Every Emmys Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner

26 ceremonies, 2000–2025. 20 different winners. The longest run was Glenn Close, 2 years straight (2008–2009).

Allison Janney ×2Claire Danes ×2Edie Falco ×2Glenn Close ×2Julianna Margulies ×2

Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network; hover for details.

Sela Ward'00

Edie Falco'01

Allison Janney'02

Edie Falco'03

Allison Janney'04

Patricia Arquette'05

Mariska Hargitay'06

Sally Field'07

Glenn Close'08–'09×2

Kyra Sedgwick'10

Julianna Margulies'11

Claire Danes'12–'13×2

Julianna Margulies'14

Viola Davis'15

Tatiana Maslany'16

Elisabeth Moss'17

Claire Foy'18

Jodie Comer'19

Zendaya'20

Olivia Colman'21

Zendaya'22

Sarah Snook'23

Anna Sawai'24

Britt Lower'25

Wins by network

HBO5NBC4ABC3FX3BBC America2CBS2Other7

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won

Robin Wright6 noms
Keri Russell5 noms
Frances Conroy4 noms
Jennifer Garner4 noms
Sandra Oh4 noms
Amy Brenneman3 noms

Most losses

Elisabeth Moss8L · 1W
Mariska Hargitay7L · 1W
Robin Wright6L · 0W
Keri Russell5L · 0W
Frances Conroy4L · 0W
Jennifer Garner4L · 0W

The full list

Year	Winner	Network
2025	Britt Lower (Severance) beat 4 others Kathy Bates (Matlock) Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) Keri Russell (The Diplomat)	Apple TV+
2024	Anna Sawai (Shōgun) beat 5 others Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age) Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) Imelda Staunton (The Crown) Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)	FX
2023	Sarah Snook (Succession) beat 5 others Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) Keri Russell (The Diplomat)	HBO
2022	Zendaya (Euphoria) beat 5 others Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) Laura Linney (Ozark) Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)	HBO
2021	Olivia Colman (The Crown) beat 5 others Emma Corrin (The Crown) Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose) Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country)	Netflix
2020	Zendaya (Euphoria) beat 5 others Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) Olivia Colman (The Crown) Laura Linney (Ozark)	HBO
2019	Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) beat 6 others Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) Laura Linney (Ozark) Mandy Moore (This Is Us) Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	BBC America
2018	Claire Foy (The Crown) beat 5 others Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) Keri Russell (The Americans) Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld)	Netflix
2017	Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale) beat 5 others Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) Claire Foy (The Crown) Keri Russell (The Americans) Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	Hulu
2016	Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) beat 5 others Claire Danes (Homeland) Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) Taraji P. Henson (Empire) Keri Russell (The Americans) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	BBC America
2015	Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) beat 5 others Claire Danes (Homeland) Taraji P. Henson (Empire) Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	ABC
2014	Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) beat 5 others Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex) Claire Danes (Homeland) Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) Kerry Washington (Scandal) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	CBS
2013	Claire Danes (Homeland)repeat beat 6 others Connie Britton (Nashville) Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel) Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) Kerry Washington (Scandal) Robin Wright (House of Cards)	Showtime
2012	Claire Danes (Homeland) beat 5 others Kathy Bates (Harry's Law) Glenn Close (Damages) Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)	Showtime
2011	Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) beat 5 others Kathy Bates (Harry's Law) Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) Mireille Enos (The Killing) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)	CBS
2010	Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) beat 5 others Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) Glenn Close (Damages) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) January Jones (Mad Men) Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)	TNT
2009	Glenn Close (Damages)repeat beat 5 others Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)	FX
2008	Glenn Close (Damages) beat 4 others Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)	FX
2007	Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) beat 5 others Patricia Arquette (Medium) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Minnie Driver (The Riches) Edie Falco (The Sopranos) Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)	ABC
2006	Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) beat 4 others Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) Geena Davis (Commander in Chief) Allison Janney (The West Wing) Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)	NBC
2005	Patricia Arquette (Medium) beat 4 others Glenn Close (The Shield) Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Jennifer Garner (Alias)	NBC
2004	Allison Janney (The West Wing) beat 4 others Edie Falco (The Sopranos) Jennifer Garner (Alias) Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia)	NBC
2003	Edie Falco (The Sopranos) beat 4 others Jennifer Garner (Alias) Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) Allison Janney (The West Wing) Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)	HBO
2002	Allison Janney (The West Wing) beat 4 others Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy) Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) Jennifer Garner (Alias)	NBC
2001	Edie Falco (The Sopranos) beat 4 others Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy) Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) Sela Ward (Once and Again)	HBO
2000	Sela Ward (Once and Again) beat 4 others Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) Edie Falco (The Sopranos) Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy) Julianna Margulies (ER)	ABC

More Emmys categories

Drama Series Comedy Series Limited Series Lead Actor (Drama)Lead Actor (Comedy)Lead Actress (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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