Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Primetime Emmy Awards · 282 nominations across 70 ceremonies · 73 wins
78th Emmys · 2026
- Nominee Sarah Pidgeon · Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
- Nominee Sarah Snook · All Her Fault
- Nominee Sally Field · Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Nominee Claire Danes · The Beast in Me
- Nominee Carey Mulligan · Beef
77th Emmys · 2025
- Winner Cristin Milioti · The Penguin
- Nominee Cate Blanchett · Disclaimer
- Nominee Rashida Jones · Black Mirror
- Nominee Meghann Fahy · Sirens
- Nominee Michelle Williams · Dying for Sex
76th Emmys · 2024
- Winner Jodie Foster · True Detective: Night Country
- Nominee Juno Temple · Fargo
- Nominee Naomi Watts · Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
- Nominee Brie Larson · Lessons in Chemistry
- Nominee Sofía Vergara · Griselda
75th Emmys · 2023
- Winner Ali Wong · Beef
- Nominee Kathryn Hahn · Tiny Beautiful Things
- Nominee Jessica Chastain · George & Tammy
- Nominee Lizzy Caplan · Fleishman Is in Trouble
- Nominee Dominique Fishback · Swarm
- Nominee Riley Keough · Daisy Jones & the Six
74th Emmys · 2022
- Winner Amanda Seyfried · The Dropout
- Nominee Lily James · Pam & Tommy
- Nominee Toni Collette · The Staircase
- Nominee Margaret Qualley · Maid
- Nominee Julia Garner · Inventing Anna
- Nominee Sarah Paulson · Impeachment: American Crime Story
73rd Emmys · 2021
- Winner Kate Winslet · Mare of Easttown
- Nominee Anya Taylor-Joy · The Queen's Gambit
- Nominee Cynthia Erivo · Genius
- Nominee Elizabeth Olsen · WandaVision
- Nominee Michaela Coel · I May Destroy You
72nd Emmys · 2020
- Winner Regina King · Watchmen
71st Emmys · 2019
- Winner Michelle Williams · Fosse/Verdon
- Nominee Joey King · The Act
70th Emmys · 2018
- Winner Regina King · Seven Seconds
- Nominee Jessica Biel · The Sinner
69th Emmys · 2017
- Winner Nicole Kidman · Big Little Lies
68th Emmys · 2016
67th Emmys · 2015
- Winner Frances McDormand · Olive Kitteridge
66th Emmys · 2014
- Winner Jessica Lange · American Horror Story: Coven
- Nominee Cicely Tyson · The Trip to Bountiful
- Nominee Kristen Wiig · The Spoils of Babylon
- Nominee Sarah Paulson · American Horror Story: Coven
- Nominee Minnie Driver · Return to Zero
- Nominee Helena Bonham Carter · Burton & Taylor
65th Emmys · 2013
- Winner Laura Linney · The Big C
- Nominee Helen Mirren · Phil Spector
- Nominee Jessica Lange · American Horror Story: Asylum
- Nominee Sigourney Weaver · Political Animals
- Nominee Elisabeth Moss · Top of the Lake
64th Emmys · 2012
- Winner Julianne Moore · Game Change
- Nominee Nicole Kidman · Hemingway & Gellhorn
- Nominee Emma Thompson · The Song of Lunch
- Nominee Ashley Judd · Missing
- Nominee Connie Britton · American Horror Story: Murder House
63rd Emmys · 2011
- Winner Kate Winslet · Mildred Pierce
- Nominee Jean Marsh · Upstairs Downstairs
- Nominee Elizabeth McGovern · Downton Abbey
- Nominee Taraji P. Henson · Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
- Nominee Diane Lane · Cinema Verite
62nd Emmys · 2010
- Winner Claire Danes · Temple Grandin
- Nominee Judi Dench · Return to Cranford
- Nominee Joan Allen · Georgia O'Keeffe
- Nominee Hope Davis · The Special Relationship
- Nominee Maggie Smith · Capturing Mary
61st Emmys · 2009
- Winner Jessica Lange · Grey Gardens
- Nominee Sigourney Weaver · Prayers for Bobby
- Nominee Shirley MacLaine · Coco Chanel
- Nominee Drew Barrymore · Grey Gardens
- Nominee Chandra Wilson · Accidental Friendship
60th Emmys · 2008
- Winner Laura Linney · John Adams
- Nominee Susan Sarandon · Bernard and Doris
- Nominee Judi Dench · Cranford
- Nominee Phylicia Rashad · A Raisin in the Sun
- Nominee Jean Smart · Samantha Who?
