Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

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Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart by Gage Skidmore.jpg
The 2021 recipient: Jean Smart
Awarded forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences
First awarded1954
Currently held byJean Smart,
Hacks (2021)
Websiteemmys.com

This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, leading actresses in comedy have competed alone. However, these comedic performances included actresses from miniseries, telefilms, and guest performers competing against main cast competitors. Such instances are marked below:

  • # – Indicates a performance in a Miniseries or Television film, prior to the category's creation
  • § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards are the first Emmys where there is no representation from any of the big four broadcast networks.

Winners and nominations[]

1950s[]

Year Actress Role Program Network
Best Female Star of a Regular Series
1954
(6th)
[note 1]
[1] 		Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks CBS
Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy CBS
Imogene Coca Various characters Your Show of Shows NBC
Dinah Shore Herself The Dinah Shore Show
Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show
Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series
1955
(7th)
[note 1]
[2] 		Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC
Gracie Allen Gracie Allen The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show CBS
Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks
Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy
Ann Sothern Susie McNamara Private Secretary
Best Actress - Continuing Performance
1956
(8th)
[note 1]
[3] 		Lucille Ball Lucy Ricardo I Love Lucy CBS
Gracie Allen Gracie Allen The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show CBS
Eve Arden Connie Brooks Our Miss Brooks
Jean Hagen Margaret Williams Make Room for Daddy ABC
Ann Sothern Susie McNamara Private Secretary CBS
Best Continuing Performance by an Actress
1957
(9th)
[note 1]
[4] 		Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC
Jan Clayton Ellen Miller Lassie CBS
Ida Lupino Various characters Four Star Playhouse
Peggy Wood Mama Mama
Jane Wyman Various characters Jane Wyman Theatre NBC
Best Continuing Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series
1958
(10th)
[note 1]
[5] 		Jane Wyatt Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best NBC
Eve Arden Liza Hammond The Eve Arden Show CBS
Spring Byington Lily Ruskin December Bride
Jan Clayton Ellen Miller Lassie
Ida Lupino Eve Drake Mr. Adams and Eve
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series
1959
(11th)
Jane Wyatt Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best CBS & NBC
Gracie Allen Gracie Allen The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show CBS
Spring Byington Lily Ruskin December Bride
Ida Lupino Eve Adams Mr. Adams and Eve
Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC
Ann Sothern Katy O'Connor The Ann Sothern Show CBS

1960s[]

Year Actress Role Program Network
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support)
1960
(12th)
[note 1]
[6] 		Jane Wyatt Margaret Anderson Father Knows Best CBS
Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC
Teresa Wright Margaret Bourke-White NBC Sunday Showcase NBC
Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)
1961
(13th)
[note 1]
[7] 		Barbara Stanwyck Various characters The Barbara Stanwyck Show NBC
Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC
Loretta Young Various characters The Loretta Young Show NBC
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)
1962
(14th)
[note 1]
[8] 		Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC
Gertrude Berg Sarah Green The Gertrude Berg Show CBS
Donna Reed Donna Stone The Donna Reed Show ABC
Mary Stuart Joanne Gardner Search for Tomorrow CBS
Cara Williams Gladys Porter Pete and Gladys
1963
(15th)
[note 1]
[9] 		Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC
Lucille Ball Lucy Carmichael The Lucy Show CBS
Shirl Conway Liz Thorpe The Nurses
Mary Tyler Moore Laura Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show
Irene Ryan Granny The Beverly Hillbillies
1964
(16th)
[note 1]
[10] 		Mary Tyler Moore Laura Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS
Shirley Booth Hazel Burke Hazel NBC
Patty Duke Cathy Lane The Patty Duke Show ABC
Irene Ryan Granny The Beverly Hillbillies CBS
Inger Stevens Katy Holstrum The Farmer's Daughter ABC
Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers
1965
(17th)
Leonard Bernstein Conductor New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein CBS
Lynn Fontanne Fanny Bowditch Holmes Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee" NBC
Alfred Lunt Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Barbra Streisand Herself My Name Is Barbra CBS
Dick Van Dyke Rob Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show
Julie Andrews Herself The Andy Williams Show: "November 30, 1964" NBC
Johnny Carson Host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Gladys Cooper Margaret St. Clair The Rogues
Robert Coote Timmy St. Clair
Richard Crenna James Slattery Slattery's People CBS
Julie Harris Florence Nightingale Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror" NBC
Bob Hope Himself Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special
Dean Jagger Principal Albert Vane Mr. Novak
Danny Kaye Host The Danny Kaye Show CBS
David McCallum Illya Kuryakin The Man from U.N.C.L.E. NBC
Red Skelton Himself The Red Skelton Hour CBS
Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
1966
(18th)
Mary Tyler Moore Laura Petrie The Dick Van Dyke Show CBS
Lucille Ball Lucy Carmichael The Lucy Show CBS
Elizabeth Montgomery Samantha Stephens Bewitched ABC
1967
(19th)
Lucille Ball Lucy Carmichael The Lucy Show CBS
Elizabeth Montgomery Samantha Stephens Bewitched ABC
Agnes Moorehead Endora
Marlo Thomas Ann Marie That Girl
1968
(20th)
Lucille Ball Lucy Carmichael The Lucy Show CBS
Barbara Feldon Agent 99 Get Smart NBC
Elizabeth Montgomery Samantha Stephens Bewitched ABC
Paula Prentiss Paula Hollister He & She CBS
Marlo Thomas Ann Marie That Girl ABC
1969
(21st)
Hope Lange Carolyn Muir The Ghost & Mrs. Muir NBC
Diahann Carroll Julia Baker Julia NBC
Barbara Feldon Agent 99 Get Smart
Elizabeth Montgomery Samantha Stephens Bewitched ABC

