Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play was an annual award presented by Drama Desk in recognition of achievements in the theatre across collective Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions in New York City. The award was one of eight new acting awards first presented in 1975, when Drama Desk retired an earlier award that had made no distinction between work in plays and musicals, nor between actors and actresses, nor between lead performers and featured performers.

Drama Desk Award for
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Awarded forOutstanding Actress in a Play
LocationNew York City
CountryUnited States
Presented byDrama Desk
First awarded1975
Last awarded2022
Websitedramadesk.org (defunct)

After the 2022 ceremony, all eight acting categories introduced in 1975 were retired. The award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, along with Outstanding Actor in a Play, were replaced in 2023 with the gender neutral category of Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play.

Winners and nominees

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1970s

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Year Actress Play Character
1975
Ellen Burstyn Same Time, Next Year Doris
Elizabeth Ashley Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Maggie
Female Ensemble Women Behind Bars Female Ensemble
Tovah Feldshuh Yentl Yentl
Rita Moreno The Ritz Googie Gomez
Diana Rigg The Misanthrope Celimene
Maggie Smith Private Lives Amanda Prynne
Liv Ullmann A Doll's House Nora Helmer
1976
Rosemary Harris The Royal Family Julie Cavendish
Fran Brill What Every Woman Knows Maggie Wylie
Tovah Feldshuh Yentl Yentl
Lois Nettleton They Knew What They Wanted Amy
Meryl Streep 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, A Memory of Two Mondays, Secret Service and Trelawny of the 'Wells' Various Characters
1977
Irene Worth The Cherry Orchard Ranevskaya
Trazana Beverley For Colored Girls Lady in Red
Blythe Danner The New York Idea Cynthia Karslake
Cara Duff-MacCormick The Philanderer Julia Craven
Diane Ladd Lu Ann Hampton Laverly Lu Ann Hampton
Sofia Landon Peg o' My Heart Peg
Dorothy McGuire The Night of the Iguana Hannah
1978
Jessica Tandy The Gin Game Fonsia Dorsey
Helen Burns Catsplay Mrs. Bela Orban
Patricia Elliott Tartuffe Dorine
Tammy Grimes Tartuffe Elmire
Carol Mayo Jenkins Zinnia Zinnia
Shirley Knight Landscape of the Body Betty
1979
Constance Cummings Wings Emily Stilson
Carole Shelley The Elephant Man Madge Kendal
Kate Reid Bosoms and Neglect Henny
Frances Sternhagen On Golden Pond Ethel Thayer
Susan Stevens The Price of Genius Unknown