- Nominee Catherine Keener · An American Crime
59th Emmys · 2007
- Winner Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect
- Nominee Gena Rowlands · What If God Were the Sun?
- Nominee Queen Latifah · Life Support
- Nominee Mary-Louise Parker · The Robber Bride
- Nominee Debra Messing · The Starter Wife
58th Emmys · 2006
- Winner Helen Mirren · Elizabeth I
- Nominee Annette Bening · Mrs. Harris
- Nominee Gillian Anderson · Bleak House
- Nominee Kathy Bates · Ambulance Girl
- Nominee Judy Davis · A Little Thing Called Murder
57th Emmys · 2005
- Winner S. Epatha Merkerson · Lackawanna Blues
- Nominee Halle Berry · Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Nominee Blythe Danner · Back When We Were Grownups
- Nominee Debra Winger · Dawn Anna
- Nominee Cynthia Nixon · Warm Springs
56th Emmys · 2004
- Winner Meryl Streep · Angels in America
- Nominee Judy Davis · The Reagans
- Nominee Emma Thompson · Angels in America
- Nominee Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect: The Final Act
- Nominee Glenn Close · The Lion in Winter
55th Emmys · 2003
- Winner Maggie Smith · My House in Umbria
- Nominee Helen Mirren · The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
- Nominee Thora Birch · Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story
- Nominee Helena Bonham Carter · Live from Baghdad
- Nominee Jessica Lange · Normal
54th Emmys · 2002
- Winner Laura Linney · Wild Iris
- Nominee Angela Bassett · The Rosa Parks Story
- Nominee Vanessa Redgrave · The Gathering Storm
- Nominee Blythe Danner · We Were the Mulvaneys
- Nominee Gena Rowlands · Wild Iris
53rd Emmys · 2001
- Winner Judy Davis · Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
- Nominee Judi Dench · The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
- Nominee Emma Thompson · Wit
- Nominee Holly Hunter · When Billie Beat Bobby
- Nominee Hannah Taylor-Gordon · Anne Frank: The Whole Story
52nd Emmys · 2000
- Winner Halle Berry · Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
- Nominee Sally Field · A Cooler Climate
- Nominee Holly Hunter · Harlan County War
- Nominee Judy Davis · A Cooler Climate
- Nominee Gena Rowlands · The Color of Love: Jacey's Story
51st Emmys · 1999
- Winner Helen Mirren · The Passion of Ayn Rand
- Nominee Stockard Channing · Baby Blues
- Nominee Leelee Sobieski · Joan of Arc
- Nominee Ann-Margret · Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story
- Nominee Judy Davis · Dash and Lilly
50th Emmys · 1998
- Winner Ellen Barkin · Before Women Had Wings
- Nominee Judy Davis · The Echo of Thunder
- Nominee Jamie Lee Curtis · Nicholas' Gift
- Nominee Sigourney Weaver · Snow White: A Tale of Terror
- Nominee Olympia Dukakis · Tales of the City
- Nominee Angelina Jolie · Gia
49th Emmys · 1997
- Winner Alfre Woodard · Miss Evers' Boys
- Nominee Glenn Close · In the Gloaming
- Nominee Meryl Streep · ...First Do No Harm
- Nominee Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgement
- Nominee Stockard Channing
48th Emmys · 1996
- Winner Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect: The Final Act
- Nominee Mira Sorvino · Norma Jean & Marilyn
- Nominee Sela Ward · Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story
- Nominee Jessica Lange · A Streetcar Named Desire
- Nominee Ashley Judd · Norma Jean & Marilyn
47th Emmys · 1995
- Winner Glenn Close · Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story
