Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Winners

2026Pluribus★★Rhea SeehornApple TV
2025Severance★Britt LowerApple TV
2024Shōgun★★★★★★★★Anna SawaiFX
2023Succession★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★Sarah SnookSky Atlantic
2022Euphoria★★★ZendayaHBO
2021The Crown★★★★★★★★★★★Olivia ColmanNetflix
2020Euphoria★★★ZendayaHBO
2019Killing Eve★★Jodie ComerBBC America
2018The Crown★★★★★★★★★★★Claire FoyNetflix
2017The Handmaid's Tale★★★★★★Elisabeth MossChannel 4
2016Orphan Black★Tatiana MaslanyBBC America
2015How to Get Away with Murder★Viola DavisABC
2014The Good Wife★★★Julianna MarguliesMore4
2013Homeland★★★★★★★★★★Claire DanesChannel 4
2012Homeland★★★★★★★★★★Claire DanesChannel 4
2011The Good Wife★★★Julianna MarguliesMore4
2010The Closer★★Kyra SedgwickTNT
2009Damages★★★Glenn CloseFX
2008Damages★★★Glenn CloseFX
2007Brothers & Sisters★Sally FieldABC
2006Law & Order: Special Victims Unit★Mariska HargitayNBC
2005Medium★Patricia ArquetteNBC
2004The West Wing★★★★★★★★Allison JanneyNBC
2003The Sopranos★★★★★★★★★★★★Edie FalcoHBO
2002The West Wing★★★★★★★★Allison JanneyNBC
2001The Sopranos★★★★★★★★★★★★Edie FalcoHBO
2000Once and Again★★Sela WardABC
1999The Sopranos★★★★★★★★★★★★Edie FalcoHBO
1998Chicago Hope★★★Christine LahtiCBS
1997The X-Files★★★★★★Gillian AndersonFox
1996Picket Fences★★★★★★★Kathy BakerCBS
1995Picket Fences★★★★★★★Kathy BakerCBS
1994Sisters★Sela WardNBC
1993Picket Fences★★★★★★★Kathy BakerCBS
1992China Beach★★★Dana DelanyABC
1991thirtysomething★★★★★Patricia WettigABC
1990thirtysomething★★★★★Patricia WettigABC
1989China Beach★★★Dana DelanyABC
1988Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Tyne DalyCBS
1987Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Sharon GlessCBS
1986Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Sharon GlessCBS
1985Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Tyne DalyCBS
1984Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Tyne DalyCBS
1983Cagney & Lacey★★★★★★★★★Tyne DalyCBS
1982Nurse★Michael LearnedCBS
1981Hill Street Blues★★★★★★★★★★Barbara BabcockNBC
1980Dallas★★Barbara Bel GeddesCBS