Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

2026

Rhea Seehorn / PLUR1BUS

2025

Kathy Bates / Matlock (2024)

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Keri Russell / The Diplomat (US)

2024

Anna Sawai / Shōgun

Carrie Coon / The Gilded Age

2023

Sharon Horgan / Bad Sisters

Keri Russell / The Diplomat (US)

Sarah Snook / Succession

Melanie Lynskey / Yellowjackets

2022

Melanie Lynskey / Yellowjackets

Sandra Oh / Killing Eve

Jodie Comer / Killing Eve

2021

Jurnee Smollett / Lovecraft Country

MJ Rodriguez / Pose

2020

Zendaya / Euphoria (US)

Jennifer Aniston / The Morning Show

Sandra Oh / Killing Eve

Jodie Comer / Killing Eve

2019

Sandra Oh / Killing Eve

Viola Davis / How to Get Away with Murder

Jodie Comer / Killing Eve

2018

Sandra Oh / Killing Eve

Keri Russell / The Americans (2013)

2017

Viola Davis / How to Get Away with Murder

House of Cards (US)

Keri Russell / The Americans (2013)

2016

Keri Russell / The Americans (2013)

Viola Davis / How to Get Away with Murder

Claire Danes / Homeland

Taraji P. Henson / Empire (2015)

House of Cards (US)

2015

Viola Davis / How to Get Away with Murder

Claire Danes / Homeland

Taraji P. Henson / Empire (2015)

House of Cards (US)

2014

Lizzy Caplan / Masters of Sex

House of Cards (US)

Kerry Washington / Scandal (2012)

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Claire Danes / Homeland

2013

House of Cards (US)

Claire Danes / Homeland

Connie Britton / Nashville (2012)

Kerry Washington / Scandal (2012)

2012

Claire Danes / Homeland

Glenn Close / Damages

Kathy Bates / Harry's Law

2011

Kathy Bates / Harry's Law

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Connie Britton / Friday Night Lights

Mireille Enos / The Killing (US)

2010

Julianna Margulies / The Good Wife

Connie Britton / Friday Night Lights

Glenn Close / Damages

Kyra Sedgwick / The Closer

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

2009

Sally Field / Brothers & Sisters

Glenn Close / Damages

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Holly Hunter / Saving Grace (2007)

Kyra Sedgwick / The Closer

2008

Kyra Sedgwick / The Closer

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Sally Field / Brothers & Sisters

Holly Hunter / Saving Grace (2007)

Glenn Close / Damages

2007

Minnie Driver / The Riches

Kyra Sedgwick / The Closer

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

Sally Field / Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Patricia Arquette / Medium

2006

Allison Janney / The West Wing

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Geena Davis / Commander In Chief

Kyra Sedgwick / The Closer

Frances Conroy / Six Feet Under

2005

Jennifer Garner / Alias

Frances Conroy / Six Feet Under

Glenn Close / The Shield

Patricia Arquette / Medium

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

2004

Mariska Hargitay / Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Allison Janney / The West Wing

Amber Tamblyn / Joan of Arcadia

Jennifer Garner / Alias

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

2003

Allison Janney / The West Wing

Jennifer Garner / Alias

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

Frances Conroy / Six Feet Under

2002

Rachel Griffiths / Six Feet Under

Jennifer Garner / Alias

Frances Conroy / Six Feet Under

Amy Brenneman / Judging Amy

Allison Janney / The West Wing

2001

Sela Ward / Once And Again

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

Lorraine Bracco / The Sopranos

Amy Brenneman / Judging Amy

2000

Sela Ward / Once And Again

Lorraine Bracco / The Sopranos

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

Amy Brenneman / Judging Amy

Julianna Margulies / ER

1999

Edie Falco / The Sopranos

Lorraine Bracco / The Sopranos

Gillian Anderson / The X-Files

Julianna Margulies / ER

Christine Lahti / Chicago Hope

1998

Christine Lahti / Chicago Hope

Julianna Margulies / ER

Roma Downey / Touched by an Angel

Jane Seymour / Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Gillian Anderson / The X-Files

