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A visual history · Golden Globes

The winners who defined TV Actress (Drama).

56 ceremonies, 1970–2025. 50 different winners. The longest run belongs to Claire Danes, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Anna Sawai in 2025 for Shōgun.
Who has won the most?
Angela Lansbury, 4 wins (1985, 1987, 1990, 1992).
  1. ShōgunAnna Sawai
  2. SuccessionSarah Snook
  3. EuphoriaZendaya
  4. PoseMichaela Jaé Rodriguez
  5. The CrownEmma Corrin
  6. The CrownOlivia Colman
Years explored
1970–2025
Different winners
50
Category leader
Angela Lansbury · 4
About this record

Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama was first awarded in 1970, so it does not run the full 1944–2025 window.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19702025

01 / The reigns

Claire Danes 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 / distributor.

  1. 01
    Claire Danes2 wins
  2. 02
    Edie Falco2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by network / distributor; hover for details.
Edie Falco'00
Sela Ward'01
Jennifer Garner'02
Edie Falco'03
Frances Conroy'04
Mariska Hargitay'05
Geena Davis'06
Kyra Sedgwick'07
Glenn Close'08
Anna Paquin'09
Julianna Margulies'10
Katey Sagal'11
Claire Danes'12–'13×2
Robin Wright'14
Ruth Wilson'15
Taraji P. Henson'16
Claire Foy'17
Elisabeth Moss'18
Sandra Oh'19
Olivia Colman'20
Emma Corrin'21
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez'22
Zendaya'23
Sarah Snook'24
Anna Sawai'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

HBO leads the recorded network / distributor credits with 6 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

HBO6 wins
FX4 wins
Netflix4 wins
ABC3 wins
Showtime3 wins
20th Century1 win
Wins by network / distributor
  1. HBO623%
  2. FX415%
  3. Netflix415%
  4. ABC312%
  5. Showtime312%
  6. 20th Century14%
  7. Other519%

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

  1. 01
    Caitríona Balfe
    4 noms
  2. 02
    Keri Russell
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Amy Brenneman
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Lorraine Bracco
    3 noms
  5. 05
    Patricia Arquette
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Allison Janney
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Julianna Margulies
    6L · 1W
  2. 02
    Edie Falco
    5L · 2W
  3. 03
    Kyra Sedgwick
    5L · 1W
  4. 04
    Caitríona Balfe
    4L · 0W
  5. 05
    Keri Russell
    4L · 0W
  6. 06
    Amy Brenneman
    3L · 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.

YearWinnerNetwork / Distributor
2025Anna Sawai (Shōgun)
beat 5 others
  • Kathy Bates (Matlock)
  • Emma D'Arcy (House of the Dragon)
  • Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)
  • Keira Knightley (Black Doves)
  • Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
FX
2024Sarah Snook (Succession)
beat 5 others
  • Helen Mirren (1923)
  • Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)
  • Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
  • Imelda Staunton (The Crown)
  • Emma Stone (The Curse)
HBO
2023Zendaya (Euphoria)
beat 4 others
  • Emma D'Arcy (House of the Dragon)
  • Laura Linney (Ozark)
  • Imelda Staunton (The Crown)
  • Hilary Swank (Alaska Daily)
HBO
2022Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose)
beat 4 others
  • Uzo Aduba (In Treatment)
  • Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
  • Christine Baranski (The Good Fight)
  • Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale)
FX
2021Emma Corrin (The Crown)
beat 4 others
  • Olivia Colman (The Crown)
  • Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
  • Laura Linney (Ozark)
  • Sarah Paulson (Ratched)
Netflix
2020Olivia Colman (The Crown)
beat 4 others
  • Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
  • Jodie Comer (Killing Eve)
  • Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies)
  • Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show)
Netflix
2019Sandra Oh (Killing Eve)
beat 4 others
  • Caitríona Balfe (Outlander)
  • Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale)
  • Julia Roberts (Homecoming)
  • Keri Russell (The Americans)
BBC America
2018Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale)
beat 4 others
  • Caitríona Balfe (Outlander)
  • Claire Foy (The Crown)
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Deuce)
  • Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why)
Hulu
2017Claire Foy (The Crown)
beat 4 others
  • Caitríona Balfe (Outlander)
  • Keri Russell (The Americans)
  • Winona Ryder (Stranger Things)
  • Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld)
Netflix
2016Taraji P. Henson (Empire)
beat 4 others
  • Caitríona Balfe (Outlander)
  • Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder)
  • Eva Green (Penny Dreadful)
  • Robin Wright (House of Cards)
Fox
2015Ruth Wilson (The Affair)
beat 4 others
  • Claire Danes (Homeland)
  • Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder)
  • Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
  • Robin Wright (House of Cards)
Showtime
2014Robin Wright (House of Cards)
beat 4 others
  • Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
  • Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black)
  • Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black)
  • Kerry Washington (Scandal)
Netflix
2013Claire Danes (Homeland)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Connie Britton (Nashville)
  • Glenn Close (Damages)
  • Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)
  • Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Showtime
2012Claire Danes (Homeland)
beat 4 others
  • Mireille Enos (The Killing)
  • Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
  • Madeleine Stowe (Revenge)
  • Callie Thorne (Necessary Roughness)
Showtime
2011Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy)
beat 4 others
  • Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
  • Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
  • Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs)
  • Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
FX
2010Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
beat 4 others
  • Glenn Close (Damages)
  • January Jones (Mad Men)
  • Anna Paquin (True Blood)
  • Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
CBS
2009Anna Paquin (True Blood)
beat 4 others
  • Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
  • Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit)
  • January Jones (Mad Men)
  • Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
HBO
2008Glenn Close (Damages)
beat 6 others
  • Patricia Arquette (Medium)
  • Minnie Driver (The Riches)
  • Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
  • Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
  • Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)
  • Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
FX
2007Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
beat 4 others
  • Patricia Arquette (Medium)
  • Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
  • Evangeline Lilly (Lost)
  • Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy)
TNT
2006Geena Davis (Commander in Chief)
beat 4 others
  • Patricia Arquette (Medium)
  • Glenn Close (The Shield)
  • Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
  • Polly Walker (Rome)
ABC
2005Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit)unverified
beat 4 others
  • Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
  • Jennifer Garner (Alias)
  • Christine Lahti (Jack & Bobby)
  • Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck)
NBC
2004Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under)
beat 4 others
  • Jennifer Garner (Alias)
  • Allison Janney (The West Wing)
  • Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck)
  • Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia)
HBO
2003Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
beat 4 others
  • Jennifer Garner (Alias)
  • Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under)
  • Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
  • Allison Janney (The West Wing)
HBO
2002Jennifer Garner (Alias)
beat 6 others
  • Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos)
  • Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy)
  • Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
  • Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls)
  • Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
  • Sela Ward (Once and Again)
ABC
2001Sela Ward (Once and Again)
beat 5 others
  • Jessica Alba (Dark Angel)
  • Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos)
  • Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy)
  • Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
ABC
2000Edie Falco (The Sopranos)
beat 4 others
  • Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos)
  • Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy)
  • Julianna Margulies (ER)
  • Sela Ward (Once and Again)
HBO