Awards & Winners

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series

Primetime Emmy Award

This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Beginning with the 18th Emmys, leading actresses in comedy have competed alone. However, these comedic performances included actresses from miniseries, telefilms, and guest performers competing against main cast competitors. Such instances are marked below. # – Indicates a performance in a Miniseries or Telefilm, prior to the category's creation. § – Indicates a performance as a guest performer, prior to the category's creation.

Check all the winners of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series presented under Primetime Emmy Award since 1966 .


Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Honored for : Veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Honored for : Veep
(Running)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Honored for : Veep

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lena Dunham Girls
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Veep
Melissa McCarthy Mike & Molly
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Edie Falco Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler Parks and Recreation
Zooey Deschanel New Girl

Melissa McCarthy

Honored for : Mike & Molly

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Melissa McCarthy Mike & Molly
Martha Plimpton Raising Hope
Laura Linney The Big C
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Amy Poehler Parks and Recreation
Edie Falco Nurse Jackie

Edie Falco

Honored for : Nurse Jackie

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Lea Michele Glee
Edie Falco Nurse Jackie
Toni Collette United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus The New Adventures of Old Christine
Amy Poehler Parks and Recreation

Toni Collette

Honored for : United States of Tara

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Toni Collette United States of Tara
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

Tina Fey

Honored for : 30 Rock

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Julia Louis-Dreyfus The New Adventures of Old Christine
America Ferrera Ugly Betty
Christina Applegate Samantha Who?
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker Weeds

America Ferrera

Honored for : Ugly Betty

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Felicity Huffman Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus The New Adventures of Old Christine
America Ferrera Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker Weeds

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Honored for : The New Adventures of Old Christine

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Stockard Channing Out of Practice
Lisa Kudrow The Comeback
Julia Louis-Dreyfus The New Adventures of Old Christine
Debra Messing Will & Grace

Felicity Huffman

Honored for : Desperate Housewives

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marcia Cross Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher Desperate Housewives
Felicity Huffman Desperate Housewives
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle

Sarah Jessica Parker

Honored for : Sex and the City

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jennifer Aniston Friends
Bonnie Hunt Life with Bonnie
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City

Debra Messing

Honored for : Will & Grace

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jennifer Aniston Friends
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City
Debra Messing Will & Grace

Jennifer Aniston

Honored for : Friends

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jennifer Aniston Friends
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City
Debra Messing Will & Grace

Patricia Heaton

Honored for : Everybody Loves Raymond

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City
Debra Messing Will & Grace

Patricia Heaton

Honored for : Everybody Loves Raymond

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jenna Elfman Dharma & Greg
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek Malcolm in the Middle
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City
Debra Messing Will & Grace

Helen Hunt

Honored for : Mad About You

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal
Jenna Elfman Dharma & Greg
Patricia Heaton Everybody Loves Raymond
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Sarah Jessica Parker Sex and the City

Helen Hunt

Honored for : Mad About You

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Calista Flockhart Ally McBeal
Jenna Elfman Dharma & Greg
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen
Patricia Richardson Home Improvement
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Kirstie Alley Veronica's Closet

Helen Hunt

Honored for : Mad About You

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cybill Shepherd Cybill
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen
Patricia Richardson Home Improvement
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Fran Drescher The Nanny

Helen Hunt

Honored for : Mad About You

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cybill Shepherd Cybill
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen
Patricia Richardson Home Improvement
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Fran Drescher The Nanny

Candice Bergen

Honored for : Murphy Brown

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cybill Shepherd Cybill
Ellen DeGeneres Ellen
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Roseanne Barr Roseanne

Candice Bergen

Honored for : Murphy Brown

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Richardson Home Improvement
Annie Potts Love & War
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Roseanne Barr Roseanne

Roseanne Barr

Honored for : Roseanne

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marion Ross Brooklyn Bridge
Kirstie Alley Cheers
Helen Hunt Mad About You
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Roseanne Barr Roseanne

Candice Bergen

Honored for : Murphy Brown

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marion Ross Brooklyn Bridge
Kirstie Alley Cheers
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Roseanne Barr Roseanne
Betty White The Golden Girls
Tyne Daly Wings

Kirstie Alley

Honored for : Cheers

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kirstie Alley Cheers
Delta Burke Designing Women
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Blair Brown The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Betty White The Golden Girls

Candice Bergen

Honored for : Murphy Brown

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kirstie Alley Cheers
Delta Burke Designing Women
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Blair Brown The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Betty White The Golden Girls

