Who won Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the most recent Emmys?

Britt Lower won at the 2025 Emmys.

Who has won Lead Actress in a Drama Series the most times?

Michael Learned and Tyne Daly are tied with 4 wins each.

How many different winners has Lead Actress in a Drama Series had?

39 different winners across 61 ceremonies, 1959–2025.

A visual history · Emmys

The winners who defined Lead Actress (Drama).

61 ceremonies, 1959–2025. 39 different winners. The longest run belongs to Barbara Bain, with 3 straight wins.

Who won most recently?: Britt Lower in 2025 for Severance.
Who has won the most?: Michael Learned and Tyne Daly, tied on 4 wins each.

2025SeveranceBritt Lower
2024ShōgunAnna Sawai
2023SuccessionSarah Snook
2022EuphoriaZendaya
2021The CrownOlivia Colman
2020EuphoriaZendaya

Years explored: 1959–2025
Different winners: 39
Category leader: Michael Learned · 4

About this record

Lead Actress in a Drama Series was first awarded in 1959, so it does not run the full 1951–2025 window.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19592025

01 / The reigns

Glenn Close set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited network.

01
Allison Janney2 wins
02
Claire Danes2 wins
03
Edie Falco2 wins
04
Glenn Close2 wins
05
Julianna Margulies2 wins

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

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

HBO leads the recorded network credits with 5 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

HBO5 wins

NBC4 wins

ABC3 wins

FX3 wins

BBC America2 wins

CBS2 wins

Wins by network

HBO519%
NBC415%
ABC312%
FX312%
BBC America28%
CBS28%
Other727%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

01
Robin Wright
6 noms
02
Keri Russell
5 noms
03
Frances Conroy
4 noms
04
Jennifer Garner
4 noms
05
Sandra Oh
4 noms
06
Amy Brenneman
3 noms

Most losses in this category

01
Elisabeth Moss
8L · 1W
02
Mariska Hargitay
7L · 1W
03
Robin Wright
6L · 0W
04
Keri Russell
5L · 0W
05
Frances Conroy
4L · 0W
06
Jennifer Garner
4L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

