Daytime Soap Operas
Emmy Award Central
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Winners and Nominees: 1974 to present

1974

Winner:
Elizabeth Hubbard as Althea Davis, The Doctors

Other Nominees:
Rachel Ames as Audrey March Hardy, R.N., General Hospital
Mary Fickett as Ruth Martin, R.N., All My Children
Mary Stuart as Joanne Gardner, Search for Tomorrow


1975

Winner:
Susan Flannery as Laura Spencer Horton, Days of our Lives

Other Nominees:
Rachel Ames as Audrey March Hardy, R.N., General Hospital
Susan Seaforth as Julie Olson, Days of our Lives
Ruth Warrick as Phoebe English Tyler, All My Children


1976

Winner:
Helen Gallagher as Maeve Ryan, Ryan's Hope

Other Nominees:
Denise Alexander as Dr. Lesley Williams Faulkner, General Hospital
Susan Seaforth Hayes as Julie Olson, Days of our Lives
Frances Heflin as Mona Kane Tyler, All My Children
Mary Stuart as Joanne Gardner, Search for Tomorrow


1977

Winner:
Helen Gallagher as Maeve Ryan, Ryan's Hope

Other Nominees:
Nancy Addison as Jill Coleridge, Ryan's Hope
Beverlee McKinsey as Iris Carrington, Another World
Mary Stuart as Joanne Gardner, Search for Tomorrow
Ruth Warrick as Phoebe English Tyler, All My Children


1978

Winner:
Laurie Heineman as Sharlene Frame, Another World

Other Nominees:
Mary Fickett as Ruth Martin, All My Children
Jennifer Harmon as Cathy Craig Lord, One Life to Live
Susan Seaforth Hayes as Julie Olson, Days of our Lives
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Beverlee McKinsey as Iris Carrington, Another World
Victoria Wyndham as Rachel Cory Hutchins, Another World


1979

Winner:
Irene Dailey as Liz Matthews, Another World

Other Nominees:
Nancy Addison as Jill Coleridge, Ryan's Hope
Helen Gallagher as Maeve Ryan, Ryan's Hope
Susan Seaforth Hayes as Julie Olson, Days of our Lives
Beverlee McKinsey as Iris Carrington, Another World


1980

Winner:
Judith Light as Karen Wolek, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Leslie Charleson as Monica Quartermaine, General Hospital
Kim Hunter as Nola Madison, The Edge of Night
Beverlee McKinsey as Iris Carrington, Another World
Kathleen Noone as Ellen Dalton, All My Children


1981

Winner:
Judith Light as Karen Wolek, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Helen Gallagher as Maeve Ryan, Ryan's Hope
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Robin Strasser as Dorian Cramer Lord, One Life to Live


1982

Winner:
Robin Strasser as Dorian Cramer Lord Callison, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Leslie Charleson as Monica Quartermaine, General Hospital
Ann Flood as Nancy Pollock Karr, The Edge of Night
Sharon Gabet as Charlotte Whitney, The Edge of Night
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1983

Winner:
Dorothy Lyman as Opal Gardner, All My Children

Other Nominees:
Leslie Charleson as Monica Quartermaine, General Hospital
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, One Life to Live
Robin Strasser as Dorian Cramer Lord, One Life to Live


1984

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Ann Flood as Nancy Pollock Karr, The Edge of Night
Sharon Gabet as Charlotte Whitney, The Edge of Night
Deidre Hall as Marlena Evans, Days of our Lives
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1985

Winner:
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light

Other Nominees:
Deidre Hall as Marlena Evans, Days of our Lives
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Gillian Spencer as Daisy Cortlandt, All My Children
Robin Strasser as Dorian Cramer Lord, One Life to Live


1986

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady, Days of our Lives
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light


1987

Winner:
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light

Other Nominees:
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Frances Reid as Alice Horton, Days of our Lives
Marcy Walker as Eden Capwell, Santa Barbara


