Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

{{Short description|Award for lead actress in a television comedy series}}{{Infobox award

| name = Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

| image = Jean Smart by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| image_upright = 0.7

| caption = The 2024 recipient: Jean Smart

| awarded_for = Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

| presenter = Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

| country = United States

| year = 1954

| holder = Jean Smart,
Hacks (2024)

| website = {{url|emmys.com}}

}}

This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, 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:

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards were the first and, so far, only Emmys where there is no representation from any of the big four broadcast networks.

Winners and nominations

=1950s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Actress

! width="30%" | Role

! width="35%" | Program

! width="5%" | Network

colspan=5|Best Female Star of a Regular Series
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1954
(6th)
Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre-specific acting categories
{{cite web|title=6th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Female Star of Regular Series|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1954/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=8 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Eve Arden

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Connie Brooks

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Our Miss Brooks

| style="background:#FAEB86"| CBS

Lucille BallLucy RicardoI Love LucyCBS
Imogene CocaVarious charactersYour Show of Shows

| rowspan="3"|NBC

Dinah ShoreHerselfThe Dinah Shore Show
Loretta YoungVarious charactersThe Loretta Young Show
colspan=5|Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1955
(7th)

{{cite web|title=7th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1955/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=8 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Loretta Young

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Various characters

| style="background:#FAEB86"| The Loretta Young Show

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Gracie AllenGracie AllenThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

| rowspan="4"|CBS

Eve ArdenConnie BrooksOur Miss Brooks
Lucille BallLucy RicardoI Love Lucy
Ann SothernSusie McNamaraPrivate Secretary
colspan=5|Best Actress - Continuing Performance
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1956
(8th)

{{cite web|title=8th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Actress – Continuing Performance|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1956/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=8 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Lucille Ball

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Lucy Ricardo

| style="background:#FAEB86"| I Love Lucy

| style="background:#FAEB86"| CBS

Gracie AllenGracie AllenThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Eve ArdenConnie BrooksOur Miss Brooks
Jean HagenMargaret WilliamsMake Room for DaddyABC
Ann SothernSusie McNamaraPrivate SecretaryCBS
colspan=5|Best Continuing Performance by an Actress
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1957
(9th)

{{cite web|title=9th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Continuing Performance by an Actress|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1957/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=8 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Loretta Young

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Various characters

| style="background:#FAEB86"| The Loretta Young Show

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Jan ClaytonEllen MillerLassie

| rowspan="3"|CBS

Ida LupinoVarious charactersFour Star Playhouse
Peggy WoodMamaMama
Jane WymanVarious charactersJane Wyman TheatreNBC
colspan=5|Best Continuing Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1958
(10th)

{{cite web|title=10th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Best Continuing Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic or Comedy Series|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1958/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=8 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Jane Wyatt

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Margaret Anderson

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Father Knows Best

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Eve ArdenLiza HammondThe Eve Arden Showrowspan="4"|CBS
Spring ByingtonLily RuskinDecember Bride
Jan ClaytonEllen MillerLassie
Ida LupinoEve DrakeMr. Adams and Eve
colspan=5|Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series
rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1959
(11th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jane Wyatt

| Margaret Anderson

| Father Knows Best

| CBS & NBC

Gracie Allen

| Gracie Allen

| The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

| rowspan=3|CBS

Spring Byington

| Lily Ruskin

| December Bride

Ida Lupino

| Eve Adams

| Mr. Adams and Eve

Donna Reed

| Donna Stone

| The Donna Reed Show

| ABC

Ann Sothern

| Katy O'Connor

| The Ann Sothern Show

| CBS

=1960s=

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! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Actress

! width="30%" | Role

! width="35%" | Program

! width="5%" | Network

colspan="5"|Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support)
rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 1960
(12th)

{{cite web|title=12th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead or Support)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1960/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=9 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Jane Wyatt

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Margaret Anderson

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Father Knows Best

| style="background:#FAEB86"| CBS

Donna ReedDonna StoneThe Donna Reed ShowABC
Teresa WrightMargaret Bourke-WhiteNBC Sunday Showcaserowspan="2"|NBC
Loretta YoungVarious charactersThe Loretta Young Show
colspan=5|Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)
rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 1961
(13th)

{{cite web|title=13th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1961/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=9 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Barbara Stanwyck

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Various characters

| style="background:#FAEB86"| The Barbara Stanwyck Show

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Donna ReedDonna StoneThe Donna Reed ShowABC
Loretta YoungVarious charactersThe Loretta Young ShowNBC
colspan=5|Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1962
(14th)

{{cite web|title=14th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1962/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=9 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Shirley Booth