1970s[]

Year Actress Role Program Network
1970
(22nd)
Hope Lange Carolyn Muir The Ghost & Mrs. Muir ABC
Elizabeth Montgomery Samantha Stephens Bewitched ABC
Marlo Thomas Ann Marie That Girl
1971
(23rd)
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Marlo Thomas Ann Marie That Girl ABC
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS
1972
(24th)
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Sandy Duncan Sandy Stockton Funny Face CBS
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1973
(25th)
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Bea Arthur Maude Findlay Maude
1974
(26th)
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS
Bea Arthur Maude Findlay Maude CBS
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family
1975
(27th)
Valerie Harper Rhoda Morgenstern Rhoda CBS
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1976
(28th)
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS
Lee Grant Fay Stewart Fay NBC
Bea Arthur Maude Findlay Maude CBS
Cloris Leachman Phyllis Lindstrom Phyllis
Valerie Harper Rhoda Morgenstern Rhoda
1977
(29th)
Bea Arthur Maude Findlay Maude CBS
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Valerie Harper Rhoda Morgenstern Rhoda
Suzanne Pleshette Emily Hartley The Bob Newhart Show
Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1978
(30th)
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family CBS
Bea Arthur Maude Findlay Maude CBS
Valerie Harper Rhoda Morgenstern Rhoda
Cathryn Damon Mary Campbell Soap ABC
Katherine Helmond Jessica Tate
Suzanne Pleshette Emily Hartley The Bob Newhart Show CBS
1979
(31st)
Ruth Gordon § Dee Wilcox Taxi ABC
Linda Lavin Alice Hyatt Alice CBS
Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All in the Family
Katherine Helmond Jessica Tate Soap ABC
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons CBS

1980s[]

