| | 1980-1981: Barbara Babcock, Hill Street Blues (NBC) |
| | 1981-1982: Michael Learned, Nurse (CBS) |
| | 1982-1983: Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1983-1984: Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1984-1985: Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1985-1986: Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1986-1987: Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1987-1988: Tyne Daly, Cagney & Lacey (CBS) |
| | 1988-1989: Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| | 1989-1990: Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething (ABC) |
| | 1990-1991: Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething (ABC) |
| | 1991-1992: Dana Delany, China Beach (ABC) |
| | 1992-1993: Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| | 1993-1994: Sela Ward, Sisters (NBC |
| | 1994-1995: Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| | 1995-1996: Kathy Baker, Picket Fences (CBS) |
| | 1996-1997: Gillian Anderson, The X-Files (FOX) |
| | 1997-1998: Christine Lahti, Chicago Hope (CBS) |
| | 1998-1999: Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 1999-2000: Sela Ward, Once and Again (ABC) |
| | 2000-2001: Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 2001-2002: Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| | 2002-2003: Edie Falco, The Sopranos (HBO) |
| | 2003-2004: Allison Janney, The West Wing (NBC) |
| | 2004-2005: Patricia Arquette, Medium (NBC) |
| | 2005-2006: Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) |