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Hazel Burke

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Hazel

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Gertrude BergSarah GreenThe Gertrude Berg ShowCBS
Donna ReedDonna StoneThe Donna Reed ShowABC
Mary StuartJoanne GardnerSearch for Tomorrow

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Cara WilliamsGladys PorterPete and Gladys
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1963
(15th)

{{cite web|title=15th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1963/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=9 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Shirley Booth

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Hazel Burke

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Hazel

| style="background:#FAEB86"| NBC

Lucille BallLucy CarmichaelThe Lucy Show

| rowspan="4"|CBS

Shirl ConwayLiz ThorpeThe Nurses
Mary Tyler MooreLaura PetrieThe Dick Van Dyke Show
Irene RyanGrannyThe Beverly Hillbillies
rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 1964
(16th)

{{cite web|title=16th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/1964/best-actress|publisher=Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)|access-date=9 July 2017}}

| style="background:#FAEB86"| Mary Tyler Moore

| style="background:#FAEB86" | Laura Petrie

| style="background:#FAEB86"| The Dick Van Dyke Show

| style="background:#FAEB86"| CBS

Shirley BoothHazel BurkeHazelNBC
Patty DukeCathy LaneThe Patty Duke ShowABC
Irene RyanGrannyThe Beverly HillbilliesCBS
Inger StevensKaty HolstrumThe Farmer's DaughterABC
colspan=5|Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment - Actors and Performers
rowspan=17 style="text-align:center" | 1965
{{small|(17th)}}
Early Emmy ceremonies did not have genre-specific acting categories
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Leonard Bernstein

| Conductor

| New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein

| CBS

style="background:#FAEB86"

| Lynn Fontanne

| Fanny Bowditch Holmes

| rowspan="2"|Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Magnificent Yankee"

| rowspan="2"|NBC

style="background:#FAEB86"

| Alfred Lunt

| Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

style="background:#FAEB86"

| Barbra Streisand

| Herself

| My Name Is Barbra

| rowspan="2"|CBS

style="background:#FAEB86"

| Dick Van Dyke

| Rob Petrie

| The Dick Van Dyke Show

Julie Andrews

| Herself

| The Andy Williams Show: "November 30, 1964"

| rowspan="4"|NBC

Johnny Carson

| Host

| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Gladys Cooper

| Margaret St. Clair

| rowspan="2"|The Rogues

Robert Coote

| Timmy St. Clair

Richard Crenna

| James Slattery

| Slattery's People

| CBS

Julie Harris

| Florence Nightingale

| Hallmark Hall of Fame: "The Holy Terror"

| rowspan="3"|NBC

Bob Hope

| Himself

| Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special

Dean Jagger

| Principal Albert Vane

| Mr. Novak

Danny Kaye

| Host

| The Danny Kaye Show

| CBS

David McCallum

| Illya Kuryakin

| The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

| NBC

Red Skelton

| Himself

| The Red Skelton Hour

| CBS

colspan=5|Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1966
(18th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Mary Tyler Moore

| Laura Petrie

| The Dick Van Dyke Show

| CBS

Lucille Ball

| Lucy Carmichael

| The Lucy Show

| CBS

Elizabeth Montgomery

| Samantha Stephens

| Bewitched

| ABC

rowspan=5 style="text-align:center" | 1967
(19th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Lucille Ball

| Lucy Carmichael

| The Lucy Show

| CBS

Elizabeth Montgomery

| Samantha Stephens

| rowspan=2|Bewitched

| rowspan=3|ABC

Agnes Moorehead

| Endora

Marlo Thomas

| Ann Marie

| That Girl

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1968
(20th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Lucille Ball

| Lucy Carmichael

| The Lucy Show

| CBS

Barbara Feldon

| Agent 99

| Get Smart

| NBC

Elizabeth Montgomery

| Samantha Stephens

| Bewitched

| ABC

Paula Prentiss

| Paula Hollister

| He & She

| CBS

Marlo Thomas

| Ann Marie

| That Girl

| ABC

rowspan=5 style="text-align:center" | 1969
(21st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Hope Lange

| Carolyn Muir

| The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

| NBC

Diahann Carroll

| Julia Baker

| Julia

| rowspan=2|NBC

Barbara Feldon

| Agent 99

| Get Smart

Elizabeth Montgomery

| Samantha Stephens

| Bewitched

| ABC

=1970s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="25%" | Actress

! width="30%" | Role

! width="35%" | Program

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1970
(22nd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Hope Lange

| Carolyn Muir

| The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

| ABC

Elizabeth Montgomery

| Samantha Stephens

| Bewitched

| rowspan=2|ABC

Marlo Thomas

| Ann Marie

| That Girl

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1971
(23rd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| CBS

Marlo Thomas

| Ann Marie

| That Girl

| ABC

Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

| CBS

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1972
(24th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| CBS

Sandy Duncan

| Sandy Stockton

| Funny Face

| rowspan=2|CBS

Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1973
(25th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

| CBS

Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| rowspan=2|CBS

Bea Arthur

| Maude Findlay

| Maude

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1974
(26th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

| CBS

Bea Arthur

| Maude Findlay

| Maude

| rowspan=2|CBS

Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

rowspan=4 style="text-align:center" | 1975
(27th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Valerie Harper

| Rhoda Morgenstern

| Rhoda

| CBS

Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| rowspan=2|CBS

Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1976
(28th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

| CBS

Lee Grant

| Fay Stewart

| Fay

| NBC

Bea Arthur

| Maude Findlay

| Maude

| rowspan=3|CBS

Cloris Leachman

| Phyllis Lindstrom

| Phyllis

Valerie Harper

| Rhoda Morgenstern

| Rhoda

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1977
(29th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Bea Arthur

| Maude Findlay

| Maude

| CBS

Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| rowspan=4|CBS

Valerie Harper

| Rhoda Morgenstern

| Rhoda

Suzanne Pleshette

| Emily Hartley

| The Bob Newhart Show

Mary Tyler Moore

| Mary Richards

| The Mary Tyler Moore Show

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1978
(30th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

| CBS

Bea Arthur

| Maude Findlay

| Maude

| rowspan=2|CBS

Valerie Harper

| Rhoda Morgenstern

| Rhoda

Cathryn Damon

| Mary Campbell

| rowspan=2|Soap

| rowspan=2|ABC

Katherine Helmond

| Jessica Tate

Suzanne Pleshette

| Emily Hartley

| The Bob Newhart Show

| CBS

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1979
(31st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Ruth Gordon §

| Dee Wilcox

| Taxi

| ABC

Linda Lavin

| Alice Hyatt

| Alice

| rowspan=2|CBS

Jean Stapleton

| Edith Bunker

| All in the Family

Katherine Helmond

| Jessica Tate

| Soap

| ABC

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| CBS

=1980s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="20%" | Actress

! width="20%" | Role

! width="25%" | Program

! width="25%" | Episode Submissions

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1980
(32nd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Cathryn Damon

| Mary Campbell

| Soap

| {{n/a}}

| ABC

Polly Holliday

| Flo Castleberry

| Flo

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=3|CBS

Sheree North §

| Dotty Wertz

| Archie Bunker's Place

| {{n/a}}

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| {{n/a}}

Katherine Helmond

| Jessica Tate

| Soap

| {{n/a}}

| ABC

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1981
(33rd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| "And the Doorknobs Shined Like Diamonds"

| CBS

Eileen Brennan §

| Mrs. McKenzie

| Taxi

| "Thy Boss's Wife"

| rowspan=3|ABC

Cathryn Damon

| Mary Campbell

| rowspan=2|Soap

| {{n/a}}

Katherine Helmond

| Jessica Tate

| {{n/a}}

Lynn Redgrave

| Ann Atkinson

| House Calls

| {{n/a}}

| CBS

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1982
(34th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Carol Kane §

| Simka Dahblitz

| Taxi

| "Simka Returns"

| ABC

Swoosie Kurtz

| Laurie Morgan

| Love, Sidney

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=3|NBC

Nell Carter

| Nellie Harper

| Gimme a Break!

| {{n/a}}

Charlotte Rae

| Edna Garrett

| The Facts of Life

| {{n/a}}

Bonnie Franklin

| Ann Romano

| One Day at a Time

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| {{n/a}}

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1983
(35th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Shelley Long

| Diane Chambers

| Cheers

| "Give Me a Ring Sometime"

| NBC

Mariette Hartley

| Jennifer Barnes

| Goodnight, Beantown

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| {{n/a}}

Nell Carter

| Nellie Harper

| Gimme a Break!