1997

Sherry Stringfield / ER

Julianna Margulies / ER

Roma Downey / Touched by an Angel

Gillian Anderson / The X-Files

Christine Lahti / Chicago Hope

1996

Gillian Anderson / The X-Files

Kathy Baker / Picket Fences

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Christine Lahti / Chicago Hope

Sherry Stringfield / ER

1995

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Kathy Baker / Picket Fences

Sherry Stringfield / ER

Cicely Tyson / Sweet Justice

1994

Sela Ward / Sisters

Jane Seymour / Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

Kathy Baker / Picket Fences

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Swoosie Kurtz / Sisters

1993

Janine Turner / Northern Exposure

Swoosie Kurtz / Sisters

Kathy Baker / Picket Fences

Regina Taylor / I'll Fly Away

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

1992

Regina Taylor / I'll Fly Away

Sharon Gless / The Trials of Rosie O'Neill

Kate Nelligan / Road to Avonlea

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Dana Delany / China Beach

1991

Sharon Gless / The Trials of Rosie O'Neill

Dana Delany / China Beach

Patricia Wettig / Thirtysomething

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

1990

Jill Eikenberry / L.A. Law

Patricia Wettig / Thirtysomething

Dana Delany / China Beach

Piper Laurie / Twin Peaks

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

1989

Dana Delany / China Beach

Susan Dey / L.A. Law

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Jill Eikenberry / L.A. Law

1988

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Jill Eikenberry / L.A. Law

Susan Dey / L.A. Law

1987

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Susan Dey / L.A. Law

Jill Eikenberry / L.A. Law

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

1986

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

1985

Angela Lansbury / Murder, She Wrote

Veronica Hamel / Hill Street Blues

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Debbie Allen / Fame

1984

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Veronica Hamel / Hill Street Blues

Debbie Allen / Fame

Joan Collins / Dynasty

1983

Tyne Daly / Cagney & Lacey

Veronica Hamel / Hill Street Blues

Debbie Allen / Fame

Linda Evans / Dynasty

Sharon Gless / Cagney & Lacey

1982

Michele Lee / Knots Landing

Debbie Allen / Fame

Michael Learned / Nurse

Veronica Hamel / Hill Street Blues

1981

Michael Learned / Nurse

Barbara Bel Geddes / Dallas

Barbara Babcock / Hill Street Blues

Veronica Hamel / Hill Street Blues

Linda Gray / Dallas

1980

Barbara Bel Geddes / Dallas

Kristy McNichol / Family

Sada Thompson / Family

1979

Sada Thompson / Family

Barbara Bel Geddes / Dallas

1978

Sada Thompson / Family

Kate Jackson / Charlie's Angels

Fionnula Flanagan / How the West Was Won

1977

Sada Thompson / Family

Lindsay Wagner / The Bionic Woman

Angie Dickinson / Police Woman

Kate Jackson / Charlie's Angels

Eva Marie Saint / How the West Was Won

1976

Angie Dickinson / Police Woman

Brenda Vaccaro / Sara (1976)

Anne Meara / Kate McShane

1975

Angie Dickinson / Police Woman

Jean Marsh / Upstairs, Downstairs

1974

Jeanette Nolan / Dirty Sally

Jean Marsh / Upstairs, Downstairs

1973

Lynda Day George / Mission: Impossible

Susan St. James / McMillan and Wife

1972

Glenda Jackson / Elizabeth R

Peggy Lipton / The Mod Squad

Susan St. James / McMillan and Wife

1971

Linda Cristal / The High Chaparral

Susan Hampshire / The First Churchills

Peggy Lipton / The Mod Squad

1970

Peggy Lipton / The Mod Squad

Susan Hampshire / The Forsyte Saga

Joan Blondell / Here Come the Brides

1969

Joan Blondell / Here Come the Brides

Barbara Bain / Mission: Impossible

Peggy Lipton / The Mod Squad

1968

Barbara Stanwyck / The Big Valley

Barbara Bain / Mission: Impossible

Diana Rigg / The Avengers

1967

Barbara Stanwyck / The Big Valley

Barbara Bain / Mission: Impossible

Diana Rigg / The Avengers

1966

Barbara Stanwyck / The Big Valley

Anne Francis / Honey West

Barbara Parkins / Peyton Place

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