1980s

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Year Actress Play Character
1980
Pat Carroll Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein
Blythe Danner Betrayal Emma
Phyllis Frelich Children of a Lesser God Sarah Norman
Mary Tyler Moore Whose Life Is it Anyway? Claire
Susan Sarandon A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking Maude Mix
1981
Joan Copeland The American Clock Rose Baum
Eva Le Gallienne To Grandmother's House We Go Grandie
Mary Beth Hurt Crimes of the Heart Meg MaGrath
Amanda Plummer A Taste of Honey Josephine
Elizabeth Taylor The Little Foxes Regina Giddens
1982
Zoe Caldwell Medea Medea
Barbara Bryne Entertaining Mr Sloane Kath
Constance Cummings The Chalk Garden Mrs. St. Maugham
Elizabeth Franz Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You Sister Mary Ignatius
Bernadette Peters Sally and Marsha Sally
1983
Jessica Tandy Foxfire Annie Nations
Suzanne Bertish Skirmishes Jean
Colleen Dewhurst Queen and the Rebels Argia
Thuli Dumakude Poppie Nongena Poppie
Christine Estabrook Win/Lose/Draw Various Characters
Susan Sarandon Extremities Marjorie
1984
Joan Allen And a Nightingale Sang Hellen Stott
Rosemary Harris Heartbreak House Hesione Hushabye
Kate Nelligan A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Hogan
Natsuko Ohama Sound and Beauty Woman
Marilyn Rockafellow Open Admissions Ginny Carlsen
Irene Worth The Golden Age Isabel Hastings Hoyt
1985
Rosemary Harris Pack of Lies Barbara Jackson
Stockard Channing A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Sheila
Roxanne Hart Digby Faye
Lynn Redgrave Aren't We All? Mrs. W. Tatham
Elizabeth Wilson Salonika Enid
1986
Lily Tomlin The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Various Characters
Joan Allen The Marriage of Bette and Boo Bette Brennan
Stockard Channing The House of Blue Leaves Bunny Flingus
Judith Ivey Precious Sons Bea
Swoosie Kurtz The House of Blue Leaves Bananas Shaughnessy
Kathryn Pogson Aunt Dan and Lemon Lemon
1987
Linda Lavin Broadway Bound Kate Jerome
Robin Bartlett The Early Girl Jean
Lindsay Duncan Les Liaisons Dangereuses Marquise de Merteuil
Dana Ivey Driving Miss Daisy Daisy Werthan
Amy Madigan The Lucky Spot Sue Jack
Dianne Wiest Hunting Cockroaches Anka
1988
Stockard Channing Woman in Mind Susan
Kathy Bates Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune Frankie
Amy Irving The Road to Mecca Elsa
Glenda Jackson Macbeth Lady Macbeth
E. Katherine Kerr Laughing Wild Woman
Gordana Rashovich Shayna Maidel Luisa
1989
Pauline Collins Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine
Joan Allen The Heidi Chronicles Heidi Holland
Robin Bartlett Reckless Rachel
Colleen Dewhurst Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Cavan Tyrone
Gloria Foster The Forbidden City Miss Molly Hoffenburg
Nancy Marchand The Cocktail Hour Ann

1990s

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Year Actress Play Character
1990
Geraldine James The Merchant of Venice Portia
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Twelfth Night Viola
S. Epatha Merkerson The Piano Lesson Berniece
Mary-Louise Parker Prelude to a Kiss Rita Boyle
1991
Mercedes Ruehl Lost in Yonkers Bella Kurnitz
Stockard Channing Six Degrees of Separation Ouisa Kittredge
Angela Goethals The Good Times Are Killing Me Edna Arkins
Audra Lindley About Time Old Woman
1992
Laura Esterman Marvin's Room Bessie
Jane Alexander The Visit Claire Zachanassian
Glenn Close Death and the Maiden Paulina Salas Escobar
Deborah Hedwall Sight Unseen Patricia
1993
Jane Alexander The Sisters Rosensweig Sara Goode
Juliana Carneiro da Cunha Les Atrides Clytemnestra
Christine Lahti Three Hotels Barbara Hoyle
Debra Monk Redwood Curtain Geneva Riordan
Natasha Richardson Anna Christie Anna Christopherson
1994
Myra Carter Three Tall Women A
Kathleen Chalfant Angels in America: Perestroika Various Characters
Amy Irving Broken Glass Sylvia Gellburg
Diana Rigg Medea Medea
Joan Rivers Sally Marr...and Her Escorts Sally Marr
Harriet Walter Three Birds Alighting on a Field Biddy
1995
Cherry Jones The Heiress Catherine Sloper
Mary Alice Having Our Say Bessie Delany
Stockard Channing Hapgood Mother
Linda Lavin Death Defying Acts Dorothy / Carol
Helen Mirren A Month in the Country Natalia Petrovna
Mercedes Ruehl The Rose Tattoo Serafina Delle Rose
1996
Zoe Caldwell Master Class Maria Callas
Catherine Byrne Molly Sweeney Molly
Uta Hagen Mrs. Klein Mrs. Klein
Lisa Gay Hamilton Valley Song Veronica
Rosemary Harris A Delicate Balance Agnes
Sarah Jessica Parker Sylvia Sylvia
1997
Janet McTeer A Doll's House Nora Helmer
Jayne Atkinson The Skriker The Skriker
Frances Conroy The Rehearsal The Countess
Shirley Knight The Young Man From Atlanta Lily Dale Kidder
Vanessa Redgrave Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra
Lia Williams Skylight Kyra Hollis
1998
Cherry Jones Pride's Crossing Mabel
Edie Falco Side Man Terry
Marie Mullen The Beauty Queen of Leenane Maureen Folan
J. Smith-Cameron As Bees In Honey Drown Alexa
Frances Sternhagen Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Cavan Tyrone
1999
Kathleen Chalfant Wit Vivian Bearing
Judi Dench Amy's View Esme Allen
Lindsay Duncan Ashes to Ashes Rebecca
Elizabeth Franz Death of a Salesman Linda Loman
Swoosie Kurtz The Mineola Twins Myra / Myrna
Zoë Wanamaker Electra Electra