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
1999	Edie Falco (The Sopranos)unverified beat 4 others Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) Julianna Margulies (ER)	HBO
1998	Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope)unverified beat 4 others Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) Julianna Margulies (ER) Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)	CBS
1997	Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)unverified beat 4 others Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel) Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) Julianna Margulies (ER) Sherry Stringfield (ER)	Fox
1996	Kathy Baker (Picket Fences)repeatunverified beat 4 others Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Sherry Stringfield (ER)	CBS
1995	Kathy Baker (Picket Fences)unverified beat 4 others Claire Danes (My So-Called Life) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Sherry Stringfield (ER) Cicely Tyson (Sweet Justice)	CBS
1994	Sela Ward (Sisters)unverified beat 4 others Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) Kathy Baker (Picket Fences) Swoosie Kurtz (Sisters)	NBC
1993	Kathy Baker (Picket Fences)unverified beat 4 others Swoosie Kurtz (Sisters) Regina Taylor (I'll Fly Away) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Janine Turner (Northern Exposure)	CBS
1992	Dana Delany (China Beach)unverified beat 5 others Sharon Gless (The Trials of Rosie O'Neill) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Shirley Knight (Law & Order) Regina Taylor (I'll Fly Away) Kate Nelligan (Road to Avonlea)	ABC
1991	Patricia Wettig (Thirtysomething)repeatunverified beat 3 others Dana Delany (China Beach) Sharon Gless (The Trials of Rosie O'Neill) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	ABC
1990	Patricia Wettig (Thirtysomething)unverified beat 4 others Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law) Dana Delany (China Beach) Piper Laurie (Twin Peaks) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	ABC
1989	Dana Delany (China Beach)unverified beat 4 others Susan Dey (L.A. Law) Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law) Linda Hamilton (Beauty and the Beast) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	ABC
1988	Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey)unverified beat 4 others Susan Dey (L.A. Law) Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law) Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	CBS
1987	Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey)repeatunverified beat 4 others Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey) Susan Dey (L.A. Law) Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	CBS
1986	Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey)unverified beat 4 others Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Cybill Shepherd (Moonlighting) Alfre Woodard (St. Elsewhere)	CBS
1985	Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey)repeatunverified beat 4 others Debbie Allen (Fame) Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote)	CBS
1984	Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey)repeatunverified beat 4 others Debbie Allen (Fame) Joan Collins (Dynasty) Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues)	CBS
1983	Tyne Daly (Cagney & Lacey)unverified beat 4 others Debbie Allen (Fame) Linda Evans (Dynasty) Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues)	CBS
1982	Michael Learned (Nurse)unverified beat 4 others Debbie Allen (Fame) Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues) Michele Lee (Knots Landing) Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart)	CBS
1981	Barbara Babcock (Hill Street Blues)unverified beat 5 others Barbara Bel Geddes (Dallas) Linda Gray (Dallas) Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues) Michael Learned (Nurse) Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart)	NBC
1980	Barbara Bel Geddes (Dallas)unverified beat 4 others Lauren Bacall (The Rockford Files) Mariette Hartley (The Rockford Files) Kristy McNichol (Family) Sada Thompson (Family)	CBS
1979	Mariette Hartley (The Incredible Hulk)unverified beat 3 others Barbara Bel Geddes (Dallas) Rita Moreno (The Rockford Files) Sada Thompson (Family)	CBS
1978	Sada Thompson (Family)unverified beat 5 others Melissa Sue Anderson (Little House on the Prairie) Fionnula Flanagan (How the West Was Won) Kate Jackson (Charlie's Angels) Michael Learned (The Waltons) Susan Sullivan (Having Babies)	ABC
1977	Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman)unverified beat 4 others Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) Kate Jackson (Charlie's Angels) Michael Learned (The Waltons) Sada Thompson (Family)	ABC
1976	Michael Learned (The Waltons)unverified beat 3 others Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) Anne Meara (Kate McShane) Brenda Vaccaro (Sara)	CBS
1975	Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs)unverified beat 2 others Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) Michael Learned (The Waltons)	PBS
1974	Michael Learned (The Waltons)repeatunverified beat 2 others Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs) Jeanette Nolan (Dirty Sally)	CBS
1973	Michael Learned (The Waltons)unverified beat 2 others Lynda Day George (Mission: Impossible) Susan Saint James (McMillan & Wife)	CBS
1972	Glenda Jackson (Elizabeth R)unverified beat 2 others Peggy Lipton (The Mod Squad) Susan Saint James (McMillan & Wife)	PBS
1971	Susan Hampshire (The First Churchills)repeatunverified beat 2 others Linda Cristal (The High Chaparral) Peggy Lipton (The Mod Squad)	PBS
1970	Susan Hampshire (The Forsyte Saga)unverified beat 2 others Joan Blondell (Here Come the Brides) Peggy Lipton (The Mod Squad)	NET
1969	Barbara Bain (Mission: Impossible)repeatunverified beat 2 others Joan Blondell (Here Come the Brides) Peggy Lipton (The Mod Squad)	CBS
1968	Barbara Bain (Mission: Impossible)repeatunverified beat 2 others Diana Rigg (The Avengers) Barbara Stanwyck (The Big Valley)	CBS
1967	Barbara Bain (Mission: Impossible)unverified beat 2 others Diana Rigg (The Avengers) Barbara Stanwyck (The Big Valley)	CBS
1966	Barbara Stanwyck (The Big Valley)unverified beat 2 others Anne Francis (Honey West) Barbara Parkins (Peyton Place)	ABC
1959	Loretta Young (The Loretta Young Show)unverified beat 3 others Phyllis Kirk (The Thin Man) June Lockhart (Lassie) Jane Wyman (The Jane Wyman Show)	NBC