Awards & Winners

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Drama Desk Award

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play is an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre among Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions. The awards were established in 1955, with acting awards being given without making distinctions between roles in plays and musicals, or actors and actresses. The new award categories were later created in the 1975 ceremony. † - indicates the performance won the Tony Award ‡ - indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award

Check all the winners of Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play presented under Drama Desk Award since 1975 .


Celia Keenan-Bolger

Honored for : The Glass Menagerie

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Betty Buckley The Old Friends
Julia Coffey London Wall
Diane Davis The Model Apartment
Celia Keenan-Bolger The Glass Menagerie
Jan Maxwell The Castle
Sophie Okonedo A Raisin In The Sun

Judith Light

Honored for : The Assembled Parties

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Judith Light The Assembled Parties
Tasha Lawrence The Whale
Kellie Overbey Sleeping Rough
Maryann Plunkett Sorry
Condola Rashad The Trip to Bountiful
Laila Robins Sorry

Judith Light

Honored for : Other Desert Cities

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephanie J. Block By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Anna Camp All New People
Lisa Joyce The Ugly One
Joaquina Kalukango Hurt Village
Judith Light Other Desert Cities
Angela Lansbury The Best Man
Kimberly Hebert Gregory By the Way, Meet Vera Stark

Edie Falco

Honored for : The House of Blue Leaves

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Celia Keenan-Bolger Peter and the Starcatcher
Julie Halston The Divine Sister
Linda Lavin Other Desert Cities
Lisa Emery The Collection & A Kind of Alaska
Sarah Hayon A Bright New Boise
Edie Falco The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light Lombardi

Viola Davis

Honored for : Fences

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Viola Davis Fences
Victoria Clark When the Rain Stops Falling
Xanthe Elbrick Candida
Scarlett Johansson A View from the Bridge
Andrea Riseborough The Pride
Mary Beth Hurt When the Rain Stops Falling

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Blithe Spirit

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Angela Lansbury Blithe Spirit
Rebecca Hall The Cherry Orchard
Condola Rashad Ruined
Andrea Martin Exit the King
Zoe Kazan The Seagull
Carey Mulligan The Seagull

Linda Lavin

Honored for : The New Century

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Linda Lavin The New Century
Elizabeth Ashley Dividing the Estate
Johanna Day Peter and Jerry
Zoe Kazan 100 Saints You Should Know
Rondi Reed August: Osage County
Marisa Tomei Top Girls

Martha Plimpton

Honored for : The Coast of Utopia: Voyage, The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck, The Coast of Utopia: Salvage

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Martha Plimpton The Coast of Utopia: Voyage","The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck","The Coast of Utopia: Salvage
Myriam Acharki Woyzeck
Sarah Hayon Rearviewmirror
Rita Wolf The American Pilot
Xanthe Elbrick Coram Boy
Jan Maxwell Coram Boy

Frances de la Tour

Honored for : The History Boys

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Frances de la Tour The History Boys
Lisa Emery Abigail's Party
Judith Hawking Soldier's Wife
Michele Pawk The Paris Letter
Marian Seldes Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams
Lynn Redgrave The Constant Wife

Adriane Lenox

Honored for : Doubt: A Parable

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Adriane Lenox Doubt: A Parable
Julie Halston White Chocolate
Portia McReele
Lee Roy Rogers Orson's Shadow
Mary Testa String of Pearls
Lily Rabe Steel Magnolias

Audra McDonald

Honored for : A Raisin in the Sun

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Audra McDonald A Raisin in the Sun
Jayne Houdyshell Well
Mikel Sarah Lambert The Daughter-in-Law
Mary Louise Wilson The Beard of Avon
Margo Martindale Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Jan Maxwell Sixteen Wounded

Lynn Redgrave

Honored for : Talking Heads

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lynn Redgrave Talking Heads
Christine Ebersole Talking Heads
Jan Maxwell My Old Lady
Nancy Opel Polish Joke
Jeanine Serralles Hold Please
Helen McCrory Uncle Vanya

