Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television

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Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
Awarded forBest performance of the year by a female in a leading role in a genre television series
Country United States
Presented byAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
First awarded 1996
Currently held by Caitríona Balfe for Outlander (2022/2023)
Website www.saturnawards.org
Anna Torv has won the award four times, more than any other actress. 20120713 Anna Torv @ Comic-con cropped.jpg
Anna Torv has won the award four times, more than any other actress.

The following is a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Actress on Television. The award is presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, honoring the work of actresses in science fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction on television. The winners are listed in bold (NOTE: Year refers to year of eligibility, the actual ceremonies are held the following year.)

Contents

As of the 47th Saturn Awards in 2022, the award is known as Best Actress in a Network or Cable Television Series and features a sister category: Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Streaming Television Series.

Winners and nominees

1990s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
1996
(23rd)
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Claudia Christian Babylon 5 Syndicated Susan Ivanova
Melissa Joan Hart Sabrina, The Teenage Witch ABC Sabrina Spellman
Lucy Lawless Xena: Warrior Princess Syndicated Xena
Helen Shaver Poltergeist: The Legacy Showtime Dr. Rachel Corrigan
Megan Ward Dark Skies NBC Kimberly Sayers
1997
(24th)
Kate Mulgrew Star Trek: Voyager UPN Kathryn Janeway
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer The WB Buffy Summers
Jeri Ryan Star Trek: VoyagerUPN Seven of Nine
Ally Walker Profiler NBCSamantha Waters
Peta Wilson La Femme Nikita USA Network Nikita
1998
(25th)
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBBuffy Summers
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia ChristianBabylon 5 TNT Susan Ivanova
Shannen Doherty Charmed The WB Prue Halliwell
Kate MulgrewStar Trek: VoyagerUPNKathryn Janeway
Jeri RyanSeven of Nine
1999
(26th)
Margaret Colin Now and Again CBS Lisa Wiseman
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia Black Farscape Sci-Fi Aeryn Sun
Shannen DohertyCharmedThe WBPrue Halliwell
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerBuffy Summers
Kate MulgrewStar Trek: VoyagerUPNKathryn Janeway

2000s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
2000
(27th)
Jessica Alba Dark Angel Fox Max Guevara
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Claudia Black Farscape Sci-Fi Aeryn Sun
Charisma Carpenter Angel The WB Cordelia Chase
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy Summers
Kate Mulgrew Star Trek: Voyager UPN Kathryn Janeway
2001
(28th)
Yancy Butler Witchblade TNT Sara Pezzini
Jessica AlbaDark AngelFoxMax Guevara
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesDana Scully
Claudia BlackFarscapeSci-FiAeryn Sun
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBBuffy Summers
Kristin Kreuk Smallville Lana Lang
2002
(29th)
Jennifer Garner Alias ABC Sydney Bristow
Emily Bergl Taken Sci-FiLisa Clarke
Claudia BlackFarscapeAeryn Sun
Charisma CarpenterAngelThe WBCordelia Chase
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerUPNBuffy Summers
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
2003
(30th)
Amber Tamblyn Joan of Arcadia CBS Joan Girardi
Eliza Dushku Tru Calling FoxTru Davies
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerUPNBuffy Summers
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
Ellen Muth Dead Like Me Showtime Georgia Lass
2004
(31st)
Claudia Black Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars Sci-FiAeryn Sun
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars UPN Veronica Mars
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Anne Heche The Dead Will TellCBSEmily Parker
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Amber TamblynJoan of ArcadiaCBSJoan Girardi
2005
(32nd)
Kristen BellVeronica MarsUPNVeronica Mars
Patricia Arquette Medium NBC Allison DuBois
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
2006
(33rd)
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Patricia ArquetteMediumNBCAllison DuBois
Kristen BellVeronica Mars The CW Veronica Mars
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Katee Sackhoff Battlestar Galactica Sci-Fi Kara Thrace
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
2007
(34th)
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Anna Friel Pushing Daisies ABCCharlotte Charles
Lena Headey Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Fox Sarah Connor
Holly Hunter Saving Grace TNTGrace Hanadarko
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
2008
(35th)
Mary McDonnell Battlestar GalacticaSci-Fi Laura Roslin
Lena HeadeyTerminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesFoxSarah Connor
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Anna Paquin True Blood HBO Sookie Stackhouse
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Anna Torv Fringe Fox Olivia Dunham
2009
(36th)
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Anna Gunn Breaking Bad AMC Skyler White
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Anna PaquinTrue BloodHBOSookie Stackhouse
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson

2010s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
2010
(37th)
Anna Torv Fringe Fox Olivia Dunham
Sarah Wayne Callies The Walking Dead AMC Lori Grimes
Erica Durance Smallville The CW Lois Lane
Elizabeth Mitchell V ABC Erica Evans
Anna Paquin True Blood HBO Sookie Stackhouse
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
2011
(38th)
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Mireille Enos The Killing AMC Sarah Linden
Lena Headey Game of Thrones HBO Cersei Lannister
Jessica Lange American Horror Story FX Constance Langdon
Eve Myles Torchwood Starz Gwen Cooper
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
2012
(39th)
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Moon Bloodgood Falling Skies TNT Anne Glass
Mireille EnosThe KillingAMCSarah Linden
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Asylum FX Lana Winters
Charlotte Riley World Without End Reelz Caris Wooler
Tracy Spiridakos Revolution NBC Charlotte Matheson
2013
(40th)
Vera Farmiga Bates Motel A&E Norma Louise Bates
Jennifer Carpenter Dexter Showtime Debra Morgan
Anna Gunn Breaking Bad AMC Skyler White
Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Coven FX Fiona Goode
Rachel Nichols Continuum Syfy Kiera Cameron
Keri Russell The Americans FX Elizabeth Jennings
2014
(41st)
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Randall
Hayley Atwell Marvel's Agent Carter ABC Peggy Carter
Vera FarmigaBates MotelA&ENorma Louise Bates
Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Freak Show FX Elsa Mars
Rachel NicholsContinuumSyfyKiera Cameron
Rebecca Romijn The Librarians TNTEve Baird
2015
(42nd)
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Melissa Benoist Supergirl CBS Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Kim Dickens Fear the Walking Dead AMC Madison Clark
Rachel NicholsContinuumSyfyKiera Cameron
Krysten Ritter Marvel's Jessica Jones Netflix Jessica Jones
Rebecca RomijnThe LibrariansTNTEve Baird
2016
(43rd)
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Kim DickensFear the Walking DeadAMCMadison Clark
Vera FarmigaBates MotelA&ENorma Louise Bates
Lena HeadeyGame of ThronesHBOCersei Lannister
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Roanoke FXAudrey Tindall, Shelby Miller and Lana Winters
Winona Ryder Stranger Things NetflixJoyce Byers
2017
(44th)
Sonequa Martin-Green Star Trek: Discovery CBS All Access Michael Burnham
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxFBI Special Agent Dana Scully
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Lena HeadeyGame of ThronesHBOCersei Lannister
Adrianne Palicki The Orville FoxCommander Kelly Grayson
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Cult FX Ally Mayfair-Richards and Susan Atkins
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Fargo Nikki Swango
2018
(45th)
Emilia Clarke Game of ThronesHBO Daenerys Targaryen
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Sandra Oh Killing Eve BBC America Eve Polastri
Adrianne PalickiThe OrvilleFoxCommander Kelly Grayson
Candice Patton The Flash The CW Iris West
Jodie Whittaker Doctor Who BBC America The Doctor
2019–
2020
(46th)
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Regina King Watchmen HBOAngela Abar / Sister Night
Sonequa Martin-GreenStar Trek: DiscoveryCBS All AccessMichael Burnham
Thandiwe Newton Westworld HBO Maeve Millay
Candice PattonThe FlashThe CWIris West
Rhea Seehorn Better Call Saul AMC Kim Wexler

2020s

YearActorTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
2021/2022
(47th)
Network/Cable
Rhea Seehorn Better Call Saul AMC Kim Wexler
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Fraser
Kylie Bunbury Big Sky ABC Cassie Dewell
Courteney Cox Shining Vale StarzPat Phelps
Melanie Lynskey Yellowjackets Showtime Shauna
Rose McIver Ghosts CBS Samantha Arondekar
Elizabeth Tulloch Superman & Lois The CW Lois Lane
Streaming
Ming-Na Wen The Book of Boba Fett Disney+ Fennec Shand
Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things Netflix Eleven
Britt Lower Severance Apple TV+ Helly
Erin Moriarty The Boys Amazon Prime Video Annie January
Elizabeth Olsen WandaVision Disney+ Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch
Beth Riesgraf Leverage: Redemption Amazon Freevee Parker
Kate Siegel Midnight Mass NetflixErin Greene
2022/2023
(51st)
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Fraser
Lauren Cohan The Walking Dead: Dead City AMC Maggie Rhee
Emma D'Arcy House of the Dragon HBO Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rebecca Ferguson Silo Apple TV+Juliette Nichols
Tatiana Maslany She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Disney+ Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk
Rose McIverGhostsCBSSamantha Arondekar
Elizabeth TullochSuperman & LoisThe CWLois Lane

Multiple nominations

8 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

Multiple wins

4 wins
2 wins

See also

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