Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie is an award presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role on a television limited series or television movie for the primetime network season.

Primetime Emmy Award
The 2023 recipient: Niecy Nash-Betts
Awarded forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences
First awarded1975
Currently held byNiecy Nash-Betts,
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2023)
Websiteemmys.com

The award was first presented at the 27th Primetime Emmy Awards on May 19, 1975, to Juliet Mills, for her role as Samantha Cody in QB VII. The award ceremony garnered criticism during the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, when Ellen Burstyn received a nomination for her work in Mrs. Harris (2005), despite having only 14 seconds of screen time and 38 words of dialogue.[1] This resulted in a rule change, requiring nominees submitting for the category to have more than 5% screen-time on their respective projects.[1]

Since its inception, the award has been given to 38 actresses. Regina King, Jane Alexander, Judy Davis, Colleen Dewhurst, and Mare Winningham have each won two awards. Kathy Bates is the most nominated actress in the category, with seven nominations.

Winners and nominations

1970s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special
1975
(27th)
[2][3]
Juliet MillsSamantha CadyQB VIIABC
Eileen HeckartHerman's MotherWedding BandABC
Charlotte RaeHelenQueen of the Stardust Ballroom
Lee RemickLady MargaretQB VII
1976
(28th)
[4]
Rosemary MurphySara Delano RooseveltEleanor and FranklinABC
Lois NettletonNan ClaybourneFear on TrialCBS
Lilia SkalaMlle. SouvestreEleanor and FranklinABC
Irene TedrowMary Hall
1977
(29th)
[5]
Diana Hyland (posthumously)Mickey LubitchThe Boy in the Plastic BubbleABC
Ruth GordonCecilia WeissThe Great HoudiniABC
Rosemary MurphySara RooseveltEleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
Patricia NealSen. Margaret Chase SmithTail Gunner JoeNBC
Susan OliverNeta "Snookie" SnookAmelia Earhart
1978
(30th)
[6]
Eva Le GallienneFanny CavendishThe Royal FamilyPBS
Tyne DalyKaren RenshawIntimate StrangersABC
Patty DukeWendyA Family Upside DownNBC
Mariette HartleyClare GardinerThe Last Hurrah
Cloris LeachmanClara OddbodyIt Happened One ChristmasABC
Viveca LindforsDr. RosenA Question of GuiltCBS
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special
1979
(31st)
[7]
Esther RolleRuthSummer of My German SoldierNBC
Ruby DeeQueen HaleyRoots: The Next GenerationsABC
Colleen DewhurstMrs. O'NeilSilent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil StoryCBS
Eileen HeckartEleanor RooseveltBackstairs at the White HouseNBC
Celeste HolmFlorence Harding