Katie Finneran

Honored for : Noises Off

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kathleen Doyle Kilt
Linda Emond Homebody/Kabul
Kathleen Widdoes Franny's Way
Katie Finneran Noises Off
Elizabeth Franz Morning's at Seven
Jennifer Coolidge The Women

Viola Davis

Honored for : King Hedley II

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Anita Durst The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
Barbara Jefford Coriolanus
Marian Seldes The Butterfly Collection
Robin Weigert Madame Melville
Viola Davis King Hedley II
Marthe Keller Judgment at Nuremberg

Marylouise Burke

Honored for : Fuddy Meers

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jillian Armenante The Cider House Rules: Part One, Here in St. Cloud's
Marylouise Burke Fuddy Meers
Seana Kofoed An Experiment with an Air Pump
Phyllis Newman The Moment When
Cigdem Onat The Time of the Cuckoo
Amy Sedaris The Country Club

Anna Friel

Honored for : Closer

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Anna Friel Closer
Kristine Nielsen Betty's Summer Vacation
Mary Louise Wilson Bosoms and neglect
Natasha Richardson Closer
Marian Seldes Ring Round the Moon
Viola Davis Everybody's Ruby

Allison Janney

Honored for : A View from the Bridge

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Allison Janney A View from the Bridge
Patricia Clarkson The Maiden's Prayer
Caroline Seymour Goose-Pimples
Marian Seldes Ivanov
Linda Lavin The Diary of Anne Frank
Patti LuPone The Old Neighborhood

Dana Ivey

Honored for : Sex and Longing

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kathleen Chalfant Nine Armenians
Linda Emond Nine Armenians
Melissa Errico The Importance of Being Earnest
Dana Ivey Sex and Longing
Dana Ivey The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Allison Janney Present Laughter
Celia Weston The Last Night of Ballyhoo

Dana Ivey

Honored for : The Last Night of Ballyhoo

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kathleen Chalfant Nine Armenians
Linda Emond Nine Armenians
Melissa Errico The Importance of Being Earnest
Dana Ivey Sex and Longing
Dana Ivey The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Allison Janney Present Laughter
Celia Weston The Last Night of Ballyhoo

Elaine Stritch

Honored for : A Delicate Balance

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elaine Stritch A Delicate Balance
Viola Davis Seven Guitars
Eileen Heckart Northeast Local
Donna Murphy Twelve Dreams
Roberta Wallach The Model Apartment
Amy Wright Mrs. Klein

Tara Fitzgerald

Honored for : Hamlet

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tara Fitzgerald Hamlet
J. Smith-Cameron The Naked Truth
Hallie Foote The Horton Foote Plays
Penny Fuller Three Viewings
Camryn Manheim Missing Persons
Sheila Tousey Iphigenia and Other Daughters

Jane Adams

Honored for : An Inspector Calls

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jane Adams An Inspector Calls
Hope Davis Pterodactyls
Kristen Johnston The Lights
Marcia Gay Harden Angels in America: Perestroika
Frances Conroy In the Summer House

Madeline Kahn

Honored for : The Sisters Rosensweig

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Madeline Kahn The Sisters Rosensweig
Kathleen Chalfant Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Marcia Gay Harden Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Harriet Sansom Harris Jeffrey
Kathryn Meisle As You Like It

Christine Baranski

Honored for : Lips Together, Teeth Apart

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christine Baranski Lips Together, Teeth Apart
Lisa Emery Marvin's Room
Harriet Sansom Harris Bella, Belle of Byelorussia
Laura Linney Sight Unseen
Nancy Marchand The End of the Day

Karen Ziemba

Honored for : And the World Goes Round

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Karen Ziemba And the World Goes Round
Alison Fraser The Secret Garden
Rebecca Luker The Secret Garden
Regina Resnik A Little Night Music

Frances Conroy

Honored for : The Secret Rapture

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Frances Conroy The Secret Rapture
Stephanie Roth Haberle Artist Descending a Staircase
Kate Burton Some Americans Abroad
Jayne Atkinson The Art of Success
Marcia Jean Kurtz When She Danced

