laureldb Entertainment awards

Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play

Tony Awards · 325 nominations across 79 ceremonies · 82 wins

79th Tonys · 2026

78th Tonys · 2025

Winner Sarah Snook · The Picture of Dorian Gray
Nominee Mia Farrow · The Roommate
Nominee Laura Donnelly · The Hills of California
Nominee Sadie Sink · John Proctor Is the Villain
Nominee LaTanya Richardson · Purpose

77th Tonys · 2024

Winner Sarah Paulson · Appropriate
Nominee Rachel McAdams · Mary Jane
Nominee Amy Ryan · Doubt
Nominee Betsy Aidem · Prayer for the French Republic
Nominee Jessica Lange · Mother Play

76th Tonys · 2023

Winner Jodie Comer · Prima Facie
Nominee Jessica Chastain · A Doll's House
Nominee Audra McDonald · Ohio State Murders
Nominee Jessica Hecht · Summer, 1976

75th Tonys · 2022

Winner Deirdre O'Connell · Dana H.
Nominee Ruth Negga · Macbeth
Nominee Mary-Louise Parker · How I Learned to Drive
Nominee LaChanze · Trouble in Mind
Nominee Gabby Beans · The Skin of Our Teeth

74th Tonys · 2021

Winner Mary-Louise Parker · The Sound Inside (play)
Nominee Laura Linney · My Name Is Lucy Barton
Nominee Joaquina Kalukango · Slave Play
Nominee Audra McDonald · Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

73rd Tonys · 2019

Winner Elaine May · The Waverly Gallery
Nominee Annette Bening · All My Sons
Nominee Laurie Metcalf · Hillary and Clinton
Nominee Laura Donnelly · The Ferryman
Nominee Heidi Schreck · What the Constitution Means to Me
Nominee Janet McTeer · Bernhardt/Hamlet

72nd Tonys · 2018

Winner Glenda Jackson · Three Tall Women
Nominee Condola Rashād · Saint Joan
Nominee Lauren Ridloff · Children of a Lesser God
Nominee Amy Schumer · Meteor Shower

71st Tonys · 2017

Winner Laurie Metcalf · A Doll's House, Part 2
Nominee Cate Blanchett · The Present
Nominee Laura Linney · The Little Foxes
Nominee Jennifer Ehle · Oslo
Nominee Sally Field · The Glass Menagerie

70th Tonys · 2016

Winner Jessica Lange · Long Day's Journey into Night
Nominee Michelle Williams · Blackbird
Nominee Sophie Okonedo · The Crucible
Nominee Sophie Okonedo · The Crucible
Nominee Laurie Metcalf
Nominee Lupita Nyong'o · Eclipsed

69th Tonys · 2015

Winner Helen Mirren · The Audience
Nominee Elisabeth Moss · The Heidi Chronicles
Nominee Geneva Carr · Hand to God
Nominee Ruth Wilson
Nominee Carey Mulligan · Skylight

68th Tonys · 2014

Winner Audra McDonald · Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Nominee Tyne Daly · Mothers and Sons
Nominee LaTanya Richardson · A Raisin in the Sun
Nominee Estelle Parsons
Nominee Cherry Jones · The Glass Menagerie

67th Tonys · 2013

Winner Cicely Tyson · The Trip to Bountiful
Nominee Kristine Nielsen · Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Nominee Laurie Metcalf
Nominee Holland Taylor
Nominee Amy Morton · Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

66th Tonys · 2012

Winner Nina Arianda · Venus in Fur
Nominee Linda Lavin
Nominee Stockard Channing · Other Desert Cities
Nominee Tracie Bennett
Nominee Cynthia Nixon · Wit

65th Tonys · 2011

Winner Frances McDormand · Good People
Nominee Nina Arianda
Nominee Lily Rabe · The Merchant of Venice
Nominee Vanessa Redgrave
Nominee Hannah Yelland · Brief Encounter

64th Tonys · 2010

Winner Viola Davis · Fences
Nominee Jan Maxwell · The Royal Family
Nominee Valerie Harper
Nominee Laura Linney · Time Stands Still
Nominee Linda Lavin

63rd Tonys · 2009

Winner Marcia Gay Harden · God of Carnage
Nominee Jane Fonda · 33 Variations
Nominee Hope Davis · God of Carnage
Nominee Harriet Walter · Mary Stuart
Nominee Janet McTeer · Mary Stuart

62nd Tonys · 2008

Winner Deanna Dunagan · August: Osage County
Nominee Eve Best · The Homecoming
Nominee Kate Fleetwood · Macbeth
Nominee Amy Morton · August: Osage County
Nominee S. Epatha Merkerson

61st Tonys · 2007

Winner Julie White · The Little Dog Laughed
Nominee Eve Best · A Moon for the Misbegotten
Nominee Vanessa Redgrave
Nominee Swoosie Kurtz
Nominee Angela Lansbury

60th Tonys · 2006

Winner Cynthia Nixon · Rabbit Hole
Nominee Lynn Redgrave · The Constant Wife
Nominee Kate Burton · The Constant Wife
Nominee Lisa Kron
Nominee Judy Kaye

