| | 1979: Rosemary Harris, Holocaust |
| | 1980: Natalie Wood, From here to Eternity |
| | 1981: Yoko Shimada, Shogun |
| | 1982: Linda Evans, Dynasty, Barbara Bel Geddes, Dallas |
| | 1983: Joan Collins, Dynasty |
| | 1984: Jane Wyman, Falcon Crest |
| | 1985: Angela Lansbury, Murder, She Wrote |
| | 1986: Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey |
| | 1987: Angela Lansbury, Murder, She Wrote |
| | 1988: Susan Dey, L.A. Law |
| | 1989: Jill Eikenberry, L.A. Law |
| | 1990: Angela Lansbury, Murder, She Wrote |
| | 1991: Sharon Gless, The Trials Of Rosie O'Neill; Patricia Wettig, thirtysomething |
| | 1992: Angela Lansbury, Murder, She Wrote |
| | 1993: Regina Taylor, I'll Fly Away |
| | 1994: Kathy Baker, Picket Fences |
| | 1995: Claire Danes, My So-Called Life |
| | 1996: Jane Seymour, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman |
| | 1997: Gillian Anderson, The X-Files |
| | 1998: Christine Lahti, Chicago Hope |
| | 1999: Keri Russell, Felicity |
| | 2000: Edie Falco, The Sopranos |
| | 2001: Sela Ward, Once and Again |
| | 2002: Jennifer Garner, Alias |
| | 2003: Edie Falco, The Sopranos |
| | 2004: Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under |
| | 2005: Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |
| | 2006: Geena Davis, Commander In Chief |
| | 2007: Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer |