The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Lead Actress in Television Drama is awarded annually by the Australian Film Institute as part of the awards in television for excellence in acting in television drama by an actress.
The first Award was made in 1986. Prior to 1990, two awards existed and were called Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series and Best Lead Actress in a Telefeature. The awards were merged in 1990 to become Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini Series which in 1991 was renamed Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama. In 2000, the Awards were again awarded in two categories, called Best Performance by an Actress in a Telefeature or Mini Series and Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama. In 2002, the Awards were again combined under the title Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama and two years later, in 2004, the Award was named Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy. A separate comedy Award was established in 2006, and this Award became Best Lead Actress in Television Drama.
Claudia Karvan has the most nominations with 11 and the most wins with 4.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini Series Year Winner Mini Series Network Other nominees 1986Deidre RubensteinPalace of DreamsABC TV1987Nicole KidmanVietnam Network Ten1988Anne PhelanPoor Man's OrangeTen Network1989Julia BlakeEdens LostABC
Best Lead Actress in a Telefeature Year Winner Telefeature Network Other nominees 1986Candy RaymondBreaking Up1987Michele FawdonThe Fish Are SafeABC1988Kerry McGuireOlive ABC1989Pat ThomsonMalpractice
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini Series Year Winner Telefeature or Mini Series Network Other nominees 1990Rebecca GibneyCome In SpinnerABC TV
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama Year Winner Television Drama Episode Network Other nominees 1991Sonia ToddPolice Rescue"By the book"ABC TV1992Lisa HensleyBrides of ChristABC TV1993Denise RobertsG.P."Alone"ABC TV1994Monica MaughanThe Damnation of Harvey McHugh"My brilliant chorea"ABC TV1995Jacqueline McKenzieHalifax f.p."Lies of the Mind"Nine Network1996Claudia KarvanG.P."Sing me a lullaby"ABC TV1997Anne LoobySimone de Beauvoir's BabiesEpisode #3ABC TV1998Rachael BlakeWildsideEpisode #20ABC TV1999Jill ForsterSeaChange"Manna from heaven"ABC TV2000Anne PhelanSomething in the Air"We will remember them"ABC TV2001Kerry ArmstrongSeaChangeABC TV2002Juliet StevensonThe Road from CoorainABC TV2003Angie MillikenMDAABC TV
Best Performance by an Actress in a Telefeature or Mini Series Year Winner Telefeature or Mini Series Episode Network Other nominees 2000Noni HazlehurstWaiting at the RoyalNine Network2001Angie MillikenMy Brother JackNetwork Ten
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy Year Winner Television Drama or Comedy Episode Network Other nominees 2004Bojana NovakovicMarking TimeABC2005Claudia KarvanLove My WayFOX8
Best Lead Actress in Television Drama Year Winner Television Drama Episode Network Other nominees2006Susie PorterRANSBS TV2007Claudia KarvanLove My WayShowtime2008Kat StewartUnderbellyNine Network2009Susie PorterEast West 101SBS TV2010Catherine McClementsTangleSeason 2Showcase 2011 Sarah Snook Sisters of War ABC1 2012 Leah Purcell Redfern Now Episode 1: Family 2013 Claudia Karvan The Time of Our Lives 2014 Marta Dusseldorp Janet King ABC 2015 Pamela Rabe WentworthSeries 3 SoHo 2016Elizabeth DebickiThe Kettering Incident Foxtel/Showcase 2017Elisabeth MossTop of the Lake: China Girl Foxtel/BBC First 2018Kate BoxRiot 2019Deborah MailmanTotal Control 2020Yvonne StrahovskiStateless 2021Anna TorvThe Newsreader 2022Tuuli NarkleMystery Road: Origin
See also Australian Film Institute AFI Awards Australian Film Institute Television Awards
References