The Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series is an award given by the Screen Actors Guild to honor the finest acting achievements in Dramatic Television.
Julianna Margulies holds the record for most nominations in this category with nine as well as the most wins with four, two for ER and two for The Good Wife. Gillian Anderson and Edie Falco each have three wins followed by Viola Davis, Claire Foy, Allison Janney, and Sandra Oh with two wins.
Winners and nominees
1990s Year Actress Film Role(s) 1994 (1st) Kathy Baker Picket Fences Jill Brock Swoosie Kurtz Sisters Alexandra Barker Angela Lansbury Murder, She Wrote Jessica Fletcher Jane Seymour Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Michaela Quinn Cicely Tyson Sweet Justice Carrie Grace Battle 1995 (2nd) Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Christine Lahti Chicago Hope Kathryn Austin Sharon Lawrence NYPD Blue Sylvia Costas Julianna Margulies ER Carol Hathaway Sela Ward Sisters Theodora Sorenson 1996 (3rd) Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Kim Delaney NYPD Blue Diane Russell Christine Lahti Chicago Hope Kathryn Austin Della Reese Touched by an Angel Tess Jane Seymour Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Michaela Quinn 1997 (4th) Julianna Margulies ER Carol Hathaway Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Kim Delaney NYPD Blue Diane Russell Christine Lahti Chicago Hope Kathryn Austin Della Reese Touched by an Angel Tess 1998 (5th) Julianna Margulies ER Carol Hathaway Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Kim Delaney NYPD Blue Diane Russell Christine Lahti Chicago Hope Kathryn Austin Annie Potts Any Day Now Mary Elizabeth Sims 1999 (6th) Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Lorraine BraccoThe Sopranos Jennifer Melfi Nancy Marchand Livia Soprano Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Annie Potts Any Day Now Mary Elizabeth Sims
2000s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2000 (7th) Allison Janney The West Wing Claudia Jean "C. J." Cregg Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Sally Field ER Maggie Wyczenski Lauren Graham Gilmore Girls Lorelai Gilmore Sela Ward Once and Again Lily Manning 2001 (8th) Allison Janney The West Wing C. J. Cregg Lorraine Bracco The Sopranos Jennifer Melfi Stockard Channing The West Wing Abbey Bartlet Tyne Daly Judging Amy Maxine Gray Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Lauren Graham Gilmore Girls Lorelai Gilmore 2002 (9th) Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Lorraine Bracco The Sopranos Jennifer Melfi Amy Brenneman Judging Amy Amy Gray Allison JanneyThe West Wing C. J. Cregg Lily Tomlin Deborah Fiderer 2003 (10th) Frances Conroy Six Feet Under Ruth Fisher Stockard Channing The West Wing Abbey Bartlet Tyne Daly Judging Amy Maxine Gray Jennifer Garner Alias Sydney Bristow Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Allison Janney The West Wing C. J. Cregg 2004 (11th) Jennifer Garner Alias Sydney Bristow Drea de MatteoThe Sopranos Adriana La Cerva Edie Falco Carmela Soprano Allison Janney The West Wing C. J. Cregg Christine Lahti Jack & Bobby Grace McCallister 2005 (12th) Sandra Oh Grey's Anatomy Cristina Yang Patricia Arquette Medium Allison Dubois Geena Davis Commander in Chief Mackenzie Allen Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2006 (13th) Chandra Wilson Grey's Anatomy Miranda Bailey Patricia Arquette Medium Allison Dubois Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2007 (14th) Edie Falco The Sopranos Carmela Soprano Glenn Close Damages Patty Hewes Sally Field Brothers & Sisters Nora Walker Holly Hunter Saving Grace Grace Hanadarko Kyra SedgwickThe Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2008 (15th) Sally Field Brothers & Sisters Nora Walker Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Holly Hunter Saving Grace Grace Hanadarko Elisabeth Moss Mad Men Peggy Olson Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2009 (16th) Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Patricia Arquette Medium Allison Dubois Glenn Close Damages Patty Hewes Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Holly Hunter Saving Grace Grace Hanadarko Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson
2010s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2010 (17th) Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Glenn Close Damages Patty Hewes Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Olivia Benson Elisabeth Moss Mad Men Peggy Olson Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2011 (18th) Jessica Lange American Horror Story Constance Langdon Kathy Bates Harry's Law Harriet "Harry" Korn Glenn Close Damages Patty Hewes Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Brenda Leigh Johnson 2012 (19th) Claire Danes Homeland Carrie Mathison Michelle Dockery Downton Abbey Lady Mary Crawley Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Asylum Sister Jude / Judy Martin Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Maggie Smith Downton Abbey Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham 2013 (20th) Maggie Smith Downton Abbey Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham Claire Danes Homeland Carrie Mathison Anna Gunn Breaking Bad Skyler White Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Coven Fiona Goode Kerry Washington Scandal Olivia Pope 2014 (21st) Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Professor Annalise