Awards & Winners

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Tony Award

The Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical was not presented in 1947 or 1985. The award was first presented in 1948 and nominees were not announced until 1956. There have been three ties in this category.

Check all the winners of Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical presented under Tony Award since 1948 .


Jessie Mueller

Honored for : Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Bridget Davies A Night With Janis Joplin
Sutton Foster Violet
Idina Menzel If/Then
Jessie Mueller Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Kelli O'Hara The Bridges of Madison County

Patina Miller

Honored for : Pippin

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patina Miller Pippin
Stephanie J. Block The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson
Valisia Lekae Motown: The Musical
Laura Osnes Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Audra McDonald

Honored for : Porgy and Bess

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cristin Milioti Once
Jan Maxwell Follies
Laura Osnes Bonnie & Clyde
Kelli O'Hara Nice Work If You Can Get It
Audra McDonald Porgy and Bess

Sutton Foster

Honored for : Anything Goes

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Beth Leavel Baby It's You!
Patina Miller Sister Act the Musical
Donna Murphy The People in the Picture
Sutton Foster Anything Goes

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sherie Rene Scott Everyday Rapture
Christiane Noll Ragtime
Montego Glover Memphis
Kate Baldwin Finian's Rainbow
Catherine Zeta-Jones A Little Night Music

Alice Ripley

Honored for : Next to Normal

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Josefina Scaglione West Side Story
Allison Janney 9 to 5
Stockard Channing Pal Joey
Sutton Foster Shrek
Alice Ripley Next to Normal

Patti LuPone

Honored for : Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jenna Russell Sunday in the Park with George
Kelli O'Hara South Pacific
Kerry Butler Xanadu
Faith Prince A Catered Affair
Patti LuPone Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Christine Ebersole

Honored for : Grey Gardens

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Laura Bell Bundy Legally Blonde: The Musical
Audra McDonald 110 in the Shade
Christine Ebersole Grey Gardens
Debra Monk Curtains
Donna Murphy LoveMusik

LaChanze

Honored for : The Color Purple

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
LaChanze The Color Purple
Sutton Foster The Drowsy Chaperone
Patti LuPone Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Kelli O'Hara The Pajama Game
Chita Rivera Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life

Victoria Clark

Honored for : The Light in the Piazza

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sherie Rene Scott Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sutton Foster Little Women
Victoria Clark The Light in the Piazza
Christina Applegate Sweet Charity
Erin Dilly Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Idina Menzel

Honored for : Wicked

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tonya Pinkins Caroline, or Change
Donna Murphy Wonderful Town
Stephanie D'Abruzzo Avenue Q
Kristin Chenoweth Wicked
Idina Menzel Wicked

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Parkinson Movin' Out
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Man of La Mancha
Bernadette Peters Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Melissa Errico Amour
Marissa Jaret Winokur Hairspray

Sutton Foster

Honored for : Thoroughly Modern Millie

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Vanessa L. Williams Into the Woods
Nancy Opel Urinetown
Jennifer Laura Thompson Urinetown
Louise Pitre Mamma Mia!
Sutton Foster Thoroughly Modern Millie

Christine Ebersole

Honored for : 42nd Street

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marla Schaffel Jane Eyre
Faith Prince Bells Are Ringing
Blythe Danner Follies
Randy Graff A Class Act
Christine Ebersole 42nd Street

Heather Headley

Honored for : Aida

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marin Mazzie Kiss Me, Kate
Rebecca Luker The Music Man
Toni Collette The Wild Party
Audra McDonald Marie Christine
Heather Headley Aida

Bernadette Peters

Honored for : Annie Get Your Gun

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Siân Phillips Marlene
Dee Hoty Footloose
Carolee Carmello Parade
Bernadette Peters Annie Get Your Gun

Natasha Richardson

Honored for : Cabaret

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marin Mazzie Ragtime
Emily Skinner Side Show
Alice Ripley Side Show
Betty Buckley Triumph of Love
Natasha Richardson Cabaret

Bebe Neuwirth

Honored for : Chicago

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tonya Pinkins Play On
Karen Ziemba Steel Pier
Pamela Isaacs The Life
Bebe Neuwirth Chicago

Donna Murphy

Honored for : The King and I

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Daphne Rubin-Vega Rent
Crista Moore Big: the musical
Donna Murphy The King and I
Julie Andrews Victor / Victoria

Glenn Close

Honored for : Sunset Boulevard

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rebecca Luker Show Boat
Glenn Close Sunset Boulevard

Donna Murphy

Honored for : Passion

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dee Hoty The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public
Susan Egan Beauty and the Beast
Judy Kuhn She Loves Me
Donna Murphy Passion