2000s

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Year Actress Play Character
2000
Eileen Heckart The Waverly Gallery Gladys Green
Sinéad Cusack Our Lady of Sligo Mai O'Hara
Linda Lavin The Tale of the Allergist's Wife Marjorie
Claudia Shear Dirty Blonde Jo / Mae West
Lynne Thigpen Jar the Floor Lola
Charlayne Woodard In the Blood Hester, La Negrita
2001
Mary-Louise Parker Proof Catherine
Eileen Atkins The Unexpected Man Woman
Janie Dee Comic Potential Jacie Triplethree
Mary Beth Fisher Boys Get Girl Caroline
Marian Seldes The Play About the Baby The Woman
Lili Taylor The Dead Eye Boy Shirley / Diane
2002
Lindsay Duncan Private Lives Amanda Prynne
Robin Bartlett Everett Beekin Sophie
Anna Paquin The Glory of Living Lisa
Sarah Jessica Parker Wonder of the World Cass
Mercedes Ruehl The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Stevie
Meryl Streep The Seagull Arkadina
2003
Vanessa Redgrave Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Cavan Tyrone
Jayne Atkinson Enchanted April Lotty Wilton
Marylouise Burke Kimberly Akimbo Kimberly
Claire Higgins Vincent in Brixton Ursula Loyler
Dael Orlandersmith Yellowman Alma
Fiona Shaw Medea Medea
2004
Viola Davis Intimate Apparel Esther
Phylicia Rashad A Raisin in the Sun Lena Younger
Eileen Atkins The Retreat from Moscow Alice
Shannon Cochran Bug Agnes White
Lizan Mitchell The Trojan Women Hecuba
J. Smith-Cameron Sarah, Sarah Sarah
2005
Cherry Jones Doubt Sister Aloysius Beauvier
Veanne Cox Last Easter June
Judy Kaye Souvenir Florence Foster Jenkins
Laura Linney Sight Unseen Patricia
Frances Sternhagen Echoes of the War Mrs. Dowey
Kathleen Turner Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha
2006
Lois Smith The Trip to Bountiful Carrie Watts
Margaret Colin Defiance Margaret
Cherry Jones Faith Healer Grace
Jennifer Jason Leigh Abigail's Party Beverly
Jan Maxwell Entertaining Mr Sloane Kath
Julie White The Little Dog Laughed Diane
2007
Eve Best A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Hogan
Orlagh Cassidy The Field Maimie Flanagan
Blythe Danner Suddenly, Last Summer Mrs. Venable
Jennifer Mudge Dutchman Lula
Sandra Oh Satellites Nina
Annie Parisse The Internationalist Sara
Meryl Streep Mother Courage and Her Children Mother Courage
2008
Deanna Dunagan August: Osage County Violet Weston
Sinéad Cusack Rock 'n' Roll Eleanor / Esme
Frances McDormand The Country Girl Georgie Elgin
Amy Morton August: Osage County Barbara Weston Fordham
Fiona Shaw Happy Days Winnie
Julie White From Up Here Grace
2009
Janet McTeer Mary Stuart Mary Stuart
Saidah Arrika Ekulona Ruined Mama Nadi
Jane Fonda 33 Variations Katherine Brandt
Marcia Gay Harden God of Carnage Veronica
Elizabeth Marvel Fifty Words Jan
Jan Maxwell Scenes from an Execution Galactia