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan="2"|NBC

Swoosie Kurtz

| Laurie Morgan

| Love, Sidney

| {{n/a}}

Rita Moreno

| Violet Newstead

| 9 to 5

| {{n/a}}

| ABC

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1984
(36th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jane Curtin

| Allie Lowell

| Kate & Allie

| {{n/a}}

| CBS

Joanna Cassidy

| Jo Jo White

| Buffalo Bill

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=2|NBC

Shelley Long

| Diane Chambers

| Cheers

| {{n/a}}

Susan Saint James

| Kate McArdle

| Kate & Allie

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=2|CBS

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| {{n/a}}

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1985
(37th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jane Curtin

| Allie Lowell

| Kate & Allie

| {{n/a}}

| CBS

Shelley Long

| Diane Chambers

| Cheers

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=2|NBC

Phylicia Rashad

| Clair Huxtable

| The Cosby Show

| {{n/a}}

Susan Saint James

| Kate McArdle

| Kate & Allie

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=2|CBS

Isabel Sanford

| Louise Jefferson

| The Jeffersons

| {{n/a}}

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1986
(38th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| The Golden Girls

| "In a Bed of Rose's"

| NBC

Shelley Long

| Diane Chambers

| Cheers

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=4|NBC

Bea Arthur

| Dorothy Zbornak

| rowspan="2"|The Golden Girls

| "The Triangle"

Rue McClanahan

| Blanche Devereaux

| "The Way We Met"

Phylicia Rashad

| Clair Huxtable

| The Cosby Show

| "Cliff in Love"

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1987
(39th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Rue McClanahan

| Blanche Devereaux

| The Golden Girls

| "End of the Curse"

| NBC

Blair Brown

| Molly Bickford Dodd

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan=3|NBC

Bea Arthur

| Dorothy Zbornak

| rowspan="2"|The Golden Girls

| "The Stan Who Came to Dinner"

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| "Isn't It Romantic?"

Jane Curtin

| Allie Lowell

| Kate & Allie

| {{n/a}}

| CBS

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1988
(40th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Bea Arthur

| Dorothy Zbornak

| The Golden Girls

| "My Brother, My Father"

| NBC

Kirstie Alley

| Rebecca Howe

| Cheers

| "Backseat Becky, Upfront"

| rowspan=4|NBC

Blair Brown

| Molly Bickford Dodd

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| {{n/a}}

Rue McClanahan

| Blanche Devereaux

| rowspan=2|The Golden Girls

| "Strange Bedfellows"

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| "Bringing Up Baby"

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1989
(41st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "Respect"

| CBS

Blair Brown

| Molly Bickford Dodd

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| {{n/a}}

| Lifetime

Rue McClanahan

| Blanche Devereaux

| rowspan=3|The Golden Girls

| "Yes, We Have No Havanas"

| rowspan=3|NBC

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| "High Anxiety"

Bea Arthur

| Dorothy Zbornak

| "Love Me Tender"

=1990s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="20%" | Actress

! width="20%" | Role

! width="25%" | Program

! width="25%" | Episode Submissions

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1990
(42nd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "Brown Like Me"

| CBS

Kirstie Alley

| Rebecca Howe

| Cheers

| "The Improbable Dream, Part 1"

| rowspan="2"|NBC

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| The Golden Girls

| "Rose Fights Back"

Blair Brown

| Molly Bickford Dodd

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| {{n/a}}

| Lifetime

Delta Burke

| Suzanne Sugarbaker

| Designing Women

| "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?"

| CBS

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1991
(43rd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Kirstie Alley

| Rebecca Howe

| Cheers

| "The Days of Wine and Neuroses"

| NBC

Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "On Another Plane"

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Delta Burke

| Suzanne Sugarbaker

| Designing Women

| "The Bachelor Auction"

Blair Brown

| Molly Bickford Dodd

| The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

| "Here's a Pregnant Pause"

| Lifetime

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| The Golden Girls

| "Once, in St. Olaf"

| NBC

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1992
(44th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "Birth 101"

| CBS

Roseanne Barr

| Roseanne Conner

| Roseanne

| "A Bitter Pill to Swallow"

| ABC

Kirstie Alley

| Rebecca Howe

| Cheers

| "An Old Fashioned Wedding"

| rowspan="3"|NBC

Tyne Daly §

| Mimsy Borogroves

| Wings

| "My Brother's Keeper"

Betty White

| Rose Nylund

| The Golden Girls

| "Dateline: Miami"

Marion Ross

| Sophie Berger

| Brooklyn Bridge

| "Brave New World"

| CBS

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1993
(45th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Roseanne Barr

| Roseanne Conner

| Roseanne

| "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home"

| ABC

Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "Games Mothers Play"

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Marion Ross

| Sophie Berger

| Brooklyn Bridge

| "Brave New Worlds"

Kirstie Alley

| Rebecca Howe

| Cheers

| "One for the Road"

| rowspan="2"|NBC

Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "Pilot"

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1994
(46th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "It's Just Like Riding a Bike"

| CBS

Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "Cold Feet"

| NBC

Annie Potts

| Dana Palladino

| Love & War

| "I've Got a Crush on You"

| CBS

Roseanne Barr

| Roseanne Conner

| Roseanne

| "The Driver's Seat"

| rowspan="2"|ABC

Patricia Richardson

| Jill Taylor

| Home Improvement

| "The Colonel"

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1995
(47th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Candice Bergen

| Murphy Brown

| Murphy Brown

| "Requiem for a Crew Guy"

| CBS

Roseanne Barr

| Roseanne Conner

| Roseanne

| "Thanksgiving 1994"

| rowspan=2|ABC

Ellen DeGeneres

| Ellen Morgan

| Ellen

| "The Spa"

Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "The Ride Home"

| NBC

Cybill Shepherd

| Cybill Sheridan

| Cybill

| "Virgin, Mother, Crone"

| CBS

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1996
(48th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "The Finale"

| NBC

Ellen DeGeneres

| Ellen Morgan

| Ellen

| "Witness"

| ABC

Fran Drescher

| Fran Fine

| The Nanny

| "The Hockey Show"

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Cybill Shepherd

| Cybill Sheridan

| Cybill

| "When You're Hot, You're Hot"

Patricia Richardson

| Jill Taylor

| Home Improvement

| "The Longest Day"

| ABC

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1997
(49th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "The Birth"

| NBC

Ellen DeGeneres

| Ellen Morgan

| Ellen

| "The Puppy Episode"

| rowspan="2"|ABC

Patricia Richardson

| Jill Taylor

| Home Improvement

| "Family Unties"

Fran Drescher

| Fran Fine

| The Nanny

| "The Facts of Lice"

| rowspan="2"|CBS

Cybill Shepherd

| Cybill Sheridan

| Cybill

| "In Her Dreams"

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 1998
(50th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "Moody Blues"

| NBC

Ellen DeGeneres

| Ellen Morgan

| Ellen

| "Neighbors"

| rowspan=3|ABC

Jenna Elfman

| Dharma Montgomery

| Dharma & Greg

| "Haus Arrest"

Patricia Richardson

| Jill Taylor

| Home Improvement

| "Bright Christmas"

Kirstie Alley

| Veronica Chase

| Veronica's Closet

| "Pilot"

| NBC

Calista Flockhart

| Ally McBeal

| Ally McBeal

| "One Hundred Tears Away"

| Fox

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 1999
(51st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Helen Hunt

| Jamie Buchman

| Mad About You

| "The Final Frontier"

| NBC

Jenna Elfman

| Dharma Montgomery

| Dharma & Greg

| "Are You Ready for Some Football?"

| ABC

Calista Flockhart

| Ally McBeal

| Ally McBeal

| "Sideshow"

| Fox

Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "Be Nice"

| CBS

Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "The Drought"

| HBO

=2000s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
bgcolor="#bebebe"

! width="5%" | Year

! width="20%" | Actress

! width="20%" | Role

! width="25%" | Program

! width="25%" | Episode Submissions

! width="5%" | Network

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2000
(52nd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "Bad Moon Rising"

| CBS

Jenna Elfman

| Dharma Montgomery

| Dharma & Greg

| "Lawyers, Beer, and Money"

| ABC

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Red Dress"

| Fox

Debra Messing

| Grace Adler

| Will & Grace

| "Das Boob"

| NBC

Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "Ex and the City"

| HBO

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2001
(53rd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "The Canister"

| CBS

Calista Flockhart

| Ally McBeal

| Ally McBeal

| "Falling Up"

| rowspan=2|Fox

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Flashback"

Debra Messing

| Grace Adler

| Will & Grace

| "Lows in the Mid-Eighties"

| NBC

Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

| HBO

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2002
(54th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jennifer Aniston

| Rachel Green

| Friends

| "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby"

| NBC

Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "A Vote for Debra"

| CBS

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Poker"

| Fox

Debra Messing

| Grace Adler

| Will & Grace

| "Bed, Bath and Beyond"

| NBC

Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "The Real Me"

| HBO

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2003
(55th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Debra Messing

| Grace Adler

| Will & Grace

| "The Kid Stays Out of the Picture"

| NBC

Jennifer Aniston

| Rachel Green

| Friends

| "The One Where Monica Sings"

| NBC

Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "Baggage"

| CBS

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Baby"

| Fox

Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "Anchors Away"

| HBO

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2004
(56th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Sarah Jessica Parker

| Carrie Bradshaw

| Sex and the City

| "An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)"

| HBO

Jennifer Aniston

| Rachel Green

| Friends

| "The One with Rachel's Going Away Party"

| NBC

Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "Fun with Debra"

| CBS

Bonnie Hunt

| Bonnie Malloy

| Life with Bonnie

| "Ironing Out Our Differences"

| ABC

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Block Party"

| Fox

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2005
(57th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Felicity Huffman

| Lynette Scavo

| Desperate Housewives

| "Pilot"

| ABC

Marcia Cross

| Bree Van de Kamp

| rowspan="2"|Desperate Housewives

| "Running to Stand Still"

| rowspan="2"|ABC

Teri Hatcher

| Susan Mayer

| "Move On"

Patricia Heaton

| Debra Barone

| Everybody Loves Raymond

| "The Finale"

| CBS

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Lois Battles Jamie"

| Fox

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2006
(58th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Christine Campbell

| The New Adventures of Old Christine

| "Supertramp"

| CBS

Stockard Channing

| Lydia Barnes

| Out of Practice

| "And I'll Cry If I Want To"

| CBS

Jane Kaczmarek

| Lois

| Malcolm in the Middle

| "Lois Strikes Back"

| Fox

Lisa Kudrow

| Valerie Cherish

| The Comeback

| "Valerie Does Another Classic Leno"

| HBO

Debra Messing

| Grace Adler

| Will & Grace

| "The Finale"

| NBC

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2007
(59th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| America Ferrera

| Betty Suarez

| Ugly Betty

| "Pilot"

| ABC

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Up All Night"

| NBC

Felicity Huffman

| Lynette Scavo

| Desperate Housewives

| "Bang"

| ABC

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Christine Campbell

| The New Adventures of Old Christine

| "Playdate with Destiny"

| CBS

Mary-Louise Parker

| Nancy Botwin

| Weeds

| "Mrs. Botwin's Neighborhood"

| Showtime

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2008
(60th)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Sandwich Day"

| NBC

Christina Applegate

| Samantha Newly

| Samantha Who?

| "The Restraining Order"

| rowspan=2|ABC

America Ferrera

| Betty Suarez

| Ugly Betty

| "Odor in the Court"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Christine Campbell

| The New Adventures of Old Christine

| "One and a Half Men"

| CBS

Mary-Louise Parker

| Nancy Botwin

| Weeds

| "Bill Sussman"

| Showtime

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2009
(61st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Toni Collette

| Tara Gregson

| United States of Tara

| "Pilot"

| Showtime

Christina Applegate

| Samantha Newly

| Samantha Who?

| "The Pill"

| ABC

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Reunion"

| NBC

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Christine Campbell

| The New Adventures of Old Christine

| "Everyone Says I Love You Except Richie"

| CBS

Mary-Louise Parker

| Nancy Botwin

| Weeds

| "Lady's a Charm"

| Showtime

Sarah Silverman

| Sarah Silverman

| The Sarah Silverman Program

| "There's No Place Like Homeless"

| Comedy Central

=2010s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: left;"
style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:5%;"| Year

! style="width:18%;"| Actress

! style="width:18%;" | Role

! style="width:23%;"| Program

! style="width:23%;"| Episode Submissions

! style="width:13%;"| Network

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2010
(62nd)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2010/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "Pilot"

| Showtime

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Dealbreakers Talk Show#0001"

| rowspan="2"|NBC

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "Telethon"

Toni Collette

| Tara Gregson

| United States of Tara

| "Torando!"

| Showtime

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Christine Campbell

| The New Adventures of Old Christine

| "I Love What You Do for Me"

| CBS

Lea Michele

| Rachel Berry

| Glee

| "Sectionals"

| Fox

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2011
(63rd)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2011/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Melissa McCarthy

| Molly Flynn

| Mike & Molly

| "First Date"

| CBS

Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "Rat Falls"

| Showtime

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Double-Edged Sword"

| NBC

Laura Linney

| Cathy Jamison

| The Big C

| "Pilot"

| Showtime

Martha Plimpton

| Virginia Chance

| Raising Hope

| "Say Cheese"

| Fox

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "Flu Season"

| NBC

rowspan=8 style="text-align:center" | 2012
(64th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2012/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Tears"

| HBO

Zooey Deschanel

| Jessica Day

| New Girl

| "Bad in Bed"

| Fox

Lena Dunham

| Hannah Horvath

| Girls

| "She Did"

| HBO

Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "Disneyland Sucks"

| Showtime

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "The Tuxedo Begins"

| NBC

Melissa McCarthy

| Molly Flynn

| Mike & Molly

| "The Dress"

| CBS

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "Win, Lose, or Draw"

| NBC

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2013
(65th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2013/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Running"

| HBO

Laura Dern

| Amy Jellicoe

| Enlightened

| "All I Ever Wanted"

| rowspan=2|HBO

Lena Dunham

| Hannah Horvath

| Girls

| "Bad Friend"

Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "Luck of the Drawing"

| Showtime

Tina Fey

| Liz Lemon

| 30 Rock

| "Hogcock!" + "Last Lunch"

| rowspan=2|NBC

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "Emergency Response" + "Leslie and Ben"

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2014
(66th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2014/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Crate"

| HBO

Lena Dunham

| Hannah Horvath

| Girls

| "Beach House"

| HBO

Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "Super Greens"

| Showtime

Melissa McCarthy

| Molly Flynn

| Mike & Molly

| "Mind Over Molly"

| CBS

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "Recall Vote"

| NBC

Taylor Schilling

| Piper Chapman

| Orange Is the New Black

| "The Chickening"

| Netflix

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2015
(67th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2015/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Election Night"

| HBO

Edie Falco

| Jackie Peyton

| Nurse Jackie

| "I Say a Little Prayer"

| Showtime

Lisa Kudrow

| Valerie Cherish

| The Comeback

| "Valerie Is Taken Seriously"

| HBO

Amy Poehler

| Leslie Knope

| Parks and Recreation

| "One Last Ride"

| NBC

Amy Schumer

| Various characters

| Inside Amy Schumer

| "Cool With It"

| Comedy Central

Lily Tomlin

| Frankie Bergstein

| Grace and Frankie

| "The Vows"

| Netflix

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2016
(68th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2016/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86" colspan="5" |

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Mother"

| HBO

Ellie Kemper

| Kimmy Schmidt

| Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

| "Kimmy Goes to a Hotel!"

| Netflix

Laurie Metcalf

| Dr. Jenna James

| Getting On

| "Am I Still Me?"

| HBO

Tracee Ellis Ross

| Dr. Rainbow Johnson

| Black-ish

| "Sink or Swim"

| ABC

Amy Schumer

| Various characters

| Inside Amy Schumer

| "Welcome to the Gun Show"

| Comedy Central

Lily Tomlin

| Frankie Bergstein

| Grace and Frankie

| "The Test"

| Netflix

rowspan=8 style="text-align:center" | 2017
(69th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2017/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=May 27, 2017}}
style="background:#FAEB86" colspan="5" |

| Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Groundbreaking"

| HBO

Pamela Adlon

| Sam Fox

| Better Things

| "Future Fever"

| FX

Allison Janney

| Bonnie Plunkett

| Mom

| "Tush Push and Some Radishes"

| CBS

Ellie Kemper

| Kimmy Schmidt

| Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

| "Kimmy Goes to College!"

| rowspan="2"|Netflix

Jane Fonda

| Grace Hanson

| Grace and Frankie

| "The Pot"

Tracee Ellis Ross

| Dr. Rainbow Johnson

| Black-ish

| "Being Bow-racial"

| ABC

Lily Tomlin

| Frankie Bergstein

| Grace and Frankie

| "The Burglary"

| Netflix

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2018
(70th)
{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2018/outstanding-lead-actress-in-a-comedy-series |title=Nominees/Winners | Television Academy |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=July 12, 2018}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Rachel Brosnahan

| Miriam "Midge" Maisel

| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

| "Thank You and Good Night"

| Amazon

Pamela Adlon

| Sam Fox

| Better Things

| "Eulogy"

| FX

Allison Janney

| Bonnie Plunkett

| Mom

| "Phone Confetti and a Wee Dingle"

| CBS

Issa Rae

| Issa Dee

| Insecure

| "Hella Great"

| HBO

Tracee Ellis Ross

| Dr. Rainbow Johnson

| Black-ish

| "Elder. Scam."

| ABC

Lily Tomlin

| Frankie Bergstein

| Grace and Frankie

| "The Home"

| Netflix

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2019
(71st)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Phoebe Waller-Bridge

| Fleabag

| Fleabag

| "Episode 1"

| Amazon

Christina Applegate

| Jen Harding

| Dead to Me

| "I've Gotta Get Away"

| Netflix

Rachel Brosnahan

| Miriam "Midge" Maisel

| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

| "Midnight at the Concord"

| Amazon

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

| Selina Meyer

| Veep

| "Veep"

| HBO

Natasha Lyonne

| Nadia Vulvokov

| Russian Doll

| "Nothing in This World Is Easy"

| Netflix

Catherine O'Hara

| Moira Rose

| Schitt's Creek

| "The Crowening"

| Pop TV

=2020s=

class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: left;"
style="background:#bebebe;"