Year Actress Role Program Episode Submissions Network
1980
(32nd)
Cathryn Damon Mary Campbell Soap N/A ABC
Polly Holliday Flo Castleberry Flo N/A CBS
Sheree North § Dotty Wertz Archie Bunker's Place N/A
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons N/A
Katherine Helmond Jessica Tate Soap N/A ABC
1981
(33rd)
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons "And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds" CBS
Eileen Brennan § Mrs. McKenzie Taxi "Thy Boss's Wife" ABC
Cathryn Damon Mary Campbell Soap N/A
Katherine Helmond Jessica Tate N/A
Lynn Redgrave Ann Atkinson House Calls N/A CBS
1982
(34th)
Carol Kane § Simka Dahblitz Taxi "Simka Returns" ABC
Swoosie Kurtz Laurie Morgan Love, Sidney N/A NBC
Nell Carter Nellie Harper Gimme a Break! N/A
Charlotte Rae Edna Garrett The Facts of Life N/A
Bonnie Franklin Ann Romano One Day at a Time N/A CBS
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons N/A
1983
(35th)
Shelley Long Diane Chambers Cheers "Give Me a Ring Sometime" NBC
Mariette Hartley Jennifer Barnes Goodnight, Beantown N/A CBS
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons N/A
Nell Carter Nellie Harper Gimme a Break! N/A NBC
Swoosie Kurtz Laurie Morgan Love, Sidney N/A
Rita Moreno Violet Newstead 9 to 5 N/A ABC
1984
(36th)
Jane Curtin Allie Lowell Kate & Allie N/A CBS
Joanna Cassidy Jo Jo White Buffalo Bill N/A NBC
Shelley Long Diane Chambers Cheers N/A
Susan Saint James Kate McArdle Kate & Allie N/A CBS
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons N/A
1985
(37th)
Jane Curtin Allie Lowell Kate & Allie N/A CBS
Shelley Long Diane Chambers Cheers N/A NBC
Phylicia Rashad Clair Huxtable The Cosby Show N/A
Susan Saint James Kate McArdle Kate & Allie N/A CBS
Isabel Sanford Louise Jefferson The Jeffersons N/A
1986
(38th)
Betty White Rose Nylund The Golden Girls "In a Bed of Rose's" NBC
Shelley Long Diane Chambers Cheers N/A NBC
Bea Arthur Dorothy Zbornak The Golden Girls "The Triangle"
Rue McClanahan Blanche Devereaux "The Way We Met"
Phylicia Rashad Clair Huxtable The Cosby Show "Cliff in Love"
1987
(39th)
Rue McClanahan Blanche Devereaux The Golden Girls "End of the Curse" NBC
Blair Brown Molly Bickford Dodd The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd N/A NBC
Bea Arthur Dorothy Zbornak The Golden Girls "The Stan Who Came to Dinner"
Betty White Rose Nylund "Isn't It Romantic?"
Jane Curtin Allie Lowell Kate & Allie N/A CBS
1988
(40th)
Bea Arthur Dorothy Zbornak The Golden Girls "My Brother, My Father" NBC
Kirstie Alley Rebecca Howe Cheers "Backseat Becky, Upfront" NBC
Blair Brown Molly Bickford Dodd The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd N/A
Rue McClanahan Blanche Devereaux The Golden Girls "Strange Bedfellows"
Betty White Rose Nylund "Bringing Up Baby"
1989
(41st)
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "Respect" CBS
Blair Brown Molly Bickford Dodd The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd N/A Lifetime
Rue McClanahan Blanche Devereaux The Golden Girls "Yes, We Have No Havanas" NBC
Betty White Rose Nylund "High Anxiety"
Bea Arthur Dorothy Zbornak "Love Me Tender"

1990s[]