2010s

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Year Actress Play Character
2010
Jan Maxwell The Royal Family Julie Cavendish
Ayesha Antoine My Wonderful Day Winnie Barnstairs
Melissa Errico Candida Candida
Anne Hathaway Twelfth Night Viola
Kristen Johnston So Help Me God! Lily Darnley
Laura Linney Time Stands Still Sarah Goodwin
2011
Frances McDormand Good People Margie Walsh
Nina Arianda Born Yesterday Emma 'Billie' Dawn
Stockard Channing Other Desert Cities Polly Wyeth
Laurie Metcalf The Other Place Juliana Smithton
Michele Pawk A Small Fire Emily Bridges
Lily Rabe The Merchant of Venice Portia
2012
Tracie Bennett End of the Rainbow Judy Garland
Sanaa Lathan By the Way, Meet Vera Stark Vera Stark
Linda Lavin The Lyons Rita Lyons
Jennifer Lim Chinglish Xi Yan
Kim Martin-Cotten A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Hogan
Carey Mulligan Through a Glass Darkly Karin
Joely Richardson Side Effects Lindy
2013
Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful Carrie Watts
Maria Dizzia Belleville Abby
Amy Morton Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha
Julia Murney Falling Tami
Vanessa Redgrave The Revisionist Maria
Miriam Silverman Finks Natalie
2014
Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday
Barbara Andres I Remember Mama Mama
Tyne Daly Mothers and Sons Katharine Gerard
Laurie Metcalf Domesticated Judy Pulver
J. Smith-Cameron Juno and the Paycock Juno Boyle
Harriet Walter Julius Caesar Brutus
2015
Helen Mirren The Audience Queen Elizabeth II
Brooke Bloom You Got Older Mae
Kathleen Chalfant A Walk in the Woods Irina Botvinnik
Kristin Griffith The Fatal Weakness Ollie Espenshade
Jan Maxwell The City of Conversation Hester Ferris
Carey Mulligan Skylight Kyra Holis
Tonya Pinkins Rasheeda Speaking Jaclyn Spaulding
2016
Jessica Lange Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Tyrone
Georgia Engel John Mertis
Mamie Gummer Ugly Lies the Bone Jess
Marin Ireland Ironbound Darja
Nicola Walker A View from the Bridge Beatrice Carbone
2017
Laura Linney The Little Foxes Regina Giddens
Cate Blanchett The Present Anna Petrovna
Laurie Metcalf A Doll's House, Part 2 Nora
Amy Ryan Love, Love, Love Sandra
Harriet Walter The Tempest Prospero
2018
Glenda Jackson Three Tall Women A
Carrie Coon Mary Jane Mary Jane
Denise Gough People, Places and Things Emma
Laurie Metcalf Three Tall Women B
Billie Piper Yerma Her
2019
Elaine May The Waverly Gallery Gladys
Midori Francis Usual Girls Kyeoung
Zainab Jah Boesman and Lena Lena
Laurie Metcalf Hillary and Clinton Hillary Clinton
Heidi Schreck What the Constitution Means to Me Heidi

2020s

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Year Actress Play Character
2020
Liza Colón-Zayas Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Sarge
Rose Byrne Medea Medea
Emily Davis Is This a Room Reality Winner
April Matthis Toni Stone Toni Stone
Ruth Negga Hamlet Hamlet
2021 No awards: New York theatres shuttered, March 2020 to September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City[1]
2022
Phylicia Rashad Skeleton Crew Faye
Tala Ashe English Elham
Ruth Negga Macbeth Lady Macbeth
Andrea Patterson Cullud Wattah Ainee
Shannon Tyo The Chinese Lady Afong Moy
Michelle Wilson Confederates Sandra

Multiple wins

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3 wins
2 wins

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Evans, Greg (2021-05-05). "Broadway To Reopen Sept. 14, Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Broadway League "Cautiously Optimistic"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
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