• Loretta Young

2 wins

• Glenn Close (consecutive)
• Dana Delany
• Sharon Gless (consecutive)
• Susan Hampshire (consecutive)
• Allison Janney (consecutive)
• Barbara Stanwyck (consecutive)
• Patricia Wettig (consecutive)
• Sela Ward

Multiple nominees

12 nominations

• Angela Lansbury

8 nominations

• Sharon Gless
• Mariska Hargitay

6 nominations

• Tyne Daly
• Edie Falco
• Julianna Margulies

5 nominations

• Veronica Hamel
• Kyra Sedgwick

4 nominations

• Debbie Allen
• Gillian Anderson
• Kathy Baker
• Glenn Close
• Frances Conroy
• Dana Delany
• Jill Eikenberry
• Jennifer Garner
• Allison Janney
• Christine Lahti
• Peggy Lipton

3 nominations

• Barbara Bel Geddes
• Lorraine Bracco
• Amy Brenneman
• Susan Dey
• Angie Dickinson
• Sally Field
• Sherry Stringfield
• Sela Ward

2 nominations

• Patricia Arquette
• Joan Blondell
• Connie Britton
• Roma Downey
• Marg Helgenberger
• Holly Hunter
• Kate Jackson
• Swoosie Kurtz
• Elisabeth Moss
• Stefanie Powers
• Diana Rigg
• Susan Saint James
• Jane Seymour
• Regina Taylor

See also

• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series