Chita Rivera

Honored for : Kiss of the Spider Woman

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Stephanie Lawrence Blood Brothers
Bernadette Peters The Goodbye Girl
Ann Crumb Anna Karenina
Chita Rivera Kiss of the Spider Woman

Faith Prince

Honored for : Guys and Dolls

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sophie Hayden The Most Happy Fella
Jodi Benson Crazy for You
Josie de Guzman Guys and Dolls
Faith Prince Guys and Dolls

Lea Salonga

Honored for : Miss Saigon

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
June Angela Shogun: The Musical
Cathy Rigby Peter Pan
Dee Hoty Will Rogers Follies
Lea Salonga Miss Saigon

Tyne Daly

Honored for : Gypsy

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Liliane Montevecchi Grand Hotel
Beth Fowler Sweeney Todd
Georgia Brown The Threepenny Opera
Tyne Daly Gypsy

Ruth Brown

Honored for : Black and Blue

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sharon McNight Starmites
Charlotte d'Amboise Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Linda Hopkins Black and Blue
Ruth Brown Black and Blue

Joanna Gleason

Honored for : Into the Woods

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Judy Kuhn Chess
Patti LuPone Anything Goes
Alison Fraser Romance/Romance
Joanna Gleason Into the Woods

Maryann Plunkett

Honored for : Me and My Girl

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Teresa Stratas Rags
Catherine Cox Oh, Coward!
Maryann Plunkett Me and My Girl

Bernadette Peters

Honored for : Song and Dance

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cleo Laine The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Debbie Allen Sweet Charity
Chita Rivera Jerry's Girls
Bernadette Peters Song and Dance

Chita Rivera

Honored for : The Rink

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bernadette Peters Sunday in the Park with George
Rhetta Hughes Amen Corner
Liza Minnelli The Rink
Chita Rivera The Rink

Natalia Makarova

Honored for : On Your Toes

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Twiggy My One and Only
Chita Rivera Merlin
Lonette McKee Show Boat
Natalia Makarova On Your Toes

Jennifer Holliday

Honored for : Dreamgirls

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lisa Mordente Marlowe
Mary Gordon Murray Little Me
Sheryl Lee Ralph Dreamgirls
Jennifer Holliday Dreamgirls

Lauren Bacall

Honored for : Woman of the Year

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Meg Bussert Brigadoon
Chita Rivera Bring Back Birdie
Linda Ronstadt The Pirates of Penzance
Lauren Bacall Woman of the Year

Patti LuPone

Honored for : Evita

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sandy Duncan Peter Pan
Ann Miller Sugar Babies
Christine Andreas Oklahoma!
Patti LuPone Evita

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tovah Feldshuh Sarava
Alexis Smith Platinum
Dorothy Loudon Ballroom
Angela Lansbury Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Liza Minnelli

Honored for : The Act

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Eartha Kitt Timbuktu!
Madeline Kahn On the Twentieth Century
Frances Sternhagen Angel
Liza Minnelli The Act

Dorothy Loudon

Honored for : Annie

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dorothy Loudon Annie
Andrea McArdle Annie
Ernestine Jackson Guys and Dolls
Clamma Dale Porgy and Bess

Donna McKechnie

Honored for : A Chorus Line

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Donna McKechnie A Chorus Line
Vivian Reed Bubbling Brown Sugar
Chita Rivera Chicago
Gwen Verdon Chicago

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Gypsy (1973)

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Angela Lansbury Gypsy
Lola Falana Doctor Jazz
Ann Reinking Goodtime Charley
Bernadette Peters Mack & Mabel
Angela Lansbury Gypsy (1973)

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Gypsy

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Angela Lansbury Gypsy
Lola Falana Doctor Jazz
Ann Reinking Goodtime Charley
Bernadette Peters Mack & Mabel
Angela Lansbury Gypsy (1973)

Virginia Capers

Honored for : Raisin

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Virginia Capers Raisin
Carol Channing Lorelei
Michele Lee Seesaw

Glynis Johns

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Glynis Johns A Little Night Music
Debbie Reynolds Irene
Leland Palmer Pippin
Marcia Rodd Shelter

Alexis Smith

Honored for : Follies

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alexis Smith Follies
Mildred Natwick 70, Girls, 70
Dorothy Collins Follies
Jonelle Allen Two Gentlemen of Verona

Helen Gallagher

Honored for : No, No, Nanette

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Helen Gallagher No, No, Nanette
Susan Browning Company
Elaine Stritch Company
Sandy Duncan The Boy Friend

Lauren Bacall

Honored for : Applause

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lauren Bacall Applause
Katharine Hepburn Coco
Dilys Watling Georgy

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Dear World

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Angela Lansbury Dear World
Jill O'Hara Promises, Promises
Dorothy Loudon The Fig Leaves Are Falling
Maria Karnilova Zorba

Patricia Routledge

Honored for : Darling of the Day

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Routledge Darling of the Day
Leslie Uggams Hallelujah, Baby!
Brenda Vaccaro How Now, Dow Jones
Melina Mercouri Illya Darling

Leslie Uggams

Honored for : Hallelujah, Baby!