Keating, J.D. Claire Danes Homeland Carrie Mathison Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Tatiana Maslany Orphan Black Various Maggie Smith Downton Abbey Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham Robin Wright House of Cards Claire Underwood 2015 (22nd) Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder Professor Annalise Keating, J.D. Claire Danes Homeland Carrie Mathison Julianna Margulies The Good Wife Alicia Florrick Maggie Smith Downton Abbey Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham Robin Wright House of Cards Claire Underwood 2016 (23rd) Claire Foy The Crown Queen Elizabeth II Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things Eleven / Jane Thandiwe Newton Westworld Maeve Millay Winona Ryder Stranger Things Joyce Byers Robin Wright House of Cards Claire Underwood 2017 (24th) Claire Foy The Crown Queen Elizabeth II Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things Eleven / Jane Laura Linney Ozark Wendy Byrde Elisabeth Moss The Handmaid's Tale June Osborne / Offred Robin Wright House of Cards Claire Underwood 2018 (25th) Sandra Oh Killing Eve Eve Polastri Julia GarnerOzark Ruth Langmore Laura Linney Wendy Byrde Elisabeth Moss The Handmaid's Tale June Osborne / Offred Robin Wright House of Cards President Claire Underwood 2019 (26th) Jennifer AnistonThe Morning Show Alex Levy Helena Bonham CarterThe Crown Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Olivia Colman Queen Elizabeth II Jodie Comer Killing Eve Villanelle Elisabeth Moss The Handmaid's Tale June Osborne / Offred
2020s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2020 (27th) Gillian Anderson The Crown Margaret Thatcher Olivia ColmanThe Crown Queen Elizabeth II Emma Corrin Lady Diana Spencer Julia GarnerOzark Ruth Langmore Laura Linney Wendy Byrde 2021 (28th) Jung Ho-yeon Squid Game Kang Sae-byeok Jennifer Aniston The Morning Show Alex Levy Elisabeth Moss The Handmaid's Tale June Osborne Sarah Snook Succession Shiv Roy Reese Witherspoon The Morning Show Bradley Jackson 2022 (29th) Jennifer Coolidge The White Lotus Tanya McQuoid-Hunt Elizabeth Debicki The Crown Princess Diana Julia GarnerOzark Ruth Langmore Laura Linney Wendy Byrde Zendaya Euphoria Rue Bennett 2023 (30th) Elizabeth Debicki The Crown Diana, Princess of Wales Jennifer Aniston The Morning Show Alex Levy Bella Ramsey The Last of Us Ellie Keri Russell The Diplomat Kate Wyler Sarah Snook Succession Shiv Roy 2024 (31st) Anna Sawai Shōgun Toda Mariko Kathy Bates Matlock Madeline Matlock Nicola Coughlan Bridgerton Penelope Featherington Allison JanneyThe Diplomat Vice President Grace Penn Keri Russell Kate Wyler 2025 (32nd) Keri Russell The Diplomat Kate WylerBritt Lower Severance Helly R. Parker Posey The White Lotus Victoria Ratliff Rhea Seehorn Pluribus Carol Sturka Aimee Lou Wood The White Lotus Chelsea
Superlatives Superlative Female Actor - Drama Series Female Actor - Comedy Series Overall Actress with most awards Julianna Margulies 4 Julia Louis-Dreyfus 5 Julia Louis-Dreyfus 5 Actress with most nominations Julianna Margulies 9 Julia Louis-Dreyfus 12 Edie Falco 14 Actress with most nominations without ever winning Kyra Sedgwick 7 Edie Falco 7 Kyra Sedgwick 7 Television program with most wins The Crown 4 30 Rock 4 30 Rock / The Crown 4 Television program with most nominations The Sopranos 12 Will & Grace 9 The Sopranos 12
Actors with multiple awards
4 wins Julianna Margulies
3 wins Gillian Anderson Edie Falco
2 wins Viola Davis Claire Foy Allison Janney Sandra Oh
Series with multiple awards
4 wins The Crown
3 wins The Sopranos (HBO)
2 wins ER (NBC) The Good Wife (CBS) Grey's Anatomy (ABC) How to Get Away with Murder (ABC) The West Wing (NBC) The X-Files (Fox)
Actors with multiple nominations
9 nominations Julianna Margulies
7 nominations Gillian Anderson Edie Falco Kyra Sedgwick
6 nominations Mariska Hargitay Allison Janney Elisabeth Moss
5 nominations Christine Lahti Robin Wright
4 nominations Glenn Close Claire Danes Laura Linney Maggie Smith
3 nominations Jennifer Aniston Patricia Arquette Lorraine Bracco Kim Delaney Sally Field Julia Garner Holly Hunter Jessica Lange Keri Russell
2 nominations Kathy Bates Millie Bobby Brown Stockard Channing Olivia Colman Tyne Daly Viola Davis Elizabeth Debicki Claire Foy Jennifer Garner Lauren Graham Sandra Oh Annie Potts Della Reese Jane Seymour Sarah Snook Sela Ward
Series with multiple nominations
12 nominations The Sopranos (HBO)
9 nominations The Crown (Netflix)
8 nominations The West Wing (NBC)
7 nominations The Closer (TNT) Ozark (Netflix)
6 nominations The Good Wife (CBS) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) The X-Files (Fox)
5 nominations Downton Abbey (PBS) House of Cards (Netflix)
4 nominations Chicago Hope (CBS) Damages (FX) The Diplomat (Netflix) ER (NBC) The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu) Homeland (Showtime) The Morning Show (AppleTV+) NYPD Blue (ABC)
3 nominations Alias (ABC) American Horror Story (FX) Judging Amy (CBS) Medium (NBC/CBS) Saving Grace (TNT) Stranger Things (Netflix) The White Lotus (HBO)
2 nominations Any Day Now (Lifetime) Brothers & Sisters (ABC) Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (CBS) Gilmore Girls (The WB) Grey's Anatomy (ABC) How to Get Away with Murder (ABC) Killing Eve (BBC America) Mad Men (AMC) Sisters (NBC) Succession (HBO) Touched by an Angel (CBS)
See also Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
External links SAG Awards official site