The Tony Award forBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Playis an honor presented at theTony Awards,a ceremony established in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, to actresses for quality leading roles in aBroadwayplay. The awards are named afterAntoinette Perry,an American actress who died in 1946.
| Tony Awardfor Best Actress in a Play | |
|---|---|
 2024 Recipient:Sarah Paulson | |
| Awarded for | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play |
| Location | New York City |
| Presented by | American Theatre Wing,The Broadway League |
| Currently held by | Sarah PaulsonforAppropriate(2024) |
| Website | TonyAwards.com |
Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the Tony Award Productions, a joint venture ofThe Broadway Leagueand theAmerican Theatre Wing,to "honor the best performances and stage productions of the previous year."[1][2]
The award was originally called theTony Award for Actress—Play.It was first presented toIngrid BergmanandHelen Hayesat the1st Tony Awardsfor their portrayals of Mary Grey /Joan of Arcand Addie Bemis inJoan of LorraineandHappy Birthday,respectively. Before1956,nominees' names were not made public;[3]the change was made by the awards committee to "have a greater impact on theatregoers".[4]
There have been two ties and one three-way tie in this category.Julie Harrisholds the record for having the most wins and nominations in this category, with a total of five wins from nine nominations.Medeainthe play of the same nameis the character to take the award the most times, winning three times.
Winners and nominees
editindicates the winner
1940s
edit| Year | Actress | Play | Role(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 (1st) | ||||
| Ingrid Bergman | Joan of Lorraine | Mary Grey /Joan of Arc | ||
| Helen Hayes | Happy Birthday | Addie Bemis | ||
| 1948 (2nd) | ||||
| Judith Anderson | Medea | Medea | ||
| Katharine Cornell | Antony and Cleopatra | Cleopatra | ||
| Jessica Tandy | A Streetcar Named Desire | Blanche DuBois | ||
| 1949 (3rd) | ||||
| Martita Hunt | The Madwoman of Chaillot | Countess Aurelia |
1950s
edit1960s
edit1970s
edit1980s
edit1990s
edit2000s
edit2010s
edit2020s
edit| Year | Actress | Play | Role(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (74th) | ||||
| Mary-Louise Parker | The Sound Inside | Bella Baird | [69] | |
| Joaquina Kalukango | Slave Play | Kaneisha | ||
| Laura Linney | My Name Is Lucy Barton | Lucy Barton | ||
| Audra McDonald | Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune | Frankie | ||
| 2021 | No ceremony | |||
| 2022 (75th) | ||||
| Deirdre O'Connell | Dana H. | Dana H. | [70] | |
| Gabby Beans | The Skin of Our Teeth | Sabina | ||
| LaChanze | Trouble in Mind | Wiletta Mayer | ||
| Ruth Negga | Macbeth | Lady Macbeth | ||
| Mary-Louise Parker | How I Learned to Drive | Li'l Bit | ||
| 2023 (76th) | ||||
| Jodie Comer | Prima Facie | Tessa Ensler | [71] | |
| Jessica Chastain | A Doll's House | Nora Helmer | ||
| Jessica Hecht | Summer, 1976 | Alice | ||
| Audra McDonald | Ohio State Murders | Suzanne Alexander | ||
| 2024 (77th) | ||||
| Sarah Paulson | Appropriate | Antoinette "Toni" Lafayette | [72] | |
| Betsy Aidem | Prayer for the French Republic | Marcelle Salomon Benhamou | ||
| Jessica Lange | Mother Play | Phyllis | ||
| Rachel McAdams | Mary Jane | Mary Jane | ||
| Amy Ryan | Doubt: A Parable | Sister Aloysius Beauvier | ||
Statistics
editMost wins
edit- 5 wins
- 3 wins
- 2 wins
Most nominations
edit- 9 nominations
- 8 nominations
- 7 nominations
- 6 Nominations
- 5 nominations
- 4 nominations
- Eileen Atkins
- Glenda Jackson
- Linda Lavin
- Margaret Leighton
- Laurie Metcalf
- Estelle Parsons
- Maureen Stapleton
- Jessica Tandy
- Irene Worth
- 3 nominations
- Zoe Caldwell
- Helen Hayes
- Madeline Kahn
- Audra McDonald
- Janet McTeer
- Helen Mirren
- Kate Nelligan
- Geraldine Page
- Lynn Redgrave
- Vanessa Redgrave
- Diana Rigg
- Maggie Smith
- 2 nominations
- Joan Allen
- Nina Arianda
- Elizabeth Ashley
- Jayne Atkinson
- Anne Bancroft
- Barbara Bel Geddes
- Eve Best
- Shirley Booth
- Kate Burton
- Glenn Close
- Gladys Cooper
- Blythe Danner
- Lindsay Duncan
- Jennifer Ehle
- Tovah Feldshuh
- Uta Hagen
- Swoosie Kurtz
- Jessica Lange
- Frances McDormand
- Siobhán McKenna
- Claudia McNeil
- Amy Morton
- Cynthia Nixon
- Amanda Plummer
- Phylicia Rashad
- Mercedes Ruehl
- Marian Seldes
- Kim Stanley
- Kathleen Turner
- Liv Ullmann
Character win total
edit- 3 wins
- 2 wins
- Amanda Prynne fromPrivate Lives
- Annie fromThe Real Thing
- Joan of ArcfromJoan of LorraineandThe Lark
- Mary Tyrone fromLong Day's Journey into Night
- Nora Helmer fromA Doll's HouseandA Doll's House, Part 2
Character nomination total
edit- 5 nominations
- Josie Hogan fromA Moon for the Misbegotten
- 4 nominations
- MedeafromMedea
- Martha fromWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- Nora HelmerfromA Doll's HouseandA Doll's House, Part 2
- 3 nominations
- Amanda Prynne fromPrivate Lives
- BeatricefromMuch Ado About Nothing
- Claire Zachanassian fromThe Visit
- Joan of ArcfromJoan of Lorraine,The LarkandSaint Joan
- Lady MacbethfromMacbeth
- Lena Younger fromA Raisin in the Sun
- Maggie Pollitt fromCat on a Hot Tin Roof
- Mary Tyrone fromLong Day's Journey into Night
- 2 nominations
- Amanda Wingfield fromThe Glass Menagerie
- Anna Christopherson fromAnna Christie
- Annie fromThe Real Thing
- Blanche DuBoisfromA Streetcar Named Desire
- ClairefromA Delicate Balance
- Eleanor of AquitainefromThe Lion in Winter
- Elizabeth IfromVivat! Vivat Regina!andMary Stuart
- Elizabeth ProctorfromThe Crucible
- Emma fromBetrayal
- Emma 'Billie' Dawn fromBorn Yesterday
- Fonsia Dorsey fromThe Gin Game
- Golda MeirfromGoldaandGolda's Balcony
- Heidi Holland fromThe Heidi Chronicles
- Hesione Hushabye fromHeartbreak House
- Josephine fromA Taste of Honey
- Julie Cavendish fromThe Royal Family
- Kyra Hollis fromSkylight
- Lola Delaney fromCome Back, Little Sheba
- PortiafromThe Merchant of Venice
- Princess Cosmonopolis fromSweet Bird of Youth
- Regina Giddens fromThe Little Foxes
- Ruth fromThe Homecoming
- Sarah Melody fromA Touch of the PoetandMore Stately Mansions
- Sarah Norman fromChildren of a Lesser God
- Sheila fromA Day in the Death of Joe Egg
- Sister Aloysius Beauvier fromDoubt
Characters nominated for both theTony Award for Best Actress in a MusicalandTony Award for Best Actress in a Play
- Joan of ArcfromGoodtime Charley,Saint Joan,Joan of LorraineandThe Lark
