Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

The Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play was an award presented annually at the Lucille Lortel Awards to honor an actress for excellence in a leading role in an Off-Broadway production. The categories were split into Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical in 2014. The acting categories were made gender-neutral in 2021.

Nominees and recipients
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Multiple awards

 * Eileen Atkins, 2 awards for Lead Actress
 * Cherry Jones, 2 Awards for Lead Actress
 * Mary-Louise Parker, 2 awards for Lead Actress

Most nominations without a win
 * Jayne Houdyshell (4 nominations)
 * S. Epatha Merkerson (3 nominations)
 * Cristin Milioti (2 nominations) (Plus one for Lead Actress in a Musical)