National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

|Indicates the year in which the film was censored by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)

|Indicates a joint award for that year

|Indicates that the winner won the award for two performances in that year

|+List of award recipients, showing the year, role(s), film(s) and language(s)

! scope="col" |Year{{efn|Denotes The year in which the film was censored by the Central Board of Film Certification.}}

! scope="col" |Recipient(s)

! scope="col" |Role(s)

! scope="col" |Work(s)

! scope="col" |Language(s)

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="text-align:center;" |Refs.{{efn|Cites the recipient and the role played by them in the film.}}

! scope="row" | Nargis Dutt

| Varuna / Peggy{{efn|Dutt played the role of a woman suffering from multiple personality disorder in the film.{{cite news|last=Sinha|first=Meenakshi|title=New ailments to spice up BO|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/New-ailments-to-spice-up-BO/articleshow/5135544.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126080529/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-18/india/28106966_1_conditions-films-diseases|url-status=live|archive-date=26 January 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=18 October 2009}}}}

| Raat Aur Din

| Hindi

|{{cite web |title=15th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm15thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=19 November 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020065700/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm15thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2012 }}{{cite web|title=Raat Aur Din – Cast & credits |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b804453cb |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408122003/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b804453cb |archive-date=8 April 2015 }}

! scope="row" | Sharada

| Vijaya

| Thulabharam

| Malayalam

|{{cite web |title=16th National Film Awards – 1970 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm16thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020065718/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm16thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2012 }}{{cite news|author=B. Vijayakumar |title=Thulabharam 1968 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article822028.ece|newspaper=The Hindu |date=10 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219024239/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article822028.ece |archive-date=19 February 2011 }}

! scope="row" | Madhabi Mukherjee

| Supriya

| Dibratrir Kabya

| Bengali

|{{cite web |title=17th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm17thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=19 November 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020065742/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm17thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Rehana Sultan

| Salma Ahmed

| Dastak

| Hindi

|{{cite journal|title=The Illustrated Weekly of India|year=1971|volume=92|page=57|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Gc6AQAAIAAJ}}

! scope="row" | Waheeda Rehman

| Reshma

| Reshma Aur Shera

| Hindi

|{{cite news|last=Kohli|first=Suresh|title=Blast from the past – Reshma Aur Shera 1971|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/10/25/stories/2008102550471000.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125142010/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/10/25/stories/2008102550471000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 October 2008}}

! scope="row" | Sharada

| Sita

| Swayamvaram

| Malayalam

|{{cite web |title=20th National Film Awards – 1972 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm20thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=43|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105220349/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm20thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Adoor made us forget our identities |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/sep/08sarada.htm |work=Rediff.com |date=8 September 2005|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026081832/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/sep/08sarada.htm |archive-date=26 October 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Nandini Bhaktavatsala

| Kamali

| Kaadu

| Kannada

|{{cite book|last=Purohit|first=Vinayak|title=Arts of transitional India twentieth century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArsrAAAAMAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-0-86132-138-4|page=1136}}

! scope="row" | Shabana Azmi

| Lakshmi

| Ankur

| rowspan="2" | Hindi

|

! scope="row" | Sharmila Tagore

| Chanda Thapa,
Kajli{{efn|Tagore performed dual roles in the film.{{cite news|last=A. Chatterji |first=Shoma |title=I was different from other actresses |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051016/spectrum/main7.htm|newspaper=The Tribune |date=16 October 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025009/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051016/spectrum/main7.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}}}

| Mausam

|{{cite web |title=23rd National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219064158/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm23rdNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=19 February 2014 }}{{cite web|last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |title=Mausam – The tantalising ambiguity of relationships |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/nov/09dinesh.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015210501/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/nov/09dinesh.htm |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Lakshmi

| Ganga

| Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal

| Tamil

|{{cite book|last=Baskaran |first=Sundararaj Theodore |title=The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=East West Books |page=149 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009044850/http://books.google.com/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=9 October 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Smita Patil

| Urvashi / Usha{{efn|Smita played a single character which had two different names.}}

| Bhumika

| Hindi

|{{cite web |title=25th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm25NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=25th_nff.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=15 November 2012 |pages=6–7|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130000902/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm25NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=25th_nff.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2013 }}{{cite web|title=The Best of Smita Patil – Bhumika |author1=Dinesh Raheja |author2=Jitendra Kothari |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/dec/14slide1.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910143936/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/dec/14slide1.htm |archive-date=10 September 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Sharada

| Bharathi

| Nimajjanam

| Telugu

|{{cite web |title=26th National Film Awards – 1979 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm26NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=36|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219064258/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm26NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=19 February 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Shoba

| Kuppamma

| Pasi

| Tamil

|{{cite news|last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R |title=It's a heavy price to pay |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm|date=3 May 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026015934/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/03/stories/2002050300330300.htm |newspaper=The Hindu |archive-date=26 October 2011 }}{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0EOAQAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=British Film Institute |page=442 |isbn=9781579581466 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607111056/http://books.google.com/books?id=R0EOAQAAMAAJ |archive-date=7 June 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Smita Patil

| Amma

| Chakra

| Hindi

|{{cite web |title=28th National Film Awards |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm28thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219064301/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm28thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=19 February 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Rekha

| Amiran (Umrao Jaan){{efn|Rekha played a single character which had two different names.{{cite news|last=Devi|first=Sangeetha|title=Umrao Jaan unplugged|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/03/stories/2006110301160100.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125103303/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/11/03/stories/2006110301160100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 November 2006}}}}

| Umrao Jaan

| Urdu

|{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm29thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=29NFA.pdf |title=29th National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=7 August 2011 |page=12|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721170327/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm29thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=29NFA.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}

! rowspan="3" scope="row" | Shabana Azmi

| Pooja Inder Malhotra

| Arth

| rowspan="3" | Hindi

|{{cite web |title=30th National Film Awards – 1983 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm30thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003130200/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm30thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=3 October 2015 }}{{cite web|last=Raheja |first=Dinesh |title='Arth': an ode to relationships |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2003/jul/08dinesh.htm |work=Rediff.com |date=8 July 2003|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904135556/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2003/jul/08dinesh.htm |archive-date=4 September 2012 }}

| Jamini

| Khandhar

|{{cite web |title=31st National Film Awards – 1984 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112200555/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=12 November 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Shabana Azmi on Classiness in Cinema |url=http://forbesindia.com/article/recliner/shabana-azmi-on-classiness-in-cinema/32756/1 |work=Forbes |date=27 April 2012|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031154502/http://forbesindia.com//article/recliner/shabana-azmi-on-classiness-in-cinema/32756/1 |archive-date=31 October 2012 }}

| Rama

| Paar

|{{cite web |title=32nd National Film Awards – 1985 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926054317/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=26 September 2013 }}{{cite book|author=Bowker |title=Variety's Film Reviews: 1983–1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXJZAAAAMAAJ|year=1986|publisher=R. R. Bowker |isbn=978-0-8352-2798-8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231082643/http://books.google.com/books?id=UXJZAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=31 December 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Suhasini

| Sindhu

| Sindhu Bhairavi

| Tamil

|{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=32NFA.pdf |title=32nd National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=7 August 2011 |page=25|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928072238/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm32ndNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=32NFA.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}

! scope="row" | Monisha Unni

| Gouri

| Nakhakshathangal

| Malayalam

|

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Archana

| Sudha

| Veedu

| Tamil

|{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm35thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=35NFA.pdf |title=35th National Film Awards – 1988 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=7 August 2011 |page=29|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721170111/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm35thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=35NFA.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}

| Kamalakshi

| Daasi

| Telugu

|{{cite web |title=36th National Film Festival – 1989 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm36NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=28|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505173742/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm36NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Sreelekha Mukherji

| Lakkhi

| Parshuramer Kuthar

| Bengali

|{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm37NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=37nfa.pdf |title=37th National Film Awards – 1990 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=19 January 2011 |page=34|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018073449/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm37NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=37nfa.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Vijayashanti

| Vyjayanthi

| Karthavyam

| Telugu

|{{cite web |title=38th National Film Awards – 1991 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105174944/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm38thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Moloya Goswami

| Ritu

| Firingoti

| Assamese

|{{cite web |title=39th National Film Festival – 1992 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm39thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=38|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315101348/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm39thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Dimple Kapadia

| Shanichari

| Rudaali

| Hindi

|{{cite web|title=40th National Film Awards – 1993 |url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/40th_nff_1993.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals – 1993 |access-date=15 November 2012 |pages=40–41|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309053748/http://dff.nic.in/2011/40th_nff_1993.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2016 }}

! scope="row" | Shobana

| Ganga / Nagavalli{{efn|Shobana played the role of a woman suffering from multiple personality disorder in the film.}}

| Manichitrathazhu

| Malayalam

|{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm41thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=41NFA.pdf |title=41st National Film Awards – 1994 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=7 August 2011 |pages=36–37|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928072259/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm41thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=41NFA.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}

