The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology 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 Limited-run series, 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 (Hallmark Hall of Fame 1954), 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 it has since undergone several name changes, leading to its current title. Since its inception, the award has been given to 54 actresses. Amanda Seyfried is the current recipient of the award, for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes on ''The Dropout''. Helen Mirren has won the most awards in this category, with four, and has received the most nominations for the award, on ten occasions.

Winners and nominations

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Superlatives

Programs with multiple wins

;5 wins * ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' ;2 wins * ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' * ''Prime Suspect'' * ''Producers' Showcase''

Performers with multiple wins

;4 wins * Helen Mirren (2 consecutive) ;3 wins * Patty Duke * Laura Linney ;2 wins * Judith Anderson * Ingrid Bergman * Julie Harris (actress), Julie Harris * Holly Hunter * Regina King * Jessica Lange * Geraldine Page * Gena Rowlands * Meryl Streep * Kate Winslet * Joanne Woodward

Programs with multiple nominations

;9 nominations * ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' ;6 nominations * ''American Horror Story'' * ''Prime Suspect'' ;5 nominations * ''Playhouse 90'' ;4 nominations * ''American Crime (TV series), American Crime'' ;3 nominations * ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' * ''The United States Steel Hour'' ;2 nominations * ''American Crime Story'' * ''Angels in America (miniseries), Angels in America'' * ''Big Little Lies (TV series), Big Little Lies'' * ''Captains and the Kings (miniseries), Captains and the Kings'' * ''CBS Playhouse'' * ''Climax!'' * ''A Cooler Climate'' * ''Dr. Kildare (TV series), Dr. Kildare''* * ''Elizabeth R'' * ''Fargo (TV series), Fargo'' * ''Feud (TV series), Feud'' * ''Grey Gardens (2009 film), Grey Gardens'' * ''Holocaust (miniseries), Holocaust'' * ''Lonesome Dove (miniseries), Lonesome Dove'' * ''Lux Video Theater'' * ''The Miracle Worker (1979 film), The Miracle Worker'' * ''Norma Jean & Marilyn'' * ''The Richard Boone Show'' * ''Roe vs. Wade (film), Roe vs. Wade'' * ''The Snoop Sisters'' * ''Studio One (American TV series), Studio One'' * ''Sybil (1976 film), Sybil'' * ''When They See Us'' * ''Wild Iris (film), Wild Iris''

Performers with multiple nominations

;10 nominations * Helen Mirren ;7 nominations * Judy Davis * Jessica Lange ;6 nominations * Glenn Close * Julie Harris (actress), Julie Harris * Gena Rowlands * Joanne Woodward ;5 nominations * Helen Hayes * Lee Remick ;4 nominations * Jane Alexander * Judith Anderson * Ann-Margret * Katharine Hepburn * Holly Hunter * Elizabeth Montgomery * Sarah Paulson * Eva Marie Saint * Maureen Stapleton * Emma Thompson * Cicely Tyson * Alfre Woodard ;3 nominations * Ingrid Bergman * Judi Dench * Colleen Dewhurst * Patty Duke * Sally Field * Lee Grant * Felicity Huffman * Glenda Jackson * Laura Linney * Mary Tyler Moore * Geraldine Page * Vanessa Redgrave * Maggie Smith * Meryl Streep * Jessica Tandy * Sigourney Weaver ;2 nominations * Halle Berry * Helena Bonham Carter * Carol Burnett * Ellen Burstyn * Stockard Channing * Susan Clark * Laura Dern * Blythe Danner * Bette Davis * Farrah Fawcett * Lynn Fontanne * Rosemary Harris * Barbara Hershey * Anjelica Huston * Ann Jillian * Ashley Judd * Nicole Kidman * Regina King * Diane Lane * Piper Laurie * Cloris Leachman * Jean Marsh * Suzanne Pleshette * Queen Latifah * Susan Sarandon * Jane Seymour (actress), Jane Seymour * Sada Thompson * Claire Trevor * Kerry Washington * JoBeth Williams * Kate Winslet * Shelley Winters * Teresa Wright

References

{{Primetime Emmy Award categories Primetime Emmy Awards, Lead Actress - Miniseries or Movie Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners, Television awards for Best Actress, Emmy Award