! style="width:5%;"| Year

! style="width:20%;"| Actress

! style="width:20%;" | Role

! style="width:20%;"| Program

! style="width:23%;"| Episode Submission

! style="width:12%;"| Network

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2020
(72nd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Catherine O'Hara

| Moira Rose

| Schitt's Creek

| "The Incident"

| Pop TV

Christina Applegate

| Jen Harding

| Dead to Me

| "It's Not You, It's Me"

| Netflix

Rachel Brosnahan

| Miriam "Midge" Maisel

| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

| "A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo..."

| Amazon

Linda Cardellini

| Judy Hale

|Dead to Me

| "If Only You Knew"

| Netflix

Issa Rae

| Issa Dee

| Insecure

| "Lowkey Happy"

| HBO

Tracee Ellis Ross

| Dr. Rainbow Johnson

| Black-ish

| "Kid Life Crisis"

| ABC

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2021
(73rd)
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Smart

| Deborah Vance

| Hacks

| "1.69 Million"

| HBO Max

Aidy Bryant

| Annie Easton

| Shrill

| "Ranchers"

| Hulu

Kaley Cuoco

| Cassie Bowden

| The Flight Attendant

| "In Case of Emergency"

| HBO Max

Allison Janney

| Bonnie Plunkett

| Mom

| "My Kinda People and the Big To-Do"

| CBS

Tracee Ellis Ross

| Dr. Rainbow Johnson

| Black-ish

| "Babes in Boyland"

| ABC

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2022
{{small|(74th)}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Smart

| Deborah Vance

| Hacks

| "The Click"

| HBO Max

Rachel Brosnahan

| Miriam "Midge" Maisel

| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

| "How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?"

| Prime Video

Quinta Brunson

| Janine Teagues

| Abbott Elementary

| "Pilot"

| ABC

Kaley Cuoco

| Cassie Bowden

| The Flight Attendant

| "Drowning Women"

| HBO Max

Elle Fanning

| Catherine the Great

| The Great

| "Alone at Last"

| Hulu

Issa Rae

| Issa Dee

| Insecure

| "Reunited, Okay?!"

| HBO

rowspan=6 style="text-align:center" | 2023
{{small|(75th)}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Quinta Brunson

| Janine Teagues

| Abbott Elementary

| "Teacher Conference"

| ABC

Christina Applegate

| Jen Harding

| Dead to Me

| "We've Reached the End"

| Netflix

Rachel Brosnahan

| Miriam "Midge" Maisel

| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

| "Four Minutes"

| Prime Video

Natasha Lyonne

| Charlie Cale

| Poker Face

| "Dead Man's Hand"

| Peacock

Jenna Ortega

| Wednesday Addams / Goody Addams

| Wednesday

| "Friend or Woe"

| Netflix

rowspan=7 style="text-align:center" | 2024
{{small|(76th)}}
style="background:#FAEB86"

| Jean Smart

| Deborah Vance

| Hacks

| "Yes, And"

| Max

Quinta Brunson

| Janine Teagues

| Abbott Elementary

|"Party"

| ABC

Ayo Edebiri

| Sydney Adamu

| The Bear

|"Sundae"

| FX

Selena Gomez

| Mabel Mora

| Only Murders in the Building

|"Ghost Light"

| Hulu

Maya Rudolph

| Molly Novak

| Loot

|"Space for Everyone"

| rowspan="2"|Apple TV+

Kristen Wiig

| Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons

| Palm Royale

|"Maxine Throws a Party"

Superlatives

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
style="height:4.5em;"

!width="350"|Superlative

! colspan="2" width="290"| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

style="height:4.5em;"

! width="350"| Actress with most awards

|Julia Louis-Dreyfus (7)

style="height:4.5em;"

! Actress with most nominations

|Julia Louis-Dreyfus (12)

style="height:4.5em;"

! Actress with most nominations
without ever winning

|Jane Kaczmarek (7)

style="height:4.5em;"

Programs with multiple wins

Performers with multiple wins

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break|width=50%}}

;7 wins

;5 wins

;4 wins

{{col-break}}

;3 wins

;2 wins

{{col-end}}

Programs with multiple nominations

Performers with multiple nominations

Total awards by network

  • CBS – 26
  • NBC – 16
  • HBO/HBO Max/Max – 9
  • ABC – 7
  • Showtime – 2
  • Amazon – 2
  • Pop TV - 1

See also

Notes

{{reflist|group="note"}}

References

{{reflist|3}}

{{EmmyAward ComedyLeadActress}}

{{Primetime Emmy Award categories}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Primetime Emmy Award For Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series}}

Lead Actress - Comedy Series

Category:Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners

Emmy Award