The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television presents an annual award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role to the best performance by a lead actress in a Canadian film. The award was first presented in 1968 by the Canadian Film Awards, and was presented annually until 1978 with the exception of 1969, when no eligible feature films were submitted for award consideration, and 1974 due to the cancellation of the awards that year.
From 1980 until 2012, the award was presented as part of the Genie Awards ceremony; since 2013, it has been presented as part of the Canadian Screen Awards.
From 1980 to 1983, only Canadian actresses were eligible for the award; non-Canadian actresses appearing in Canadian films were instead considered for the separate Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress. After 1983, the latter award was discontinued, and from 1986 both Canadian and foreign actresses were eligible for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
In August 2022, the academy announced that it will discontinue its past practice of presenting gendered awards for film and television actors and actresses; beginning with the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, gender-neutral awards for Best Performance will be presented, with eight nominees per category instead of five.Joseph Pugh, "Canadian Screen Awards switching to gender-neutral performance categories". CBC News, August 25, 2022. Lead performances are now honoured with the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Film.
1960s Year Nominee Film Ref 196820th Canadian Film Awards Geneviève Bujold Isabel 196921st Canadian Film Awards No award presented this year
1970s Year Nominee Film Ref 197022nd Canadian Film Awards Geneviève Bujold The Act of the Heart 197123rd Canadian Film Awards Ann Knox The Only Thing You Know 197224th Canadian Film Awards Micheline Lanctôt The True Nature of Bernadette (La Vraie Nature de Bernadette) 197325th Canadian Film Awards Geneviève Bujold Kamouraska 1974No award presented 197526th Canadian Film Awards Margot Kidder A Quiet Day in Belfast 197627th Canadian Film Awards Marilyn Lightstone Lies My Father Told Me 197728th Canadian Film Awards Monique Mercure J.A. Martin Photographer (J.A. Martin photographe) Jayne Eastwood One Man "Back stage". The Globe and Mail, October 15, 1977. Carole Laure The Angel and the Woman (L'Ange et la femme) Hollis McLaren Outrageous! 197829th Canadian Film Awards Helen Shaver In Praise of Older Women Micheline Lanctôt Blood and Guts "Four films nominated for Etrogs". The Globe and Mail, August 24, 1978. Celine Lomez The Silent Partner Andrée Pelletier Marie-Anne
1980s Year Nominee Film Ref 1980 1st Genie Awards Kate Lynch Meatballs Micheline Lanctôt A Scream from Silence (Mourir à tue-tête) Jay Scott, "Changeling leads Canadian Film Award nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 8, 1980. Louise Marleau Heartbreak (L'arrache-cœur) Claire Pimparé Yesterday Louise Portal Cordélia 1981 2nd Genie Awards Marie Tifo Good Riddance (Les Bons débarras) Geneviève Bujold Final Assignment Jay Scott, "Genie nominations released". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1981. Jennifer Dale Suzanne Charlotte Laurier Good Riddance (Les Bons débarras) Andrée Pelletier The Handyman (L'Homme à tout faire) 1982 3rd Genie Awards Margot Kidder Heartaches Kim Cattrall Ticket to Heaven Jay Scott, "Les Plouffe, Ticket to Heaven lead the pack: Academy lists Genie nominees". The Globe and Mail, February 4, 1982. Lesleh Donaldson Funeral Home Ronalda Jones Alligator Shoes Monique Spaziani Happy Memories (Les Beaux souvenirs) 1983 4th Genie Awards Rae Dawn Chong Quest for Fire Sara Botsford By Design Jay Scott, "Top Genie prospects for Jack Miner move". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1983. Hélène Loiselle Sweet Lies and Loving Oaths (Doux aveux) Monique Mercure Beyond Forty (La Quarantaine) Andrée Pelletier Latitude 55° 1984 5th Genie Awards Martha Henry The Wars Carole Laure Maria Chapdelaine Jay Scott, "11 nominations for Chapdelaine in Genie race". The Globe and Mail, February 10, 1984. Barbara March Deserters Marie Tifo Lucien Brouillard Marie Tifo Just a Game (Rien qu'un jeu) 1985 6th Genie Awards Louise Marleau A Woman in Transit (La Femme de l'hôtel) Pascale Bussières Sonatine Jay Scott, "Bay Boy reels in 11 Genie nominations". The Globe and Mail, February 15, 1985. Linda Griffiths Reno and the Doc Isabelle Mejias Unfinished Business Andrée Pelletier Walls Sonja Smits That's My Baby! 1986 7th Genie Awards Margaret Langrick My American Cousin Charlotte Laurier The Dame in Colour (La Dame en couleurs) "Scorecard of major nominees for tonight's Genie Awards on TV". Toronto Star, March 20, 1986. Christine Pak 90 Days Monique Spaziani The Alley Cat (Le Matou) Mary Steenburgen One Magic Christmas 1987 8th Genie Awards Martha Henry Dancing in the Dark Dorothée Berryman The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain) John Allemang, "Arcand's Decline tops Genie nominations with 13". The Globe and Mail, February 5, 1987. Jackie Burroughs John and the Missus Tantoo Cardinal Loyalties Helen Shaver Lost! Marie Tifo Intimate Power (Pouvoir intime) 1988 9th Genie Awards Sheila McCarthy I've Heard the Mermaids Singing Frédérique Collin Marie in the City (Marie s'en va-t-en ville) Liam Lacey, "Quebec film picks up 14 nominations: Zoo paces race for Genies". The Globe and Mail, February 17, 1988. Jacinta Cormier Life Classes Kate Lynch Taking Care Gabrielle Rose Family Viewing 1989 10th Genie Awards Jackie Burroughs A Winter Tan Geneviève Bujold Dead Ringers Kerrie Keane Hitting Home Josette Simon Milk and Honey Monique Spaziani The Revolving Doors (Les Portes tournantes)
1990s Year Nominee Film Ref 1990 11th Genie Awards Rebecca Jenkins Bye Bye Blues Colleen Dewhurst Termini Station "Bye Bye Blues in running for Genie Awards". Vancouver Sun, February 14, 1990. Megan Follows Termini Station Margaret Langrick Cold Comfort Gabrielle Rose Speaking Parts Catherine Wilkening Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal) 1991 12th Genie Awards Pascale Montpetit H Alice Diabo The Company of Strangers Craig MacInnis, "Too many jokers, not enough aces: Genie deck stacked for Black Robe". Toronto Star, November 24, 1991. Cissy Meddings The Company of Strangers Kate Nelligan White Room Nina Petronzio Vincent and Me (Vincent et moi) 1992 13th Genie Awards Janet Wright Bordertown Café Janet-Laine Green The Shower "Genie Award nominations". Toronto Star, November 20, 1992. Viveca Lindfors North of Pittsburgh Enrica Maria Modugno The Saracen Woman (La Sarrasine) Valerie Pearson Solitaire 1993 14th Genie Awards Sheila McCarthy The Lotus Eaters Élise Guilbault Cap Tourmente "Genie nominations". Calgary Herald, October 20, 1993. Andrée Lachapelle Cap Tourmente Pauline Lapointe La Florida Aloka McLean The Lotus Eaters 1994 15th Genie Awards Sandra Oh Double Happiness Nancy Beatty Henry & Verlin Geneviève Bujold My Friend Max (Mon amie Max) Valérie Kaprisky Desire in Motion (Mouvements du désir) Marie Tifo Les Pots cassés 1995 16th Genie Awards Helena Bonham Carter Margaret's Museum Pascale Bussières Eldorado "Nominees for the 1995 Genie Awards". Canadian Press, November 7, 1995. Pascale Bussières When Night Is Falling Pascale Montpetit Eldorado Isabel Richer Eldorado 1996 17th Genie Awards Martha Henry Long Day's Journey into Night Marie Brassard Polygraph (Le Polygraphe) "Over-the-edge Canadian films poised for Genie nod". Canadian Press, November 24, 1996. Helene Clarkson Blood and Donuts Brenda Fricker Swann Louise Portal Not Me! (Sous-sol) 1997 18th Genie