Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The 2024 recipient: Anna Sawai
Presented by	Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Country	United States
First awarded	1954
Currently held by	Anna Sawai, Shōgun (2024)

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is a special prize given each year in the United States. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) presents this award. It honors an actress who has given an amazing performance as a main character in a TV drama series. This is for shows that air during "primetime," which means the evening hours when most people watch TV.

The award was first given out on February 11, 1954. In the early years, acting awards were not separated by comedy or drama. Actresses from both types of shows could be nominated. Eve Arden was the first woman to win an acting Emmy. However, Loretta Young was the first to win specifically for a main role in a drama series. By 1966, the awards were split into drama and comedy categories. The name of this award changed a few times before becoming what it is today.

Since it started, 31 actresses have won this award for their drama performances. Tyne Daly and Michael Learned have won the most times, with four awards each. Angela Lansbury has been nominated twelve times, more than anyone else, but she never won. In 2015, Viola Davis made history. She became the first African-American woman to win this award. She won for her role as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. In 2020, Zendaya became the youngest winner at age 24. She won for her role in Euphoria. She won again in 2022, becoming the first African-American woman to win twice. The most recent winner, in 2024, is Anna Sawai. She won for her work in Shōgun.

Award Winners and Nominees

This section lists the actresses who have won this award each year. It also shows the other actresses who were nominated.

A Look at Past Winners

Over the years, many talented actresses have been recognized for their work in drama series. The award has seen many changes in its name and how categories are defined.

In the 1950s, early winners included Loretta Young and Jane Wyatt. They won for their roles in shows like The Loretta Young Show and Father Knows Best. The 1960s saw actresses like Barbara Stanwyck and Barbara Bain take home the prize. Bain won three times in a row for Mission: Impossible.

The 1970s brought wins for Susan Hampshire and Glenda Jackson. Michael Learned won three times for her role in The Waltons. Lindsay Wagner won for The Bionic Woman. In the 1980s, Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless from Cagney & Lacey were big winners. Daly won four times, and Gless won twice.

The 1990s featured winners like Patricia Wettig and Dana Delany. Kathy Baker won three times for Picket Fences. Gillian Anderson won for The X-Files. The end of the 90s saw Edie Falco win for The Sopranos.

The 2000s included winners such as Sela Ward, Allison Janney, and Patricia Arquette. Mariska Hargitay won for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Glenn Close won twice for Damages.

The 2010s had Kyra Sedgwick win for The Closer. Julianna Margulies won twice for The Good Wife. Claire Danes also won twice for Homeland. Viola Davis made history in 2015. Tatiana Maslany won for Orphan Black. Elisabeth Moss won for The Handmaid's Tale. Claire Foy won for The Crown. Jodie Comer won for Killing Eve.

Recent Winners (2020s)

Here are the winners and nominees from the 2020s:

Shows with Multiple Wins

Some TV shows have had more than one actress win this award.

• 6 wins
  • Cagney & Lacey (won 6 times in a row!)

• 3 wins
  • The Loretta Young Show
  • Mission: Impossible (won 3 times in a row!)
  • Picket Fences (won 2 times in a row, then again later)
  • The Sopranos
  • The Waltons (won 2 times in a row, then again later)

• 2 wins
  • China Beach
  • The Crown
  • Damages
  • Euphoria
  • Father Knows Best
  • The Good Wife
  • Hazel
  • Homeland (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Thirtysomething
  • The West Wing

Shows with Multiple Nominations

Many TV shows have had actresses nominated for this award multiple times.

• 12 nominations
  • Cagney & Lacey
  • Murder, She Wrote (nominated 12 times in a row!)

• 9 nominations
  • The Sopranos

• 8 nominations
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

• 7 nominations
  • ER
  • Killing Eve
  • L.A. Law

• 6 nominations
  • The Crown
  • Hill Street Blues
  • House of Cards
  • The Loretta Young Show
  • Mad Men
  • The Waltons

• 5 nominations
  • The Closer
  • Family
  • Homeland
  • Six Feet Under

• 4 nominations
  • Alias
  • Chicago Hope
  • China Beach
  • Dallas
  • Damages
  • Fame
  • The Good Wife
  • The Handmaid's Tale
  • How to Get Away with Murder
  • Mission: Impossible
  • The Mod Squad
  • The Morning Show
  • Picket Fences
  • The X-Files
  • The West Wing