Christine Estabrook

Honored for : The Boys Next Door

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christine Estabrook The Boys Next Door
Frances McDormand A Streetcar Named Desire
Kimberleigh Aarn Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Kimberly Scott Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Mary Alice

Honored for : Fences

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Alice Fences
Suzanne Burden Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Janet Eilber Stepping Out
Jane Carr The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Christine Estabrook North Shore Fish
Vickilyn Reynolds The Colored Museum

Joanna Gleason

Honored for : It's Only a Play, Social Security

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Zoë Wanamaker Loot
Joanna Gleason Social Security","It's Only a Play
Ann Wedgeworth A Lie of the Mind
Kathryn Grody The Marriage of Bette and Boo
Elizabeth Berridge Cruise Control","Wrestlers

Judith Ivey

Honored for : HurlyBurly

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sudie Bond The Foreigner
Margaret Tyzack Tom & Viv
Judith Ivey HurlyBurly
Joanna Gleason Joe Egg
Nancy Marchand The Octette Bridge Club
Anne Pitoniak The Octette Bridge Club

Christine Baranski

Honored for : The Real Thing

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christine Baranski The Real Thing
Lisa Banes Isn't It Romantic
Dody Goodman Ah, Wilderness!
Jo Henderson Isn't It Romantic
Dianne Wiest Other Places
Amy Irving Heartbreak House
Dianne Wiest Serenading Louie

Judith Ivey

Honored for : Steaming

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maureen Anderman You Can't Take It with You
Dana Ivey Present Laughter","Quartermaine's Terms
Kate McGregor-Stewart Beyond Therapy
Judith Ivey Steaming
Anne Twomey Vieux Carre

Amanda Plummer

Honored for : Agnes of God

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Amanda Plummer Agnes of God
Estelle Getty Torch Song Trilogy
E. Katherine Kerr Cloud 9
Cheryl Giannini Grown Ups
Pauline Flanagan Medea
Aideen O'Kelly Othello

Swoosie Kurtz

Honored for : Fifth of July

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Swoosie Kurtz Fifth of July
Zoë Wanamaker Piaf
Jessica Tandy Rose
Carrie Nye The Man Who Came to Dinner
Fran Brill Knuckle
Jean Smart Last Summer at Bluefish Cove

Lois de Banzie

Honored for : Morning's at Seven

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lois de Banzie Morning's at Seven
Frances Conroy Othello
Dianne Wiest The Art of Dining
Pamela Brook Goodbye Fidel
Mia Dillon Once a Catholic

Pamela Reed

Honored for : Getting Out

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Pamela Reed Getting Out
Dixie Carter Fathers and Sons
Frances Foster Nevis Mountain Dew
Joan Hickson Bedroom Farce
Susan Littler Bedroom Farce
Laurie Kennedy Man and Superman

Eileen Atkins

Honored for : The Night of the Tribades

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Martha Gaylord The Elusive Angel
Swoosie Kurtz Uncommon Women and Others
Pamela Reed Curse of the Starving Class
Eileen Atkins The Night of the Tribades
Carol Kane The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

Rosemary De Angelis

Honored for : The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rosemary De Angelis The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie
Patricia Roe A Texas Trilogy: The Oldest Living Graduate
Cecilia Hart Dirty Linen & New-Found-Land
Gretchen Wyler Sly Fox
Meryl Streep The Cherry Orchard
Joyce Ebert The Shadow Box
Rose Gregorio The Shadow Box

Rachel Roberts

Honored for : Habeas Corpus

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rachel Roberts Habeas Corpus
Alice Drummond A Memory of Two Mondays / 27 Wagons Full of Cotton
June Havoc Habeas Corpus
Kaiulani Lee Kennedy's Children
Toni Darnay The Heiress
Lynn Ann Leveridge Yentl

Frances Sternhagen

Honored for : Equus

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Frances Sternhagen Equus
Marie Wallace Avon Lady
Carole Shelley Absurd Person Singular
Polly Adams London Assurance
Elizabeth Spriggs London Assurance
Maureen Anderman Seascape
Caroline Lagerfelt The Constant Wife