Candice Bergen

Honored for : Murphy Brown

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Candice Bergen Murphy Brown
Blair Brown The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Rue McClanahan The Golden Girls
Bea Arthur The Golden Girls
Betty White The Golden Girls

Bea Arthur

Honored for : The Golden Girls

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kirstie Alley Cheers
Blair Brown The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Betty White The Golden Girls
Bea Arthur The Golden Girls
Rue McClanahan The Golden Girls

Rue McClanahan

Honored for : The Golden Girls

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jane Curtin Kate & Allie
Blair Brown The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Bea Arthur The Golden Girls
Betty White The Golden Girls
Rue McClanahan The Golden Girls

Betty White

Honored for : The Golden Girls

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Shelley Long Cheers
Phylicia Rash?d The Cosby Show
Rue McClanahan The Golden Girls
Betty White The Golden Girls
Bea Arthur The Golden Girls

Jane Curtin

Honored for : Kate & Allie

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Shelley Long Cheers
Susan Saint James Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin Kate & Allie
Phylicia Rash?d The Cosby Show
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Jane Curtin

Honored for : Kate & Allie

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joanna Cassidy Buffalo Bill
Shelley Long Cheers
Susan Saint James Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin Kate & Allie
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Shelley Long

Honored for : Cheers

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rita Moreno 9 to 5
Shelley Long Cheers
Nell Carter Gimme a Break!
Mariette Hartley Goodnight, Beantown
Swoosie Kurtz Love, Sidney
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Carol Kane

Honored for : Taxi

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nell Carter Gimme a Break!
Swoosie Kurtz Love, Sidney
Bonnie Franklin One Day at a Time
Carol Kane Taxi
Charlotte Rae The Facts of Life
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Isabel Sanford

Honored for : The Jeffersons

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lynn Redgrave House Calls
Katherine Helmond Soap
Cathryn Damon Soap
Eileen Brennan Taxi
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Cathryn Damon

Honored for : Soap

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sheree North Archie Bunker's Place
Polly Holliday Flo
Cathryn Damon Soap
Katherine Helmond Soap
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Ruth Gordon

Honored for : Taxi

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Linda Lavin Alice
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Katherine Helmond Soap
Ruth Gordon Taxi
Isabel Sanford The Jeffersons

Jean Stapleton

Honored for : All in the Family

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Bea Arthur Maude
Valerie Harper Rhoda
Katherine Helmond Soap
Cathryn Damon Soap
Suzanne Pleshette The Bob Newhart Show

Bea Arthur

Honored for : Maude

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Bea Arthur Maude
Valerie Harper Rhoda
Suzanne Pleshette The Bob Newhart Show
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Mary Tyler Moore

Honored for : The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lee Grant Fay
Bea Arthur Maude
Cloris Leachman Phyllis
Valerie Harper Rhoda
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Valerie Harper

Honored for : Rhoda

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Valerie Harper Rhoda
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Mary Tyler Moore

Honored for : The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Bea Arthur Maude
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Mary Tyler Moore

Honored for : The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Bea Arthur Maude
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Jean Stapleton

Honored for : All in the Family

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Jean Stapleton

Honored for : All in the Family

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean Stapleton All in the Family
Marlo Thomas That Girl
Mary Tyler Moore The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Hope Lange

Honored for : The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched
Marlo Thomas That Girl
Hope Lange The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Hope Lange

Honored for : The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched
Barbara Feldon Get Smart
Diahann Carroll Julia
Hope Lange The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Lucille Ball

Honored for : The Lucy Show

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched
Barbara Feldon Get Smart
Paula Prentiss He & She
Marlo Thomas That Girl
Lucille Ball The Lucy Show
Barbara Stanwyck The Big Valley
Barbara Bain Mission: Impossible
Diana Rigg The Avengers

Barbara Bain

Honored for : Mission: Impossible

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched
Barbara Feldon Get Smart
Paula Prentiss He & She
Marlo Thomas That Girl
Lucille Ball The Lucy Show
Barbara Stanwyck The Big Valley
Barbara Bain Mission: Impossible
Diana Rigg The Avengers

Lucille Ball

Honored for : The Lucy Show

Nominations 1967 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marlo Thomas That Girl
Lucille Ball The Lucy Show
Agnes Moorehead Bewitched
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched

Mary Tyler Moore

Honored for : The Dick Van Dyke Show

Nominations 1966 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched
Mary Tyler Moore The Dick Van Dyke Show
Lucille Ball The Lucy Show
Anne Francis Honey West
Barbara Stanwyck The Big Valley
Barbara Parkins Peyton Place