! scope="row" | Debashree Roy

| Dr. Aditi Sen

| Unishe April

| Bengali

|{{cite web |title=42nd National Film Awards – 1995 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm42thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=42NFA.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=15 November 2012 |pages=26–27|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012140929/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm42thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=42NFA.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Seema Biswas

| Phoolan Devi

| Bandit Queen

| rowspan="2" | Hindi

|{{cite web |title=43rd National Film Awards – 1996 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm43thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |pages=26–27 |access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215065528/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm43thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=15 December 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Tabu

| Virender Kaur

| Maachis

|{{cite web |title=44th National Film Awards – 1997 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm44thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=24|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505172151/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm44thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Indrani Haldar

| Jhinuk

|rowspan="2"| Dahan

|rowspan="2"| Bengali

| rowspan="2|{{cite web |title=45th National Film Awards – 1998 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm45thNFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=27|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505170923/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm45thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Shabana Azmi

| Rambhi{{efn|The character played by Shabana Azmi was loosely based on the Porbandar-based lady underworld don Santokben Jadeja.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article1588846.ece|title=Underworld don Santokben Jadeja dead|last=Dasgupta|first=Manas|date=1 April 2011|work=The Hindu|access-date=6 May 2011|location=AHMEDABAD}}}}

| Godmother

| Hindi

|{{cite web |title=46th National Film Awards – 1999 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012|page=26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203091624/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Kirron Kher

| Banalata

| Bariwali

| Bengali

|{{cite web |title=47th National Film Awards – 2000 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=26|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505163411/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm47NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Raveena Tandon

| Durga Saikia

| Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence

| rowspan="2" | Hindi

|{{cite web |title=48th National Film Awards – 2001 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm48NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=48NFA.pdf |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=42|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016222029/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm48NFAAward.aspx?PdfName=48NFA.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Tabu

| Mumtaz Ali Ansari

| Chandni Bar

| rowspan="2|{{cite web |title=49th National Film Awards – 2002 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm49NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |pages=32–33|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105444/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm49NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Konkona Sen Sharma

| Meenakshi S. Iyer

| Mr. and Mrs. Iyer

|{{cite web |title=50th National Film Awards – 2003 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm50NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |pages=34–35|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505171754/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm50NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Meera Jasmine

| Shahina

| Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam

| Malayalam

|{{cite web |title=51st National Film Awards – 2004 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm51NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=30|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505174032/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm51NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Tara

| Hasina

| Hasina

| Kannada

|{{cite web |title=52nd National Film Awards – 2005 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm52NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 January 2013 |page=31|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505173444/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm52NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Sarika

| Shernaz

| Parzania

| English

|{{cite web |title=53rd National Film Awards – 2006 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm53NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=30|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815224948/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm53NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2016 }}

! scope="row" | Priyamani

| Muththazhagu

| Paruthiveeran

| Tamil

|{{cite web |title=54th National Film Awards – 2006 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm54NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=28|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505172308/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm54NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2014 }}

! scope="row" | Umashree

| Gulabi

| Gulabi Talkies

| Kannada

|{{cite web |title=55th National Film Awards – 2007 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm55NFAAward.aspx |access-date=1 December 2012 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |page=34|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002034853/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm55NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=2 October 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Priyanka Chopra

| Meghna Mathur

| Fashion

| Hindi

|{{cite web |title=56th National Film Awards – 2008 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm56NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=36|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015045700/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm56NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=15 October 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Ananya Chatterjee

| Shikha Sarkar (Srimati Sarkar){{efn|Chatterjee played a single character which had two different names.}}

| Abohomaan

| Bengali

|{{cite web |title=57th National Film Awards – 2009 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm57NFAAward.aspx |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=1 December 2012 |page=66|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104162233/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm57NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=4 November 2013 }}

! scope="row" | Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar

| Shirmi

|Baboo Band Baaja

| Marathi

| rowspan="2|{{cite web |title=58th National Film Awards – 2010 |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm58NFAAward.aspx |access-date=1 December 2012 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |page=78|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414003922/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm58NFAAward.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2012 }}

! scope="row" | Vidya Balan

| Reshma (Silk){{efn|Balan played a single character which had two different names.{{cite web|last=Chopra |first=Sonia |title=The Dirty Picture review: Take a bow, Vidya Balan! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/the-dirty-picture-review-take-a-bow-vidya-balan-review-bollywood-14984702.html |website=Sify |access-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612003337/http://www.sify.com/movies/the-dirty-picture-review-take-a-bow-vidya-balan-review-bollywood-14984702.html |archive-date=12 June 2013 }}}}

| The Dirty Picture

| Hindi

|{{cite news|last=Jebaraj |first=Priscilla |title=Byari, a winning debut; Vidya Balan best actress |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2969914.ece|newspaper=The Hindu |date=7 March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725055452/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2969914.ece |archive-date=25 July 2012 }}

! scope="row"| Usha Jadhav

| Yashoda

| Dhag

| Marathi

|{{cite press release|title=60th National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2013/mar/d2013031801.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=18 March 2013}}