1988

Winner:
Helen Gallagher as Maeve Ryan, Ryan's Hope

Other Nominees:
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, One Life to Live
Marcy Walker as Eden Capwell, Santa Barbara


1989

Winner:
Marcy Walker as Eden Capwell, Santa Barbara

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1990

Winner:
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1991

Winner:
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1992

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Jessica Tuck as Megan Gordon Harrison, One Life to Live


1993

Winner:
Linda Dano as Felicia Gallant, Another World

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Ellen Dolan as Margo Montgomery Hughes, As the World Turns
Maeve Kinkead as Vanessa Chamberlain, Guiding Light
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1994

Winner:
Hillary B. Smith as Nora Hanen Gannon, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Linda Dano as Felicia Gallant, Another World
Fiona Hutchison as Jenna Bradshaw, Guiding Light
Kathleen Widdoes as Emma Snyder, As the World Turns


1995

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Carpenter, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Leslie Charleson as Monica Quartermaine, General Hospital
Marj Dusay as Alexandra Spaulding, Guiding Light
Maeve Kinkead as Vanessa Chamberlain, Guiding Light
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1996

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Carpenter, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Jensen Buchanan as Vicky Hudson, Another World
Linda Dano as Felicia Gallant, Another World
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Jess Walton as Jill Abbott, The Young and the Restless


1997

Winner:
Jess Walton as Jill Abbott, The Young and the Restless

Other Nominees:
Jensen Buchanan as Vicky Hudson, Another World
Genie Francis as Laura Spencer, General Hospital
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children


1998

Winner:
Cynthia Watros as Annie Dutton, Guiding Light

Other Nominees:
Eileen Davidson as Kristen Blake, Days of our Lives
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Jacklyn Zeman as Bobbie Spencer, General Hospital
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light


1999

Winner:
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Elizabeth Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, As the World Turns
Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki Newman, The Young and the Restless
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, Guiding Light


2000

Winner:
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Finola Hughes as Alex Devane, All My Children
Hillary B. Smith as Nora Hanen, One Life to Live
Jess Walton as Jill Abbott, The Young and the Restless


2001

Winner:
Martha Byrne as Lily Walsh Snyder/Rose D'Angelo, As the World Turns

Other Nominees:
Julia Barr as Brooke English, All My Children
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Marcy Walker as Liza Colby, All My Children


2002

Winner:
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Martha Byrne as Lily Walsh Snyder/Rose D'Angelo, As the World Turns
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, All My Children
Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, All My Children
Colleen Zenk Pinter as Barbara Ryan, As the World Turns


2003

Winner:
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott, The Young and the Restless
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Abbott, The Young and the Restless
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne Lewis, Guiding Light


2004

Winner:
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Abbott, The Young and the Restless

Other Nominees:
Tamara Braun as Carly Corinthos, General Hospital
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital
Maura West as Carly Tenney Snyder, As the World Turns
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne Lewis, Guiding Light


2005

Winner:
Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Davidson, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Martha Byrne as Lily Walsh Snyder, As the World Turns
Kassie DePaiva as Blair Cramer, One Life to Live
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital
Juliet Mills as Tabitha Lenox, Passions
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Abbott, The Young and the Restless
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne Lewis, Guiding Light


2006

Winner:
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne Lewis, Guiding Light

Other Nominees:
Bobbie Eakes as Krystal Carey Chandler, All My Children
Beth Ehlers as Harley Cooper, Guiding Light
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful
Kelly Monaco as Sam McCall, General Hospital


2007

Winner:
Maura West as Carly Tenney Snyder, As the World Turns

Other Nominees:
Crystal Chappell as Olivia Spencer, Guiding Light
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Newman, The Young and the Restless
Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne Lewis, Guiding Light


2008

Winner:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless

Other Nominees:
Crystal Chappell as Olivia Spencer, Guiding Light
Nicole Forester as Cassie Winslow Lewis, Guiding Light
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Newman, The Young and the Restless
Maura West as Carly Tenney, As the World Turns


