Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role on a television limited series or television movie for the primetime network season.

The award was first presented at the 7th Primetime Emmy Awards on March 7, 1955, to Judith Anderson, for her performance as Lady Macbeth on the Hallmark Hall of Fame episode "Macbeth". It has undergone several name changes, with the category split into two categories at the 25th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy; and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. By the 31st Primetime Emmy Awards, the categories were merged into one, and it has since undergone several name changes, leading to its current title.

Since its inception, the award has been given to 54 actresses. Ali Wong is the current recipient of the award, for her portrayal of Amy Lau on Beef. Helen Mirren has won the most awards in this category, with four, and has received the most nominations for the award, on two occasions.

Winners and nominations




Programs with multiple wins

 * 5 wins
 * Hallmark Hall of Fame


 * 2 wins
 * Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
 * Prime Suspect
 * Producers' Showcase

Performers with multiple wins

 * 4 wins
 * Helen Mirren (2 consecutive)


 * 3 wins
 * Patty Duke
 * Laura Linney


 * 2 wins
 * Judith Anderson
 * Ingrid Bergman
 * Julie Harris
 * Holly Hunter
 * Regina King
 * Jessica Lange
 * Geraldine Page
 * Gena Rowlands
 * Meryl Streep
 * Kate Winslet
 * Joanne Woodward

Programs with multiple nominations

 * 9 nominations
 * Hallmark Hall of Fame


 * 6 nominations
 * American Horror Story
 * Prime Suspect


 * 5 nominations
 * Playhouse 90


 * 4 nominations
 * American Crime


 * 3 nominations
 * Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
 * Fargo
 * Feud
 * The United States Steel Hour


 * 2 nominations
 * American Crime Story
 * Angels in America
 * Big Little Lies
 * Captains and the Kings
 * CBS Playhouse
 * Climax!
 * A Cooler Climate
 * Dr. Kildare*
 * Elizabeth R
 * Grey Gardens
 * Holocaust
 * Lonesome Dove
 * Lux Video Theater
 * The Miracle Worker
 * Norma Jean & Marilyn
 * The Richard Boone Show
 * Roe vs. Wade
 * The Snoop Sisters
 * Studio One
 * Sybil
 * When They See Us
 * Wild Iris

Performers with multiple nominations

 * 10 nominations
 * Helen Mirren


 * 7 nominations
 * Judy Davis
 * Jessica Lange


 * 6 nominations
 * Glenn Close
 * Julie Harris
 * Gena Rowlands
 * Joanne Woodward


 * 5 nominations
 * Helen Hayes
 * Lee Remick


 * 4 nominations
 * Jane Alexander
 * Judith Anderson
 * Ann-Margret
 * Katharine Hepburn
 * Holly Hunter
 * Elizabeth Montgomery
 * Sarah Paulson
 * Eva Marie Saint
 * Maureen Stapleton
 * Emma Thompson
 * Cicely Tyson
 * Alfre Woodard


 * 3 nominations
 * Ingrid Bergman
 * Judi Dench
 * Colleen Dewhurst
 * Patty Duke
 * Sally Field
 * Lee Grant
 * Felicity Huffman
 * Glenda Jackson
 * Laura Linney
 * Mary Tyler Moore
 * Geraldine Page
 * Vanessa Redgrave
 * Maggie Smith
 * Meryl Streep
 * Jessica Tandy
 * Sigourney Weaver


 * 2 nominations
 * Halle Berry
 * Helena Bonham Carter
 * Carol Burnett
 * Ellen Burstyn
 * Stockard Channing
 * Susan Clark
 * Laura Dern
 * Blythe Danner
 * Bette Davis
 * Farrah Fawcett
 * Lynn Fontanne
 * Rosemary Harris
 * Barbara Hershey
 * Anjelica Huston
 * Ann Jillian
 * Ashley Judd
 * Nicole Kidman
 * Regina King
 * Diane Lane
 * Piper Laurie
 * Cloris Leachman
 * Jean Marsh
 * Suzanne Pleshette
 * Queen Latifah
 * Susan Sarandon
 * Jane Seymour
 * Sada Thompson
 * Claire Trevor
 * Kerry Washington
 * JoBeth Williams
 * Kate Winslet
 * Shelley Winters
 * Teresa Wright