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Every Emmys Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner

26 ceremonies, 2000–2025. 16 different winners. The longest run was Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 6 years straight (2012–2017).

Julia Louis-Dreyfus ×7Jean Smart ×4Patricia Heaton ×2
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.
Patricia Heaton'00–'01×2
Jennifer Aniston'02
Debra Messing'03
Sarah Jessica Parker'04
Felicity Huffman'05
Julia Louis-Dreyfus'06
America Ferrera'07
Tina Fey'08
Toni Collette'09
Edie Falco'10
Melissa McCarthy'11
Julia Louis-Dreyfus'12–'17×6
Rachel Brosnahan'18
Phoebe Waller-Bridge'19
Catherine O'Hara'20
Jean Smart'21–'22×2
Quinta Brunson'23
Jean Smart'24–'25×2
Wins by network
HBO11CBS4ABC3NBC3Amazon2Showtime2Other1

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won

  • Jane Kaczmarek7 noms
  • Amy Poehler6 noms
  • Christina Applegate5 noms
  • Tracee Ellis Ross5 noms
  • Lily Tomlin4 noms
  • Allison Janney3 noms

Most losses

  • Jane Kaczmarek7L · 0W
  • Amy Poehler6L · 0W
  • Tina Fey6L · 1W
  • Christina Applegate5L · 0W
  • Edie Falco5L · 1W
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus5L · 7W

The full list

YearWinnerNetwork
2025Jean Smart (Hacks)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Uzo Aduba (The Residence)
  • Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
  • Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
HBO Max
2024Jean Smart (Hacks)
beat 5 others
  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
  • Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
  • Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building)
  • Maya Rudolph (Loot)
  • Kristen Wiig (Palm Royale)
Max
2023Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
beat 4 others
  • Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)
  • Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
  • Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face)
  • Jenna Ortega (Wednesday)
ABC
2022Jean Smart (Hacks)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
  • Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
  • Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)
  • Elle Fanning (The Great)
  • Issa Rae (Insecure)
HBO Max
2021Jean Smart (Hacks)
beat 4 others
  • Aidy Bryant (Shrill)
  • Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant)
  • Allison Janney (Mom)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
HBO Max
2020Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek)
beat 5 others
  • Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)
  • Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
  • Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me)
  • Issa Rae (Insecure)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
Pop TV
2019Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag)
beat 5 others
  • Christina Applegate (Dead to Me)
  • Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
  • Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll)
  • Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek)
Amazon
2018Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
beat 5 others
  • Pamela Adlon (Better Things)
  • Allison Janney (Mom)
  • Issa Rae (Insecure)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
  • Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)
Amazon
2017Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)repeat
beat 6 others
  • Pamela Adlon (Better Things)
  • Allison Janney (Mom)
  • Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)
  • Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
  • Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)
HBO
2016Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)
  • Laurie Metcalf (Getting On)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)
  • Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer)
  • Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)
HBO
2015Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
  • Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
  • Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer)
  • Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)
HBO
2014Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Lena Dunham (Girls)
  • Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
  • Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
  • Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black)
HBO
2013Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)repeat
beat 5 others
  • Laura Dern (Enlightened)
  • Lena Dunham (Girls)
  • Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
HBO
2012Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
beat 6 others
  • Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)
  • Lena Dunham (Girls)
  • Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
HBO
2011Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
beat 5 others
  • Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Laura Linney (The Big C)
  • Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
CBS
2010Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
beat 5 others
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
  • Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
  • Lea Michele (Glee)
Showtime
2009Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
beat 5 others
  • Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
  • Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
  • Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program)
Showtime
2008Tina Fey (30 Rock)
beat 4 others
  • Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
  • America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
  • Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
NBC
2007America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
beat 4 others
  • Tina Fey (30 Rock)
  • Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives)
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
  • Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
ABC
2006Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
beat 4 others
  • Stockard Channing (Out of Practice)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback)
  • Debra Messing (Will & Grace)
CBS
2005Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives)
beat 4 others
  • Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives)
  • Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives)
  • Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
ABC
2004Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)
beat 4 others
  • Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
  • Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
  • Bonnie Hunt (Life with Bonnie)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
HBO
2003Debra Messing (Will & Grace)
beat 4 others
  • Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
  • Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)
NBC
2002Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
beat 4 others
  • Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Debra Messing (Will & Grace)
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)
NBC
2001Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Debra Messing (Will & Grace)
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)
CBS
2000Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)
beat 4 others
  • Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg)
  • Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle)
  • Debra Messing (Will & Grace)
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City)
CBS

More Emmys categories

Drama SeriesComedy SeriesLimited SeriesLead Actor (Drama)Lead Actress (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Supp. Actor (Drama)Supp. Actress (Drama)Supp. Actor (Comedy)Supp. Actress (Comedy)Directing (Drama)Writing (Drama)Writing (Comedy)Browse the full show

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