Year Actress Role Program Episode Submissions Network
1990
(42nd)
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "Brown Like Me" CBS
Kirstie Alley Rebecca Howe Cheers "The Improbable Dream, Part 1" NBC
Betty White Rose Nylund The Golden Girls "Rose Fights Back"
Blair Brown Molly Bickford Dodd The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd N/A Lifetime
Delta Burke Suzanne Sugarbaker Designing Women "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?" CBS
1991
(43rd)
Kirstie Alley Rebecca Howe Cheers "The Days of Wine and Neuroses" NBC
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "On Another Plane" CBS
Delta Burke Suzanne Sugarbaker Designing Women "The Bachelor Auction"
Blair Brown Molly Bickford Dodd The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd "Here's a Pregnant Pause" Lifetime
Betty White Rose Nylund The Golden Girls "Once, in St. Olaf" NBC
1992
(44th)
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "Birth 101" CBS
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner Roseanne "A Bitter Pill to Swallow" ABC
Kirstie Alley Rebecca Howe Cheers "An Old Fashioned Wedding" NBC
Tyne Daly § Mimsy Borogroves Wings "My Brother's Keeper"
Betty White Rose Nylund The Golden Girls "Dateline: Miami"
Marion Ross Sophie Berger Brooklyn Bridge "Brave New World" CBS
1993
(45th)
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner Roseanne "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home" ABC
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "Games Mothers Play" CBS
Marion Ross Sophie Berger Brooklyn Bridge "Brave New Worlds"
Kirstie Alley Rebecca Howe Cheers "One for the Road" NBC
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "Pilot"
1994
(46th)
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "It's Just Like Riding a Bike" CBS
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "Cold Feet" NBC
Annie Potts Dana Palladino Love & War "I've Got a Crush on You" CBS
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner Roseanne "The Driver's Seat" ABC
Patricia Richardson Jill Taylor Home Improvement "The Colonel"
1995
(47th)
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown Murphy Brown "Requiem for a Crew Guy" CBS
Roseanne Barr Roseanne Conner Roseanne "Thanksgiving 1994" ABC
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Morgan Ellen "The Spa"
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "The Ride Home" NBC
Cybill Shepherd Cybill Sheridan Cybill "Virgin, Mother, Crone" CBS
1996
(48th)
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "The Finale" NBC
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Morgan Ellen "Witness" ABC
Fran Drescher Fran Fine The Nanny "The Hockey Show" CBS
Cybill Shepherd Cybill Sheridan Cybill "When You're Hot, You're Hot"
Patricia Richardson Jill Taylor Home Improvement "The Longest Day" ABC
1997
(49th)
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "The Birth" NBC
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Morgan Ellen "The Puppy Episode" ABC
Patricia Richardson Jill Taylor Home Improvement "Family Unties"
Fran Drescher Fran Fine The Nanny "The Facts of Lice" CBS
Cybill Shepherd Cybill Sheridan Cybill "In Her Dreams"
1998
(50th)
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "Moody Blues" NBC
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Morgan Ellen "Neighbors" ABC
Jenna Elfman Dharma Montgomery Dharma & Greg "Haus Arrest"
Patricia Richardson Jill Taylor Home Improvement "Bright Christmas"
Kirstie Alley Veronica Chase Veronica's Closet "Pilot" NBC
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal Ally McBeal "One Hundred Tears Away" Fox
1999
(51st)
Helen Hunt Jamie Buchman Mad About You "The Final Frontier" NBC
Jenna Elfman Dharma Montgomery Dharma & Greg "Are You Ready for Some Football?" ABC
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal Ally McBeal "Sideshow" Fox
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "Be Nice" CBS
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "The Drought" HBO

2000s[]

Year Actress Role Program Episode Submissions Network
2000
(52nd)
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "Bad Moon Rising" CBS
Jenna Elfman Dharma Montgomery Dharma & Greg "Lawyers, Beer, and Money" ABC
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Red Dress" Fox
Debra Messing Grace Adler Will & Grace "Das Boob" NBC
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "Ex and the City" HBO
2001
(53rd)
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "The Canister" CBS
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal Ally McBeal "Falling Up" Fox
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Flashback"
Debra Messing Grace Adler Will & Grace "Lows in the Mid-Eighties" NBC
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" HBO
2002
(54th)
Jennifer Aniston Rachel Green Friends "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby" NBC
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "A Vote for Debra" CBS
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Poker" Fox
Debra Messing Grace Adler Will & Grace "Bed, Bath and Beyond" NBC
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "The Real Me" HBO
2003
(55th)
Debra Messing Grace Adler Will & Grace "The Kid Stays Out of the Picture" NBC
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "Baggage" CBS
Jennifer Aniston Rachel Green Friends "The One Where Monica Sings" NBC
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "Anchors Away" HBO
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Baby" Fox
2004
(56th)
Sarah Jessica Parker Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City "An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)" HBO
Jennifer Aniston Rachel Green Friends "The One with Rachel's Going Away Party" NBC
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "Fun with Debra" CBS
Bonnie Hunt Bonnie Malloy Life with Bonnie "Ironing Out Our Differences" ABC
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Block Party" Fox
2005
(57th)
Felicity Huffman Lynette Scavo Desperate Housewives "Pilot" ABC
Patricia Heaton Debra Barone Everybody Loves Raymond "The Finale" CBS
Marcia Cross Bree Van de Kamp Desperate Housewives "Running to Stand Still" ABC
Teri Hatcher Susan Mayer "Move On"
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Lois Battles Jamie" Fox
2006
(58th)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Christine Campbell The New Adventures of Old Christine "Supertramp" CBS
Jane Kaczmarek Lois Malcolm in the Middle "Lois Strikes Back" Fox
Lisa Kudrow Valerie Cherish The Comeback "Valerie Does Another Classic Leno" HBO
Stockard Channing Lydia Barnes Out of Practice "And I'll Cry If I Want To" CBS
Debra Messing Grace Adler Will & Grace "The Finale" NBC
2007
(59th)
America Ferrera Betty Suarez Ugly Betty "Pilot" ABC
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Up All Night" NBC
Felicity Huffman Lynette Scavo Desperate Housewives "Bang" ABC
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Christine Campbell The New Adventures of Old Christine "Playdate with Destiny" CBS
Mary-Louise Parker Nancy Botwin Weeds "Mrs. Botwin's Neighborhood" Showtime
2008
(60th)
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Sandwich Day" NBC
Mary-Louise Parker Nancy Botwin Weeds "Bill Sussman" Showtime
Christina Applegate Samantha Newly Samantha Who? "The Restraining Order" ABC
America Ferrera Betty Suarez Ugly Betty "Odor in the Court"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Christine Campbell The New Adventures of Old Christine "One and a Half Men" CBS
2009
(61st)
Toni Collette Tara Gregson United States of Tara "Pilot" Showtime
Christina Applegate Samantha Newly Samantha Who? "The Pill" ABC
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Reunion" NBC
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Christine Campbell The New Adventures of Old Christine "Everyone Says I Love You Except Richie" CBS
Mary-Louise Parker Nancy Botwin Weeds "Lady's a Charm" Showtime
Sarah Silverman Sarah Silverman The Sarah Silverman Program "There's No Place Like Homeless" Comedy Central