59th Tonys · 2005

Winner Cherry Jones · Doubt
Nominee Mary-Louise Parker
Nominee Phylicia Rashad · Gem of the Ocean
Nominee Laura Linney
Nominee Kathleen Turner · Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

58th Tonys · 2004

Winner Phylicia Rashad · A Raisin in the Sun
Nominee Tovah Feldshuh
Nominee Anne Heche · Twentieth Century
Nominee Eileen Atkins · The Retreat from Moscow
Nominee Swoosie Kurtz · Frozen

57th Tonys · 2003

Winner Vanessa Redgrave · Long Day's Journey into Night
Nominee Clare Higgins · Vincent in Brixton
Nominee Victoria Hamilton · A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Nominee Jayne Atkinson · Enchanted April
Nominee Fiona Shaw · Medea

56th Tonys · 2002

Winner Lindsay Duncan · Private Lives
Nominee Helen Mirren
Nominee Mercedes Ruehl · The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
Nominee Laura Linney · The Crucible
Nominee Kate Burton

55th Tonys · 2001

Winner Mary-Louise Parker · Proof
Nominee Linda Lavin · The Tale of the Allergist's Wife
Nominee Leslie Uggams · King Hedley II
Nominee Jean Smart
Nominee Juliette Binoche · Betrayal

54th Tonys · 2000

Winner Jennifer Ehle · The Real Thing
Nominee Cherry Jones · A Moon for the Misbegotten
Nominee Claudia Shear · Dirty Blonde
Nominee Jayne Atkinson
Nominee Rosemary Harris

53rd Tonys · 1999

Winner Judi Dench
Nominee Stockard Channing · The Lion in Winter
Nominee Zoë Wanamaker · Electra
Nominee Marian Seldes

52nd Tonys · 1998

Winner Marie Mullen · The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Nominee Jane Alexander
Nominee Allison Janney · A View from the Bridge
Nominee Geraldine McEwan · The Chairs

51st Tonys · 1997

Winner Janet McTeer · A Doll's House
Nominee Lia Williams · Skylight
Nominee Julie Harris · The Gin Game
Nominee Shirley Knight · The Young Man from Atlanta

50th Tonys · 1996

Winner Zoe Caldwell · Master Class
Nominee Rosemary Harris · A Delicate Balance
Nominee Elaine Stritch · A Delicate Balance
Nominee Carol Burnett

49th Tonys · 1995

48th Tonys · 1994

Winner Diana Rigg · Medea
Nominee Nancy Marchand · Black Comedy
Nominee Joan Rivers
Nominee Anna Deavere Smith · Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992

47th Tonys · 1993

Winner Madeline Kahn · The Sisters Rosensweig
Nominee Natasha Richardson · Anna Christie
Nominee Lynn Redgrave
Nominee Jane Alexander · The Sisters Rosensweig

46th Tonys · 1992

Winner Glenn Close
Nominee Stockard Channing · Four Baboons Adoring the Sun
Nominee Jane Alexander · The Visit
Nominee Judith Ivey

45th Tonys · 1991

Winner Mercedes Ruehl · Lost in Yonkers
Nominee Stockard Channing · Six Degrees of Separation
Nominee Cherry Jones · Our Country's Good
Nominee Julie Harris

44th Tonys · 1990

Winner Maggie Smith · Lettice and Lovage
Nominee Mary-Louise Parker · Prelude to a Kiss
Nominee Kathleen Turner · Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Nominee Geraldine James · The Merchant of Venice

43rd Tonys · 1989

Winner Pauline Collins · Shirley Valentine
Nominee Kate Nelligan
Nominee Joan Allen · The Heidi Chronicles
Nominee Madeline Kahn

42nd Tonys · 1988

Winner Joan Allen
Nominee Blythe Danner · A Streetcar Named Desire
Nominee Frances McDormand · A Streetcar Named Desire
Nominee Glenda Jackson

41st Tonys · 1987

Winner Linda Lavin · Broadway Bound
Nominee Geraldine Page
Nominee Amanda Plummer
Nominee Lindsay Duncan · Les Liaisons Dangereuses

40th Tonys · 1986

Winner Lily Tomlin · The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Nominee Mary Beth Hurt · Benefactors
Nominee Jessica Tandy
Nominee Rosemary Harris

39th Tonys · 1985

Winner Stockard Channing · A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Nominee Glenda Jackson
Nominee Rosemary Harris · Pack of Lies
Nominee Sinéad Cusack · Much Ado About Nothing

38th Tonys · 1984

Winner Glenn Close · The Real Thing
Nominee Kate Nelligan · A Moon for the Misbegotten
Nominee Linda Hunt
Nominee Rosemary Harris

37th Tonys · 1983

36th Tonys · 1982

35th Tonys · 1981

34th Tonys · 1980

Winner Phyllis Frelich · Children of a Lesser God
Nominee Anne Twomey
Nominee Maggie Smith
Nominee Blythe Danner

33rd Tonys · 1979

32nd Tonys · 1978

31st Tonys · 1977

Winner Julie Harris
Nominee Irene Worth
Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nominee Liv Ullmann

30th Tonys · 1976

Winner Irene Worth · Sweet Bird of Youth
Nominee Tovah Feldshuh
Nominee Rosemary Harris · The Royal Family
Nominee Lynn Redgrave

29th Tonys · 1975

Winner Ellen Burstyn · Same Time, Next Year
Nominee Diana Rigg
Nominee Liv Ullmann
Nominee Elizabeth Ashley · Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Nominee Maggie Smith · Private Lives

28th Tonys · 1974

Winner Colleen Dewhurst · A Moon for the Misbegotten
Nominee Julie Harris · The Au Pair Man
Nominee Rachel Roberts · The Visit
Nominee Jane Alexander
Nominee Madeline Kahn · In the Boom Boom Room

27th Tonys · 1973

Winner Julie Harris · The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
Nominee Kathleen Widdoes · Much Ado About Nothing
Nominee Jane Alexander · 6 Rms Riv Vu
Nominee Colleen Dewhurst

26th Tonys · 1972

Winner Sada Thompson
Nominee Colleen Dewhurst
Nominee Eileen Atkins · Vivat! Vivat Regina!
Nominee Rosemary Harris · Old Times

25th Tonys · 1971

Winner Maureen Stapleton
Nominee Diana Rigg
Nominee Marian Seldes
Nominee Estelle Parsons

24th Tonys · 1970

Winner Tammy Grimes
Nominee Helen Hayes
Nominee Geraldine Brooks

23rd Tonys · 1969

Winner Julie Harris
Nominee Brenda Vaccaro
Nominee Charlotte Rae
Nominee Estelle Parsons

22nd Tonys · 1968

21st Tonys · 1967

Winner Beryl Reid · The Killing of Sister George
Nominee Eileen Atkins · The Killing of Sister George
Nominee Vivien Merchant · The Homecoming
Nominee Rosemary Murphy · A Delicate Balance

20th Tonys · 1966

Winner Rosemary Harris
Nominee Kate Reid
Nominee Lee Remick
Nominee Sheila Hancock

19th Tonys · 1965

Winner Irene Worth · Tiny Alice
Nominee Beah Richards
Nominee Marjorie Rhodes
Nominee Diana Sands · The Owl and the Pussycat

18th Tonys · 1964

Winner Sandy Dennis
Nominee Julie Harris
Nominee Colleen Dewhurst · The Ballad of the Sad Café
Nominee Elizabeth Ashley · Barefoot in the Park

17th Tonys · 1963

Winner Uta Hagen · Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nominee Hermione Baddeley
Nominee Margaret Leighton · Tchin-Tchin
Nominee Claudia McNeil

16th Tonys · 1962

Winner Margaret Leighton · The Night of the Iguana
Nominee Kim Stanley
Nominee Colleen Dewhurst
Nominee Gladys Cooper

15th Tonys · 1961

14th Tonys · 1960

Winner Anne Bancroft · The Miracle Worker
Nominee Maureen Stapleton · Toys in the Attic
Nominee Margaret Leighton · Much Ado About Nothing
Nominee Irene Worth · Toys in the Attic
Nominee Claudia McNeil · A Raisin in the Sun
Nominee Geraldine Page

13th Tonys · 1959

Winner Gertrude Berg
Nominee Lynn Fontanne · The Visit
Nominee Kim Stanley · A Touch of the Poet
Nominee Claudette Colbert
Nominee Maureen Stapleton

12th Tonys · 1958

Winner Helen Hayes · Time Remembered
Nominee Jo Van Fleet · Look Homeward, Angel
Nominee Wendy Hiller · A Moon for the Misbegotten
Nominee Mary Ure · Look Back in Anger
Nominee Siobhán McKenna · The Rope Dancers
Nominee Eugenie Leontovich

11th Tonys · 1957

Winner Margaret Leighton · Separate Tables
Nominee Rosalind Russell
Nominee Sybil Thorndike · The Potting Shed
Nominee Florence Eldridge · Long Day's Journey into Night

10th Tonys · 1956

Winner Julie Harris
Nominee Siobhán McKenna · The Chalk Garden
Nominee Gladys Cooper · The Chalk Garden
Nominee Susan Strasberg · The Diary of Anne Frank
Nominee Ruth Gordon
Nominee Barbara Bel Geddes · Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

9th Tonys · 1955

Winner Nancy Kelly

8th Tonys · 1954

Winner Audrey Hepburn · Ondine, ou La naïade

7th Tonys · 1953

Winner Shirley Booth

6th Tonys · 1952

Winner Julie Harris

5th Tonys · 1951

Winner Uta Hagen

4th Tonys · 1950

Winner Shirley Booth

3rd Tonys · 1949

Winner Martita Hunt

2nd Tonys · 1948

Winner Katharine Cornell
Winner Judith Anderson · Medea
Winner Jessica Tandy · A Streetcar Named Desire

1st Tonys · 1947

Winner Helen Hayes
Winner Ingrid Bergman