Country United States Currently held by Sarah Paulson | First awarded 1955 Instituted 1955 Category of Primetime Emmy Award | |
Awarded for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Presented by Academy of Television Arts & Sciences People also search for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Winners & Nominees Sarah PaulsonThe People v O J Simpson: American Crime Story - Season 1, Sarah Paulson, Winner, Kirsten DunstFargo, Kirsten Dunst, Nominee, Audra McDonaldLady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Audra McDonald, Nominee, Kerry WashingtonConfirmation, Kerry Washington, Nominee, Felicity HuffmanAmerican Crime, Felicity Huffman, Nominee, Lili TaylorAmerican Crime, Lili Taylor, Nominee, Frances McDormandOlive Kitteridge, Frances McDormand, Winner, Queen LatifahBessie, Queen Latifah, Nominee, Felicity HuffmanAmerican Crime, Felicity Huffman, Nominee, Emma ThompsonLive from Lincoln Center, Emma Thompson, Nominee, Jessica LangeAmerican Horror Story, Jessica Lange, Nominee, Maggie GyllenhaalThe Honourable Woman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nominee, Jessica LangeAmerican Horror Story, Jessica Lange, Winner, Kristen WiigThe Spoils of Babylon, Kristen Wiig, Nominee, Minnie DriverReturn To Zero, Minnie Driver, Nominee, Cicely TysonThe Trip to Bountiful, Cicely Tyson, Nominee, Helena Bonham CarterBurton & Taylor, Helena Bonham Carter, Nominee, Sarah PaulsonAmerican Horror Story, Sarah Paulson, Nominee, Laura LinneyThe Big C, Laura Linney, Winner, Sigourney WeaverPolitical Animals, Sigourney Weaver, Nominee, Helen MirrenPhil Spector, Helen Mirren, Nominee, Jessica LangeAmerican Horror Story, Jessica Lange, Nominee, Elisabeth MossTop of the Lake, Elisabeth Moss, Nominee, Julianne MooreGame Change, Julianne Moore, Winner, Ashley JuddMissing, Ashley Judd, Nominee, Emma ThompsonThe Song of Lunch, Emma Thompson, Nominee, Connie BrittonAmerican Horror Story, Connie Britton, Nominee, Nicole KidmanHemingway & Gellhorn, Nicole Kidman, Nominee | ||
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role on a television limited series or television movie for the primetime network season.
The award was first presented at the 7th Primetime Emmy Awards on March 7, 1955 to Judith Anderson for her performance as Lady Macbeth on the Hallmark Hall of Fame episode "Macbeth". It has undergone several name changes, with the category split into two categories at the 25th Primetime Emmy Awards—Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. By the 31st Primetime Emmy Awards, the categories were merged into one, and has since undergone several name changes, leading to its current title.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 52 actresses. Sarah Paulson is the current recipient of the award for her portrayal of Marcia Clark on The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Helen Mirren has won the most awards in this category with four and has received the most nominated for the award on ten occasions, the most within the category.
Winners and nominees
Listed below are the winners of the award for each year, as well as the other nominees.