2010s[]

Year Actress Role Program Episode Submissions Network
2010
(62nd)
[11]
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "Pilot" Showtime
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Dealbreakers Talk Show#0001" NBC
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "Telethon"
Toni Collette Tara Gregson United States of Tara "Torando!" Showtime
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Christine Campbell The New Adventures of Old Christine "I Love What You Do for Me" CBS
Lea Michele Rachel Berry Glee "Sectionals" Fox
2011
(63rd)
[12]
Melissa McCarthy Molly Flynn Mike & Molly "First Date" CBS
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "Rat Falls" Showtime
Laura Linney Cathy Jamison The Big C "Pilot"
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Double-Edged Sword" NBC
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "Flu Season"
Martha Plimpton Virginia Chance Raising Hope "Say Cheese" Fox
2012
(64th)
[13]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Tears" HBO
Zooey Deschanel Jessica Day New Girl "Bad in Bed" Fox
Lena Dunham Hannah Horvath Girls "She Did" HBO
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "Disneyland Sucks" Showtime
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "The Tuxedo Begins" NBC
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "Win, Lose, or Draw"
Melissa McCarthy Molly Flynn Mike & Molly "The Dress" CBS
2013
(65th)
[14]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Running" HBO
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "Luck of the Drawing" Showtime
Laura Dern Amy Jellicoe Enlightened "All I Ever Wanted" HBO
Lena Dunham Hannah Horvath Girls "Bad Friend"
Tina Fey Liz Lemon 30 Rock "Hogcock!" + "Last Lunch" NBC
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "Emergency Response" + "Leslie and Ben"
2014
(66th)
[15]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Crate" HBO
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "Super Greens" Showtime
Lena Dunham Hannah Horvath Girls "Beach House" HBO
Melissa McCarthy Molly Flynn Mike & Molly "Mind Over Molly" CBS
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "Recall Vote" NBC
Taylor Schilling Piper Chapman Orange Is the New Black "The Chickening" Netflix
2015
(67th)
[16]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Election Night" HBO
Edie Falco Jackie Peyton Nurse Jackie "I Say a Little Prayer" Showtime
Lisa Kudrow Valerie Cherish The Comeback "Valerie Is Taken Seriously" HBO
Amy Poehler Leslie Knope Parks and Recreation "One Last Ride" NBC
Amy Schumer Various characters Inside Amy Schumer "Cool With It" Comedy Central
Lily Tomlin Frankie Bergstein Grace and Frankie "The Vows" Netflix
2016
(68th)
[17]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Mother" HBO
Ellie Kemper Kimmy Schmidt Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt "Kimmy Goes to a Hotel!" Netflix
Laurie Metcalf Dr. Jenna James Getting On "Am I Still Me?" HBO
Tracee Ellis Ross Dr. Rainbow Johnson Black-ish "Sink or Swim" ABC
Amy Schumer Various characters Inside Amy Schumer "Welcome to the Gun Show" Comedy Central
Lily Tomlin Frankie Bergstein Grace and Frankie "The Test" Netflix
2017
(69th)
[18]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Groundbreaking" HBO
Pamela Adlon Sam Fox Better Things "Future Fever" FX
Allison Janney Bonnie Plunkett Mom "Tush Push and Some Radishes" CBS
Ellie Kemper Kimmy Schmidt Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt "Kimmy Goes to College!" Netflix
Jane Fonda Grace Hanson Grace and Frankie "The Pot"
Lily Tomlin Frankie Bergstein "The Burglary"
Tracee Ellis Ross Dr. Rainbow Johnson Black-ish "Being Bow-racial" ABC
2018
(70th)
[19]
Rachel Brosnahan Miriam "Midge" Maisel The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel "Thank You and Good Night" Amazon
Pamela Adlon Sam Fox Better Things "Eulogy" FX
Allison Janney Bonnie Plunkett Mom "Phone Confetti and a Wee Dingle" CBS
Issa Rae Issa Dee Insecure "Hella Great" HBO
Tracee Ellis Ross Dr. Rainbow Johnson Black-ish "Elder. Scam." ABC
Lily Tomlin Frankie Bergstein Grace and Frankie "The Home" Netflix
2019
(71st)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Fleabag Fleabag "Episode 1" Amazon
Christina Applegate Jen Harding Dead to Me "I've Gotta Get Away" Netflix
Rachel Brosnahan Miriam "Midge" Maisel The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel "Midnight at the Concord" Amazon
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Selina Meyer Veep "Veep" HBO
Natasha Lyonne Nadia Vulvokov Russian Doll "Nothing in This World Is Easy" Netflix
Catherine O'Hara Moira Rose Schitt's Creek "The Crowening" Pop TV

