| | 1982: Jane Seymour, East of Eden |
| | 1983: Ingrid Bergman, A Woman Called Golda |
| | 1984: Ann-Margret, Who Will Love My Children |
| | 1985: Ann-Margret, A Streetcar Named Desire |
| | 1986: Liza Minnelli, A Time to Live |
| | 1987: Loretta Young, Christmas Eve |
| | 1988: Gena Rowlands, The Betty Ford Story |
| | 1989: Ann Jillian, The Ann Jillian Story |
| | 1990: Christine Lahti, No Place Like Home |
| | 1991: Barbara Hershey, A Killing in a Small Town |
| | 1992: Judy Davis, One Against the Wind |
| | 1993: Laura Dern, Afterburn |
| | 1994: Bette Midler, Gypsy |
| | 1995: Joanne Woodward, Breathing Lessons |
| | 1996: Jessica Lange, A Streetcar Named Desire |
| | 1997: Helen Mirren, Losing Chase |
| | 1998: Alfre Woodard, Miss Evers' Boys |
| | 1999: Angelina Jolie, Gia |
| | 2000: Halle Berry, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge |
| | 2001: Judi Dench, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells |
| | 2002: Judy Davis, Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows |
| | 2003: Uma Thurman, Hysterical Blindness |
| | 2004: Meryl Streep, Angels in America |
| | 2005: Glenn Close, The Lion in Winter |
| | 2006: S. Epatha Merkerson, Lackawanna Blues |
| | 2007: Helen Mirren, Elizabeth I |