- Nominee Anjelica Huston · Buffalo Girls
- Nominee Sally Field · A Woman of Independent Means
- Nominee Diane Keaton · Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight
- Nominee Alfre Woodard · The Piano Lesson
46th Emmys · 1994
- Winner Kirstie Alley · David's Mother
- Nominee Bette Midler · Gypsy
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Hallmark Hall of Fame
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Breathing Lessons
- Nominee Jessica Tandy · To Dance with the White Dog
- Nominee Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect III
45th Emmys · 1993
- Winner Holly Hunter · The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Blind Spot
- Nominee Glenn Close · Skylark
- Nominee Maggie Smith · Suddenly, Last Summer
- Nominee Helen Mirren · Prime Suspect II
44th Emmys · 1992
- Winner Gena Rowlands
- Nominee Anne Bancroft · Mrs. Cage
- Nominee Anne Bancroft · American Playhouse
- Nominee Meredith Baxter · A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story
- Nominee Laura Dern · Afterburn
- Nominee Judy Davis · One Against the Wind
43rd Emmys · 1991
- Winner Lynn Whitfield · The Josephine Baker Story
- Nominee Barbara Hershey · Paris Trout
- Nominee Glenn Close · Sarah, Plain and Tall
- Nominee Lee Purcell · Long Road Home
- Nominee Suzanne Pleshette · Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean
42nd Emmys · 1990
- Winner Barbara Hershey · A Killing in a Small Town
- Nominee Farrah Fawcett · Small Sacrifices
- Nominee Christine Lahti · No Place Like Home
- Nominee Annette O'Toole · The Kennedys of Massachusetts
- Nominee Alfre Woodard · A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story
- Nominee Lesley Ann Warren · Family of Spies
41st Emmys · 1989
- Winner Holly Hunter · Roe vs. Wade
- Nominee Anjelica Huston · Lonesome Dove
- Nominee Jane Seymour · War and Remembrance
- Nominee Amy Madigan · Roe vs. Wade
- Nominee Diane Lane · Lonesome Dove
40th Emmys · 1988
- Winner Jessica Tandy · Foxfire
- Nominee Mary Tyler Moore · Lincoln
- Nominee Ann Jillian · The Ann Jillian Story
- Nominee JoBeth Williams · Baby M Case
- Nominee Mary Steenburgen · The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
39th Emmys · 1987
- Winner Gena Rowlands · The Betty Ford Story
- Nominee Ellen Burstyn · Pack of Lies
- Nominee Ann-Margret · The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
- Nominee Alfre Woodard · Unnatural Causes
- Nominee Lee Remick · Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder
38th Emmys · 1986
- Winner Marlo Thomas · Nobody's Child
- Nominee Gena Rowlands · An Early Frost
- Nominee Mare Winningham · Love Is Never Silent
- Nominee Vanessa Redgrave · Second Serve
- Nominee Katharine Hepburn · Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry
37th Emmys · 1985
- Winner Joanne Woodward · Do You Remember Love
- Nominee Farrah Fawcett · The Burning Bed
- Nominee Jane Alexander · Malice in Wonderland
- Nominee Peggy Ashcroft · The Jewel in the Crown
- Nominee Mary Tyler Moore · Heartsounds
36th Emmys · 1984
- Winner Jane Fonda · The Dollmaker
- Nominee Jane Alexander · Calamity Jane
- Nominee Ann-Margret · A Streetcar Named Desire
- Nominee Glenn Close · Something About Amelia
- Nominee JoBeth Williams · Adam
35th Emmys · 1983
- Winner Barbara Stanwyck · The Thorn Birds
- Nominee Angela Lansbury · Little Gloria... Happy at Last
- Nominee Ann-Margret · Who Will Love My Children?