1980s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special
1980
(32nd)
[8]
Mare WinninghamMarlene BurkhardtAmber WavesABC
Eileen HeckartEleanor RooseveltF.D.R.: The Last YearNBC
Patricia NealMrs. BaumerAll Quiet on the Western FrontCBS
Carrie NyeTallulah BankheadMoviola: The Scarlett O'Hara WarNBC
1981
(33rd)
[9]
Jane AlexanderAlma RosePlaying for TimeCBS
Colleen DewhurstValThe Women's RoomABC
Patty DukeLily
Shirley KnightFrau Lagerfuhrerin Maria MandelPlaying for TimeCBS
Piper LaurieMagda GoebbelsThe Bunker
1982
(34th)
[10]
Penny FullerMrs. KendalThe Elephant ManABC
Claire BloomLady MarchmainBrideshead RevisitedPBS
Judy DavisYoung Golda MeirA Woman Called GoldaSyndicated
Vicki LawrenceThelma "Mama" HarperEuniceCBS
Rita MorenoRosella DeLeonPortrait of a Showgirl
1983
(35th)
[11]
Jean SimmonsFee ClearyThe Thorn BirdsABC
Judith AndersonNurseKennedy Center Tonight: MedeaPBS
Polly BergenRhoda HenryThe Winds of WarABC
Bette DavisAlice Gwynne VanderbiltLittle Gloria... Happy at LastNBC
Piper LaurieAnne MuellerThe Thorn BirdsABC
1984
(36th)
[12]
Roxana ZalAmelia BennettSomething About AmeliaABC
Beverly D'AngeloStella DuBois KowalskiA Streetcar Named DesireABC
Patty DukeMartha WashingtonGeorge WashingtonCBS
Cloris LeachmanMary KovacsErnie Kovacs: Between the LaughterABC
Tuesday WeldMargie Young-HuntThe Winter of Our DiscontentCBS
1985
(37th)
[13]
Kim StanleyBig MamaCat on a Hot Tin RoofPBS
Penny FullerMaeCat on a Hot Tin RoofPBS
Ann JillianNellie ByfieldEllis IslandCBS
Deborah KerrEmma HarteA Woman of SubstanceOPT
Alfre WoodardClaudie SillsWonderWorks: Words by HeartPBS
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special
1986
(38th)
[14]
Colleen DewhurstBarbara PethertonBetween Two WomenABC
Phyllis FrelichJanice RyderLove Is Never SilentNBC
Dorothy McGuireHester FarrellAmosCBS
Vanessa RedgraveTsarevna SophiaPeter the GreatNBC
Sylvia SidneyBeatrice McKennaAn Early Frost
1987
(39th)
[15]
Piper LaurieAnnie GilbertPromiseCBS
Claudette ColbertAlice GrenvilleThe Two Mrs. GrenvillesNBC
Olivia de HavillandDowager Empress MariaAnastasia: The Mystery of Anna
Christine LahtiAlthea MilfordAmerikaABC
Elizabeth WilsonBerenice BradshawNutcracker: Money, Madness and MurderNBC
1988
(40th)
[16]
Jane SeymourMaria CallasOnassis: The Richest Man in the WorldABC
Stockard ChanningSusan ReinertEchoes in the DarknessCBS
Ruby DeeElizabeth KeckleyLincolnNBC
Julie HarrisAliceThe Woman He LovedCBS
Lisa JacobsAnne FrankThe Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
1989
(41st)
[17]
Colleen DewhurstMargaret PageThose She Left BehindNBC
Peggy AshcroftMiss DuberA Perfect SpyPBS
Polly BergenRhoda HenryWar and RemembranceABC
Glenne HeadlyElmira JohnsonLonesome DoveCBS
Paula KellyTheresaThe Women of Brewster PlaceABC