Awards Molly Parker Kissed Isabelle Cyr Karmina Sarah Polley The Sweet Hereafter Gabrielle Rose The Sweet Hereafter Alberta Watson Shoemaker 1998 19th Genie Awards Sandra Oh Last Night Anne-Marie Cadieux Nô "Two films lead Genie pack". Waterloo Region Record, December 8, 1998. Pascale Montpetit Streetheart (Le Cœur au poing) Ginette Reno It's Your Turn, Laura Cadieux (C't'à ton tour, Laura Cadieux) Pierrette Robitaille It's Your Turn, Laura Cadieux (C't'à ton tour, Laura Cadieux) 1999 20th Genie Awards Sylvie Moreau Post Mortem Elaine Cassidy Felicia's Journey Jennifer Ehle Sunshine Rosemary Harris Sunshine Mary-Louise Parker The Five Senses
2000s Year Nominee Film Ref 2000 21st Genie Awards Marie-Josée Croze Maelström "Maelstrom sweeps Genie Awards". Cape Breton Post, January 31, 2001. Kim Hunter Here's to Life! Ginette Reno Laura Cadieux II (Laura Cadieux...la suite) Pierrette Robitaille Laura Cadieux II (Laura Cadieux...la suite) Tilda Swinton Possible Worlds 2001 22nd Genie Awards Élise Guilbault The Woman Who Drinks (La Femme qui boit) Jillian Fargey Protection "Atanarjuat and The War Bride share lead for Genie Awards". Guelph Mercury, December 15, 2001. Anna Friel The War Bride Sarah Polley The Law of Enclosures Katja Riemann Desire 2002 23rd Genie Awards Arsinée Khanjian Ararat Isabelle Blais Savage Messiah "Egoyan's Ararat scoops nine Gemini nominations". Timmins Daily Press, December 12, 2002. Molly Parker Men With Brooms Deborah Kara Unger Between Strangers Polly Walker Savage Messiah 2003 24th Genie Awards Sarah Polley My Life Without Me Rebecca Jenkins Marion Bridge Micheline Lanctôt How My Mother Gave Birth to Me During Menopause (Comment ma mère accoucha de moi durant sa ménopause) Molly Parker Marion Bridge Karine Vanasse Séraphin: Heart of Stone (Séraphin: un homme et son péché) 2004 25th Genie Awards Pascale Bussières Bittersweet Memories (Ma vie en cinémascope) Peter Howell, "Quebec films rule Genies; Aging Triplets named country's best film of 2004". Toronto Star, March 22, 2005. Isabelle Blais Love and Magnets (Les Aimants) "Being Julia up for best picture at Canada's Genies". St. Catharines Standard, February 9, 2005. Céline Bonnier Machine Gun Molly (Monica la mitraille) Emily Hampshire Blood Jacinthe Laguë The Five of Us (Elles étaient cinq) 2005 26th Genie Awards Seema Biswas Water Gina Chiarelli See Grace Fly Guy Dixon, "Forget the awards. Watch the party". The Globe and Mail, January 26, 2006. Macha Grenon Familia Arsinée Khanjian Sabah Sylvie Moreau Familia 2006 27th Genie Awards Julie Le Breton The Rocket (Maurice Richard) Jay Stone, "Bon Cop, Bad Cop wins top Genie as best movie". Ottawa Citizen, February 14, 2007. Jodelle Ferland Tideland Randall King, "The Rocket scores with 13 Genie nominations". Winnipeg Free Press, January 10, 2007. Fatou N'Diaye A Sunday in Kigali (Un dimanche à Kigali) Ginette Reno A Family Secret (Le secret de ma mère) Sigourney Weaver Snow Cake 2007 28th Genie Awards Julie Christie Away from Her Mark Medley, "Away From Her scoops six Genies, including best picture". Alaska Highway News, March 5, 2008. Anne-Marie Cadieux You (Toi) Bruce Kirkland, "They dream of Genies; Canadian directors see films scoop 12 noms each". Winnipeg Sun, January 29, 2008. Elliot Page The Tracey Fragments Molly Parker Who Loves the Sun Béatrice Picard My Aunt Aline (Ma tante Aline) 2008 29th Genie Awards Ellen Burstyn The Stone Angel Isabelle Blais Borderline Marianne Fortier Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's (Maman est chez le coiffeur) Susan Sarandon Emotional Arithmetic Preity Zinta Heaven on Earth 2009 30th Genie Awards Karine Vanasse Polytechnique Madeline Ivalu Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain) Karen LeBlanc Nurse.Fighter.Boy Carinne Leduc 3 Seasons (3 saisons) Gabrielle Rose Mothers & Daughters
2010s