The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical is awarded to the best actress in a musical, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.
History
The award was not presented in 1947 or 1985. Ken Mandelbaum wrote about the 1985 season: "Things get bad enough musically to require the elimination of the Best Musical Actor and Actress categories, as well as the choreography prize." There have been three ties in this category, in 1958, 1962 and 1968.
In 1965, Liza Minnelli, age 19, became the youngest actress to win the award, a record she still holds today. She is followed by Lea Salonga, age 20, in 1991. In 2017, Bette Midler, age 71, became the oldest actress to win the award, a record she still holds today. She is followed by Victoria Clark, age 63, in 2023.
Winners and nominees
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Notes
Multiple wins
4 Wins
Angela Lansbury
3 Wins
Mary Martin
Gwen Verdon
2 Wins
Lauren Bacall
Victoria Clark
Christine Ebersole
Sutton Foster
Patti LuPone
Liza Minnelli
Donna Murphy
Bernadette Peters
Chita Rivera
Multiple nominations
8 Nominations
Chita Rivera
7 Nominations
Sutton Foster
6 Nominations
Kelli O'Hara
Bernadette Peters
5 Nominations
Patti LuPone
Donna Murphy
Gwen Verdon
4 Nominations
Carol Channing
Angela Lansbury
Mary Martin
3 Nominations
Julie Andrews
Jessie Mueller
Christine Ebersole
Dee Hoty
Dorothy Loudon
Audra McDonald
Ethel Merman
Liza Minnelli
Faith Prince
2 Nominations
Lauren Bacall
Stephanie J. Block
Georgia Brown
Carolee Carmello
Kristin Chenoweth
Victoria Clark
Carmen Cusack
Sandy Duncan
Nanette Fabray
Dolores Gray
Barbara Harris
Judy Kuhn
LaChanze
Beth Leavel
Beatrice Lillie
Rebecca Luker
Marin Mazzie
Patina Miller
Idina Menzel
Eva Noblezada
Laura Osnes
Tonya Pinkins
Alice Ripley
Sherie Rene Scott
Alexis Smith
Elaine Stritch
Inga Swenson
Nancy Walker
Multiple character wins
3 Wins
Anna Leonowens from The King and I
Rose from Gypsy
2 Wins
Desiree Armfeldt from A Little Night Music
Celie Harris Johnson from The Color Purple
Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello, Dolly!
Multiple character nominations
5 Nominations
Rose from Gypsy
4 Nominations
Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd
Peter Pan from Peter Pan and Jerome Robbins' Broadway
3 Nominations
Anna Leonowens from The King and I
Charity Hope Valentine from Sweet Charity
Phyllis Rogers Stone from Follies
2 Nominations
Amalia Balash from She Loves Me
The Baker's Wife from Into the Woods
Bess from Porgy and Bess
Caroline Thibodeaux from Caroline, or Change
Celie Harris Johnson from The Color Purple
Desiree Armfeldt from A Little Night Music
Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello, Dolly! Dot / Marie from Sunday in the Park with George Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady Ella Peterson from Bells Are Ringing Ensign Nellie Forbush from South Pacific Fiona MacLaren from Brigadoon Kim from Miss Saigon Lilli Vanessi / Katharine from Kiss Me, Kate Lily Garland / Mildred Plotka from On the Twentieth Century Lizzie Curry from 110 in the Shade Lucille Frank from Parade Marian Paroo from The Music Man Mother from Ragtime Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes Ruth Sherwood from Wonderful Town Sarah Brown from Guys and Dolls Velma Kelly from Chicago