- Countess Aurelia fromThe Madwoman of ChaillotandDear World
- Sally BowlesfromI Am a CameraandCabaret
- Leona Samish fromThe Time of the CuckooandDo I Hear a Waltz?
- Dolly Gallagher LevifromThe MatchmakerandHello Dolly!
- Lena Younger fromA Raisin in the SunandRaisin
- Mame Dennis fromAuntie MameandMame
- Eliza Gant fromLook Homeward, AngelandAngel
- Claire ZachanassianThe Visit (play)andThe Visit (musical)
- Sister Margaret Alexander fromThe Amen CornerandAmen Corner (musical)
- Eliza DoolittlefromPygmalionandMy Fair Lady
- Lizzie Curry fromThe Rainmakerand110 in the Shade.
- Lily Garland / Mildred Plotka fromTwentieth CenturyandOn the Twentieth Century
- Madame Arcati fromBlithe SpiritandHigh Spirits
- Anna Christopherson fromAnna ChristieandNew Girl in Town
Productions with multiple nominations
editboldface=Winner
- The Chalk Garden–Gladys CooperandSiobhán McKenna
- Toys In The Attic–Maureen StapletonandIrene Worth
- The Killing of Sister George–Beryl ReidandEileen Atkins
- 'night, Mother–Kathy BatesandAnne Pitoniak
- A Streetcar Named Desire–Blythe DannerandFrances McDormand
- The Sisters Rosensweig–Madeline KahnandJane Alexander
- A Delicate Balance–Rosemary HarrisandElaine Stritch
- August: Osage County–Deanna DunaganandAmy Morton
- God of Carnage–Marcia Gay HardenandHope Davis
- Mary Stuart–Janet McTeerandHarriet Walter(God of CarnageandMary Stuartwere produced in the same year)
Multiple awards and nominations
edit- Actresses who have been nominated multiple times in any acting categories
See also
edit
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress
- List of Tony Award-nominated productions
References
edit- ^Kirkley, Donald (April 21, 1968)."Operation Frenzy Before the Tony Awards".The Baltimore Sun.p. T2. Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2012.RetrievedDecember 24,2011.(subscription required)
- ^Gans, Andrew (December 18, 2007)."League of American Theatres and Producers Announces Name Change".Playbill.Archived fromthe originalon December 21, 2007.RetrievedSeptember 13,2013.
- ^Simons, Linda Keir (1994).The Performing Arts: a Guide to the Reference Literature.ABC-CLIO.p. 137.ISBN978-0-87287-982-9.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-06-22.Retrieved2012-01-14.
- ^Gelb, Arthur (April 1, 1956)."Popularizing the Tony Awards".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 14,2011.(subscription required)
- ^"1956 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1957 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1958 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1959 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1960 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1961 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1962 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1963 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1964 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1965 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1966 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1967 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1968 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1969 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1970 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1971 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1972 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1973 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1974 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1975 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1976 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1977 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1978 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1979 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1980 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1981 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1982 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1983 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1984 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1985 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1986 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1987 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1988 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1989 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1990 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1991 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1992 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1993 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1994 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1995 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1996 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1997 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1998 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"1999 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2000 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2001 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2002 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2003 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2004 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2005 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2006 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2007 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2008 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2009 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 11,2023.
- ^"2010 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2011 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2012 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2013 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2014 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"Tony Nominations 2015: Full List".Variety.April 28, 2015.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2016 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2017 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2018 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2019 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2020 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2022 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"2023 Tony Awards Nominees".American Theatre Wing.May 2, 2023.RetrievedAugust 10,2023.
- ^"Sarah Paulson Gives Shout Out to Partner Holland Taylor as She Wins Her First Tony: 'Thank You for Loving Me'".People.RetrievedJune 16,2024.