2009

Winner:
Susan Haskell as Marty Saybrooke, One Life to Live

Other Nominees:
Jeanne Cooper as Katherine Chancellor, The Young and the Restless
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful
Debbi Morgan as Angie Hubbard, All My Children
Maura West as Carly Tenney, As the World Turns


2010

Winner:
Maura West as Carly Tenney, As the World Turns

Other Nominees:
Sarah Brown as Claudia Zacchara, General Hospital
Crystal Chappell as Olivia Spencer, Guiding Light
Bobbie Eakes as Krystal Carey, All My Children
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless


2011

Winner:
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos Jacks, General Hospital

Nominees:
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless
Colleen Zenk as Barbara Ryan, As the World Turns
Alicia Minshew as Kendall Slater, All My Children
Debbi Morgan as Angie Hubbard, All My Children


2012

Winner:
Heather Tom as Katie Logan Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Nominees:
Crystal Chappell as Dr. Carly Manning, Days of our Lives
Debbie Morgan as Angie Hubbard, All My Children
Erika Slezak as Viki Lord, One Life to Live
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos Jax, General Hospital


2013

Winner:
Heather Tom as Katie Logan Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Nominees:
Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, The Bold and theBeautiful
Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady, Days of our Lives
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers Newman, The Young and the Restless


2014

Winner:
Eileen Davidson as Kristen DiMera, Days of Our Lives NBC

Nominees:
Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful
Heather Tom as Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful
Arianne Zucker as Nicole Walker, Days of Our Lives


2015

Winner:
Maura West as Ava Jerome, General Hospital ABC

Nominees:
Peggy McCay as Caroline Brady, Days of Our Lives NBC
Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady DiMera, Days of Our Lives NBC
Gina Tognoni as Phyllis Newman, The Young and the Restless CBS
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos, General Hospital ABC


2016

Winner:
Mary Beth Evans as Kayla Brady, Days of Our Lives

Other Nominees:
Tracey E. Bregman as Lauren Fenmore Baldwin, The Young and the Restless
Kassie DePaiva as Eve Larson, Days of Our Lives
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital
Maura West as Ava Jerome/Denise DiMuccio, General Hospital


2017

Winner:
Gina Tognoni, as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless CBS

Other Nominees:
Nancy Lee Grahn, as Alexis Davis, General Hospital ABC
Heather Tom, as Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful CBS
Jess Walton, as Jill Abbott, The Young and the Restless CBS
Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos, General Hospital ABC


2018

Winner:
Eileen Davidson, “Ashley, The Young and the Restless”

Other Nominees:


Nancy Lee Grahn, “Alexis, General Hospital”
Marci Miller, “Abigail, Days of Our Lives”
Maura West, “Ava, General Hospital”
Laura Wright, “Carly, General Hospital”

2019

Winner:
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Marci Miller as Abigail Deveraux DiMera, Days of Our Lives
Heather Tom as Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful
Maura West as Ava Jerome, General Hospital
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos, General Hospital


2020

Winner:
Heather Tom as Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital
Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful
Maura West as Ava Jerome, General Hospital
Arianne Zucker as Nicole Walker, Days of Our Lives


2021

Winner:
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Melissa Claire Egan as Chelsea Lawson, The Young and the Restless
Genie Francis as Laura Collins, General Hospital
Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane/Alex Marick, General Hospital


2022

Winner:
Mishael Morgan as Amanda Sinclair, The Young and the Restless

Other Nominees:
Marci Miller as Abigail DiMera, Days of Our Lives
Cynthia Watros as Nina Reeves, General Hospital
Laura Wright as Carly Corinthos, General Hospital
Arianne Zucker as Nicole Walker, Days of Our Lives


2023

Winner:
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood as Steffy Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful

Other Nominees:
Sharon Case as Sharon Newman, The Young and the Restless
Melissa Claire Egan as Chelsea Lawson, The Young and the Restless
Finola Hughes as Anna Devane, General Hospital)
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless