Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress

The Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress was first presented in 1956. The award has no nominees and there is no set number of winners per year. Each performance listed by year below was given an award and they are listed in no particular order. The award can be for a lead or supporting performance and in a play or musical. On occasion, the Obie Awards committee will give an actress an award for sustained excellence of performance to recognize their contributions to Off-Broadway theatre. There is also a separate ensemble award given to recognize entire casts without singling out a particular performer, as they have below. On occasion, the committee gives an actress an award for sustained lifetime achievement, listings for which are also included below. The Obie Award is for performances Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway in New York City only, and is one of the most respected theatre awards given in the United States. In 2014, Sydney Lucas became the youngest winner in OBIE history, at age 10. ‡ – indicates the performance was also nominated for the Tony Award after transferring to Broadway.

Winners of more than one award
3 Wins
 * Gloria Foster
 * Marian Seldes
 * Ruth Maleczech
 * Swoosie Kurtz
 * Elizabeth Wilson
 * Laurie Metcalf
 * Lola Pashalinski
 * Elizabeth Marvel
 * Rosemary Harris
 * Frances Sternhagen

2 Wins
 * April Mathis
 * Cherise Booth
 * Viola Davis
 * Dianne Wiest
 * Deirdre O'Connell
 * Cherry Jones
 * Kathleen Widdoes
 * Nancy Marchand
 * Peggy Shaw
 * Alice Playten
 * Irene Worth
 * Charlayne Woodard
 * Kristine Nielsen
 * Joan MacIntosh
 * S. Epatha Merkerson
 * Linda Lavin
 * Anna Deavere Smith
 * Eileen Atkins
 * Mary Louise Wilson
 * Karen Evans-Kandel
 * Nancy Wickwire
 * Priscilla Smith
 * Mari Gorman
 * Anne Meacham
 * Estelle Parsons
 * Pamela Payton-Wright
 * Lois Smith
 * Roberta Maxwell
 * Sada Thompson
 * Dana Ivey
 * Lynne Thigpen
 * Kathleen Chalfant
 * Mary-Louise Parker
 * Julie Bovasso
 * Lisa Gay Hamilton
 * Jayne Houdyshell