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Patricia Routledge Darling of the Day
Leslie Uggams Hallelujah, Baby!
Brenda Vaccaro How Now, Dow Jones
Melina Mercouri Illya Darling

Barbara Harris

Honored for : The Apple Tree

Nominations 1967 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Barbara Harris The Apple Tree
Lotte Lenya Cabaret
Mary Martin I Do! I Do!
Louise Troy Walking Happy

Angela Lansbury

Honored for : Mame

Nominations 1966 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Angela Lansbury Mame
Barbara Harris On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Julie Harris Skyscraper
Gwen Verdon Sweet Charity

Liza Minnelli

Honored for : Flora the Red Menace

Nominations 1965 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Liza Minnelli Flora the Red Menace
Nancy Dussault Bajour
Inga Swenson Baker Street
Elizabeth Allen Do I Hear a Waltz?

Carol Channing

Honored for : Hello, Dolly!

Nominations 1964 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Carol Channing Hello, Dolly!
Inga Swenson 110 in the Shade
Barbra Streisand Funny Girl
Beatrice Lillie High Spirits

Vivien Leigh

Honored for : Tovarich

Nominations 1963 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Vivien Leigh Tovarich
Sally Ann Howes Brigadoon
Nanette Fabray Mr. President
Georgia Brown Oliver!

Anna Maria Alberghetti

Honored for : Carnival!

Nominations 1962 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Anna Maria Alberghetti Carnival!
Diahann Carroll No Strings
Molly Picon Milk and Honey
Elaine Stritch Sail Away

Diahann Carroll

Honored for : No Strings

Nominations 1962 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Anna Maria Alberghetti Carnival!
Diahann Carroll No Strings
Molly Picon Milk and Honey
Elaine Stritch Sail Away

Elizabeth Seal

Honored for : Irma La Douce

Nominations 1961 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elizabeth Seal Irma La Douce
Julie Andrews Camelot (Original Broadway Production)
Nancy Walker Do Re Mi
Barbara Bel Geddes Mary, Mary

Mary Martin

Honored for : The Sound of Music

Nominations 1960 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Martin The Sound of Music
Dolores Gray Destry Rides Again
Ethel Merman Gypsy
Carol Burnett Once Upon a Mattress
Eileen Herlie Take Me Along

Gwen Verdon

Honored for : Redhead

Nominations 1959 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gwen Verdon Redhead
Miyoshi Umeki Flower Drum Song

Thelma Ritter

Honored for : New Girl in Town

Nominations 1958 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lena Horne Jamaica
Beatrice Lillie Ziegfeld Follies of 1957
Thelma Ritter New Girl in Town
Gwen Verdon New Girl in Town

Gwen Verdon

Honored for : New Girl in Town

Nominations 1958 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lena Horne Jamaica
Beatrice Lillie Ziegfeld Follies of 1957
Thelma Ritter New Girl in Town
Gwen Verdon New Girl in Town

Judy Holliday

Honored for : Bells Are Ringing

Nominations 1957 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Judy Holliday Bells Are Ringing
Ethel Merman Happy Hunting
Julie Andrews My Fair Lady

Gwen Verdon

Honored for : Damn Yankees

Nominations 1956 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gwen Verdon Damn Yankees
Nancy Walker Phoenix '55
Carol Channing The Vamp

Mary Martin

Honored for : Peter Pan

Nominations 1955 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Martin Peter Pan

Dolores Gray

Honored for : Carnival in Flanders

Nominations 1954 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dolores Gray Carnival in Flanders

Rosalind Russell

Honored for : Wonderful Town

Nominations 1953 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rosalind Russell Wonderful Town

Gertrude Lawrence

Honored for : The King and I

Nominations 1952 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gertrude Lawrence The King and I

Ethel Merman

Honored for : Call Me Madam

Nominations 1951 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ethel Merman Call Me Madam

Mary Martin

Honored for : South Pacific

Nominations 1950 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mary Martin South Pacific

Nanette Fabray

Honored for : Love Life

Nominations 1949 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nanette Fabray Love Life

Grace Hartman

Honored for : Angel In The Wings

Nominations 1948 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Grace Hartman Angel In The Wings