2020s[]

Year Actress Role Program Episode Submissions Network
2020
(72nd)
Catherine O'Hara Moira Rose Schitt's Creek "The Incident" Pop TV
Christina Applegate Jen Harding Dead to Me "It's Not You, It's Me" Netflix
Linda Cardellini Judy Hale "If Only You Knew"
Rachel Brosnahan Miriam "Midge" Maisel The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel "A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo..." Amazon
Issa Rae Issa Dee Insecure "Lowkey Happy" HBO
Tracee Ellis Ross Dr. Rainbow Johnson Black-ish "Kid Life Crisis" ABC
2021
(73rd)
Jean Smart Deborah Vance Hacks "1.69 Million" HBO Max
Aidy Bryant Annie Easton Shrill "Ranchers" Hulu
Kaley Cuoco Cassie Bowden The Flight Attendant "In Case of Emergency" HBO Max
Allison Janney Bonnie Plunkett Mom "My Kinda People and the Big To-Do" CBS
Tracee Ellis Ross Dr. Rainbow Johnson Black-ish "Babes in Boyland" ABC

Superlatives[]

Superlative Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Actress with most awards Julia Louis-Dreyfus (7)
Actress with most nominations Julia Louis-Dreyfus (12)
Actress with most nominations
without ever winning 		Jane Kaczmarek (7)

Programs with multiple wins[]

Performers with multiple wins[]

Programs with multiple nominations[]

Performers with multiple nominations[]

Total awards by network[]

  • CBS – 26
  • NBC – 16
  • ABC – 7
  • HBO – 7
  • Showtime – 2
  • Amazon – 2
  • Pop TV - 1

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre-specific acting categories

References[]

  1. ^ "6th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Female Star of Regular Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. ^ "7th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  3. ^ "8th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Actress – Continuing Performance". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  4. ^ "9th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Continuing Performance by an Actress". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. ^ "10th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Continuing Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  6. ^ "12th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support)". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  7. ^ "13th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  8. ^ "14th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  9. ^ "15th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  10. ^ "16th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
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