! scope="row"| Geetanjali Thapa

| Kamala

| Liar's Dice

| rowspan="3" | Hindi

|{{cite press release|title=61st National Film Awards Announced|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104863|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|date=16 April 2014}}

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Kangana Ranaut

| Rani Mehra

| Queen

|{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/62nd-national-film-awards-winners-haider-wins-five-queen-two/ |title=62nd National Film Awards' winners: 'Haider' wins five, Kangana Ranaut's 'Queen' two |work=The Indian Express |date=24 March 2015|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325062007/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/62nd-national-film-awards-winners-haider-wins-five-queen-two/ |archive-date=25 March 2015 }}

| Tanuja "Tanu" Trivedi,
Kusum "Datto" Sangwan{{efn|Ranaut performed dual roles in the film.{{cite news|title=Check out: Kangna Ranaut's warming up session on Tanu Weds Manu sets |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/7558|work=Bollywood Hungama |date=25 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126021756/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/7558 |archive-date=26 November 2014 }}}}

| Tanu Weds Manu Returns

|{{cite news |title=63rd National Film Awards: List of winners |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/63rd-National-Film-Awards-List-of-winners/articleshow/51580133.cms |work=The Times of India |date=28 March 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331075309/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/63rd-National-Film-Awards-List-of-winners/articleshow/51580133.cms |archive-date=31 March 2016 }}

! scope="row"| Surabhi Lakshmi

| Mother{{efn|The character remained unnamed throughout the film.}}

| Minnaminungu – the Firefly

| Malayalam

|{{cite press release |title=64th National Film Awards |url=http://www.dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf|page=21 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 July 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606051143/http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2017}}

! scope="row"| Sridevi{{efn|Sridevi was awarded posthumously.{{cite web|title=National Film Awards 2018: Unfortunately, Sridevi Was Honoured After She Left, Says Boney Kapoor |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/national-film-awards-2018-unfortunately-sridevi-was-honoured-after-she-left-says-boney-kapoor-1846778|publisher=NDTV |date=3 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612011902/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/national-film-awards-2018-unfortunately-sridevi-was-honoured-after-she-left-says-boney-kapoor-1846778 |archive-date=12 June 2018 }}}}

| Devki Sabarwal

| Mom

| Hindi

|{{cite press release |title=65th National Film Awards |url=http://www.dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf|page=21 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |access-date=13 July 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606051143/http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2017}}

! scope="row"| Keerthy Suresh

| Savitri{{efn|Keerthy Suresh played the role based on the life of Indian actress Savitri in the film.{{Cite web |title= Mahanati actor Keerthy Suresh: Playing Savitri changed me as a person |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/mahanati-actor-keerthy-suresh-playing-savitri-changed-me-as-a-person/story-bUszRXWWqakzoimDSkpaYP.html | website=Hindustan Times|date=6 May 2018 }}}}

| Mahanati

| Telugu

|{{cite web|url=https://dff.gov.in/images/News/66th_NFA_Results.pdf|access-date=9 August 2019|title=66th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809152118/https://dff.gov.in/images/News/66th_NFA_Results.pdf |archivedate=2019-08-09 |url-status=dead}}

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | Kangana Ranaut

| Rani Lakshmi Bai{{Cite news|date=March 22, 2021|title=67th National Film Awards: Kangana Ranaut, Sushant Singh Rajput's Chhichhore win. See complete list of winners here|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/67th-national-film-awards-kangana-ranaut-sushant-singh-rajput-s-chhichhore-win-101616411773402-amp.html|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}

| Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

|rowspan="2"| Hindi

|rowspan="2"|

|Panga

! scope="row"| Aparna Balamurali

| Sundari "Bommi" Nedumaaran

| Soorarai Pottru

| Tamil

|{{Cite web|date=22 July 2022|title=National Film Awards 2022 highlights: Soorarai Pottru and Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior win big|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/68th-national-film-awards-live-updates-winners-to-be-announced-soon-101658484602705.html|access-date=22 July 2022|website=Hindustan Times}}

! scope="row"| Alia Bhatt

| Gangubai Kathiawadi

| Gangubai Kathiawadi

| rowspan="2"|Hindi

|rowspan="2"|{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/69th-national-film-awards-2023-winners-list-8907028/|title=69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun, RRR, Gangubai Kathiawadi win big|accessdate=24 August 2023|work=Indian Express}}

! scope="row"| Nithya Menen

| Shobana

| Thiruchitrambalam

| Tamil

|rowspan="2"|{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/top-listing/70th-national-film-awards-2024-winners-best-actor-and-actress-best-movie-musician-singer-and-more-7-3093.html|title=70th National Film Awards 2024 Winners: Best Actor & Actress, Best Movie, Musician, Singer & More|accessdate=16 August 2024|work=Filmibeat}}