WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Play

The WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Play is an annual award presented by WhatsOnStage.com as part of the annual WhatsOnStage Awards. Founded in 2001 as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, the WhatsOnStage Awards are based on a popular vote recognising performers and productions in London's West End theatre.

This award is given to a person who has performed a leading female identifying role in a play during the eligibility year. Introduced in 2001 as the award for Best Actress in a Play, the category was renamed in 2022 in an effort to be more inclusive. The category was discontinued following the 2022 ceremony and was replaced with the gender-neutral WhatsOnstage Award for Best Performer in a Play.

Kristin Scott Thomas and Billie Piper are the only performers to have won the award twice. Helen McCrory holds the record for most nominations in the category, with five, and also the most nominations without a win.

Wins

 * 2 wins
 * Billie Piper
 * Kristin Scott Thomas

Nominations

 * 5 nominations
 * Helen McCrory


 * 4 nominations
 * Eve Best
 * Kristin Scott Thomas


 * 3 nominations
 * Tamsin Greig
 * Clare Higgins
 * Billie Piper

• Gillian Anderson
 * 2 nominations

• Hayley Atwell

• Janie Dee

• Judi Dench

• Anne-Marie Duff

• Lindsay Duncan

• Patsy Ferran

• Victoria Hamilton

• Janet McTeer

• Helen Mirren

• Lesley Sharp

• Fiona Shaw

• Maggie Smith

• Imelda Staunton

• Juliet Stevenson

• Harriet Walter

• Julie Walters

• Rachel Weisz

• Lia Williams