- Nominee Mariette Hartley · M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
- Nominee Rosanna Arquette · The Executioner's Song
34th Emmys · 1982
- Winner Ingrid Bergman · A Woman Called Golda
- Nominee Jean Stapleton · Eleanor, First Lady of the World
- Nominee Ann Jillian · Mae West
- Nominee Glenda Jackson · The Patricia Neal Story
- Nominee Cicely Tyson · The Marva Collins Story
- Nominee Cicely Tyson · Hallmark Hall of Fame
33rd Emmys · 1981
- Winner Vanessa Redgrave · Playing for Time
- Nominee Catherine Hicks · Marilyn: The Untold Story
- Nominee Ellen Burstyn · The People vs. Jean Harris
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Crisis at Central High
- Nominee Yoko Shimada · Shōgun
32nd Emmys · 1980
- Winner Patty Duke · The Miracle Worker
- Nominee Melissa Gilbert · The Miracle Worker
- Nominee Bette Davis · White Mama
- Nominee Lee Remick · Haywire
31st Emmys · 1979
- Winner Bette Davis · Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter
- Nominee Olivia Cole · Backstairs at the White House
- Nominee Carol Burnett · Friendly Fire
- Nominee Mary Tyler Moore
- Nominee Katharine Hepburn · The Corn Is Green
30th Emmys · 1978
- Winner Joanne Woodward · See How She Runs
- Winner Meryl Streep · Holocaust
- Nominee Elizabeth Montgomery · The Awakening Land
- Nominee Lee Remick · Wheels
- Nominee Sada Thompson · Our Town
- Nominee Eva Marie Saint · Taxi!!!
- Nominee Cicely Tyson · King
- Nominee Rosemary Harris · Holocaust
- Nominee Helen Hayes · A Family Upside Down
- Nominee Maureen Stapleton · The Gathering
29th Emmys · 1977
- Winner Sally Field · Sybil
- Winner Patty Duke · Captains and the Kings
- Nominee Susan Flannery · The Moneychangers
- Nominee Jane Seymour · Captains and the Kings
- Nominee Julie Harris · The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
- Nominee Jane Alexander · Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
- Nominee Dori Brenner · Seventh Avenue
- Nominee Eva Marie Saint · How the West Was Won
- Nominee Joanne Woodward · Sybil
- Nominee Susan Clark · Amelia Earhart
28th Emmys · 1976
- Winner Susan Clark · Babe
- Nominee Sada Thompson · The Entertainer
- Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · A Moon for the Misbegotten
- Nominee Jane Alexander · Eleanor and Franklin
27th Emmys · 1975
- Winner Jessica Walter · Amy Prentiss
- Winner Katharine Hepburn · Love Among the Ruins
- Nominee Susan Saint James · McMillan & Wife
- Nominee Diana Rigg · In This House of Brede
- Nominee Maureen Stapleton · Queen of the Stardust Ballroom
- Nominee Elizabeth Montgomery · The Legend of Lizzie Borden
- Nominee Jill Clayburgh · Hustling
26th Emmys · 1974
- Winner Cicely Tyson · The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
- Winner Mildred Natwick · The Snoop Sisters
25th Emmys · 1973
- Winner Susan Hampshire · Vanity Fair
- Nominee Vivien Heilbron · The Moonstone
- Nominee Margaret Tyzack · Cousin Bette
24th Emmys · 1972
- Winner Glenda Jackson · Elizabeth R
23rd Emmys · 1971
- Winner Lee Grant · The Neon Ceiling
- Nominee Ransom for a Dead Man
- Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · Hallmark Hall of Fame
22nd Emmys · 1970
- Winner Patty Duke · My Sweet Charlie
21st Emmys · 1969
- Winner Geraldine Page · The Thanksgiving Visitor
19th Emmys · 1967
- Winner Geraldine Page · ABC Stage 67
18th Emmys · 1966
17th Emmys · 1965
- Winner Lynn Fontanne · Hallmark Hall of Fame
16th Emmys · 1964
15th Emmys · 1963
- Winner Kim Stanley · Ben Casey
14th Emmys · 1962
- Winner Julie Harris · Hallmark Hall of Fame
13th Emmys · 1961
- Winner Judith Anderson · Hallmark Hall of Fame
- Nominee Ingrid Bergman · Twenty-Four Hours in a Woman's Life
- Nominee Elizabeth Montgomery · The Untouchables
11th Emmys · 1959
- Winner Julie Harris · Hallmark Hall of Fame
10th Emmys · 1958
- Winner Polly Bergen · Playhouse 90
9th Emmys · 1957
- Winner Claire Trevor · Producers' Showcase
8th Emmys · 1956
- Winner Mary Martin · Producers' Showcase
7th Emmys · 1955
- Winner Judith Anderson · Macbeth