• 3 nominations
  • The Americans
  • The Big Valley
  • Brothers & Sisters
  • The Donna Reed Show
  • Downton Abbey
  • Hazel
  • I Love Lucy
  • Lassie
  • Orphan Black
  • Our Miss Brooks
  • Ozark
  • Police Woman
  • The Rockford Files
  • Sisters

• 2 nominations
  • The Avengers
  • Bad Sisters
  • The Beverly Hillbillies
  • Charlie's Angels
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  • The Dick Van Dyke Show
  • The Diplomat
  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
  • Dynasty
  • Empire
  • Euphoria
  • Father Knows Best
  • Fireside Theatre
  • Friday Night Lights
  • The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
  • Harry's Law
  • Hart to Hart
  • Here Come the Brides
  • I'll Fly Away
  • Judging Amy
  • The Last of Us
  • McMillan & Wife
  • Medium
  • Nurse
  • Once and Again
  • Private Secretary
  • Saving Grace
  • Scandal
  • Thirtysomething
  • Touched by an Angel
  • The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
  • Upstairs, Downstairs
  • Westworld
  • Yellowjackets

Actresses with Multiple Wins

Many actresses have won this award more than once.

• 4 wins
  • Tyne Daly (won 3 times in a row!)
  • Michael Learned (won 2 times in a row!)

• 3 wins
  • Barbara Bain (won 3 times in a row!)
  • Kathy Baker (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Edie Falco
  • Loretta Young

• 2 wins
  • Glenn Close (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Claire Danes (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Dana Delany
  • Sharon Gless (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Susan Hampshire (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Allison Janney
  • Julianna Margulies
  • Barbara Stanwyck
  • Sela Ward
  • Patricia Wettig (won 2 times in a row!)
  • Jane Wyatt
  • Zendaya

Actresses with Multiple Nominations

Many actresses have been nominated for this award multiple times.

• 12 nominations
  • Angela Lansbury (nominated 12 times in a row!)

• 9 nominations
  • Elisabeth Moss

• 8 nominations
  • Sharon Gless
  • Mariska Hargitay (nominated 8 times in a row!)
  • Michael Learned
  • Julianna Margulies

• 6 nominations
  • Tyne Daly
  • Claire Danes
  • Edie Falco
  • Robin Wright
  • Loretta Young

• 5 nominations
  • Glenn Close
  • Veronica Hamel
  • Keri Russell
  • Kyra Sedgwick

• 4 nominations
  • Debbie Allen
  • Gillian Anderson
  • Kathy Baker
  • Frances Conroy
  • Viola Davis
  • Dana Delany
  • Jill Eikenberry
  • Jennifer Garner
  • Allison Janney
  • Christine Lahti
  • Peggy Lipton
  • Sandra Oh
  • Barbara Stanwyck
  • Sada Thompson

• 3 nominations
  • Barbara Bain
  • Kathy Bates
  • Barbara Bel Geddes
  • Lorraine Bracco
  • Amy Brenneman
  • Connie Britton
  • Jan Clayton
  • Jodie Comer
  • Susan Dey
  • Angie Dickinson
  • Michelle Dockery
  • Sally Field
  • Laura Linney
  • Tatiana Maslany
  • Sherry Stringfield
  • Sela Ward

• 2 nominations
  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Patricia Arquette
  • Joan Blondell
  • Olivia Colman
  • Roma Downey
  • Claire Foy
  • Susan Hampshire
  • Marg Helgenberger
  • Taraji P. Henson
  • Sharon Horgan
  • Holly Hunter
  • Kate Jackson
  • Swoosie Kurtz
  • Melanie Lynskey
  • Jean Marsh
  • Stefanie Powers
  • Bella Ramsey
  • Diana Rigg
  • Susan Saint James
  • Jane Seymour
  • Regina Taylor
  • Kerry Washington
  • Patricia Wettig
  • Reese Witherspoon
  • Evan Rachel Wood
  • Jane Wyman
  • Jane Wyatt
  • Zendaya

Other Emmy Awards

You might also be interested in these related Emmy Awards:

• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
• Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
• Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series
• Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
• Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
• TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Primetime Emmy a la mejor actriz - Serie dramática para niños