1990s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special
1990
(42nd)
[18]
Eva Marie SaintLil Van Degan AltemusPeople Like UsNBC
Stockard ChanningLiz SappersteinPerfect WitnessHBO
Colleen DewhurstHepzibahLantern HillDisney
Swoosie KurtzJoanne Winstow-DarvishThe ImageHBO
Irene WorthDolly KeelingThe Shell SeekersABC
1991
(43rd)
[19]
Ruby DeeRowenaDecoration DayNBC
Olympia DukakisKatherine CampbellLucky DayABC
Vanessa RedgraveEmpress ElizabethYoung CatherineTNT
Doris RobertsMimi FinklesteinThe Sunset GangPBS
Elaine StritchRoseAn Inconvenient WomanABC
1992
(44th)
[20]
Amanda PlummerLusiaMiss Rose WhiteNBC
Anne BancroftKate JeromeBroadway BoundABC
Bibi BeschLisa CarterDoing Time on Maple DriveFox
Penny FullerMiss Kate RyanMiss Rose WhiteNBC
Maureen StapletonTanta Perla
1993
(45th)
[21]
Mary Tyler MooreGeorgia TannStolen BabiesLifetime
Ann-MargretSally JacksonAlex Haley's QueenCBS
Lee GrantDora CohnCitizen CohnHBO
Peggy McCayVirginia BembenekWoman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek StoryNBC
Joan PlowrightOlgaStalinHBO
1994
(46th)
[22]
Cicely TysonCastaliaOldest Living Confederate Widow Tells AllCBS
Anne BancroftLucy Marsden (age 99–100)Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells AllCBS
Swoosie KurtzMrs. JohnstoneAnd the Band Played OnHBO
Lee PurcellAnn TheilmanSecret Sins of the FatherNBC
Lily TomlinDr. Selma DritzAnd the Band Played OnHBO
1995
(47th)
[23]
Judy DavisDianeServing in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer StoryNBC
Shirley KnightPeggy BuckeyIndictment: The McMartin TrialHBO
Sônia BragaRegina de CarvalhoThe Burning SeasonHBO
Sissy SpacekSpring RenfroThe Good Old BoysTNT
Sada ThompsonVirginia McMartinIndictment: The McMartin TrialHBO
1996
(48th)
[24]
Greta ScacchiTsarina AlexandraRasputinHBO
Kathy BatesHelen KushnickThe Late ShiftHBO
Diana ScarwidBess TrumanTruman
Mare WinninghamSheilaThe Boys Next DoorCBS
Alfre WoodardQueen of BrobdingnagGulliver's TravelsNBC
1997
(49th)
[25]
Diana RiggMrs. DanversRebeccaPBS
Kirstie AlleyRose Marie ClericuzioThe Last DonCBS
Bridget FondaAnneIn the GloamingHBO
Glenne HeadlyAunt RuthBastard Out of CarolinaShowtime
Frances McDormandGusHidden in America
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
1998
(50th)
[26]
Mare WinninghamLurleen WallaceGeorge WallaceTNT
Helena Bonham CarterMorgan le FayMerlinNBC
Julie HarrisLeonora NelsonEllen FosterCBS
Judith IveyLucilleWhat the Deaf Man Heard
Angelina JolieCornelia WallaceGeorge WallaceTNT
1999
(51st)
[27]
Anne BancroftGerry Eileen CumminsDeep in My HeartCBS
Jacqueline BissetIsabelle d'ArcJoan of ArcCBS
Olympia DukakisMother Babette
Bebe NeuwirthDorothy ParkerDash and LillyA&E
Cicely TysonTante LouA Lesson Before DyingHBO
Dianne WiestSarah McClellanThe Simple Life of Noah DearbornCBS

2000s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
2000
(52nd)
[28]
Vanessa RedgraveEdith TreeIf These Walls Could Talk 2HBO
Kathy BatesAgatha HanniganAnnieABC
Elizabeth FranzLinda LomanDeath of a SalesmanShowtime
Melanie GriffithMarion DaviesRKO 281HBO
Maggie SmithBetsey TrotwoodDavid CopperfieldPBS
2001
(53rd)
[29]
Tammy BlanchardYoung Judy GarlandLife with Judy Garland: Me and My ShadowsABC
Anne BancroftMama GruberHavenCBS
Brenda BlethynAuguste Van PelsAnne Frank: The Whole StoryABC
Holly HunterRebecca WaynonThings You Can Tell Just by Looking at HerShowtime
Audra McDonaldSusie MonahanWitHBO
2002
(54th)
[30]
Stockard ChanningJudy ShepardThe Matthew Shepard StoryNBC
Joan AllenMorgauseThe Mists of AvalonTNT
Anjelica HustonViviane
Diana RiggBaroness LehzenVictoria and AlbertA&E
Sissy SpacekZelda FitzgeraldLast CallShowtime
2003
(55th)
[31]
Gena RowlandsVirginia MillerHysterical BlindnessHBO
Kathy BakerGladys SullivanDoor to DoorTNT
Anne BancroftContessaThe Roman Spring of Mrs. StoneShowtime
Juliette LewisBeth TocyznskiHysterical BlindnessHBO
Helen MirrenMrs. PorterDoor to DoorTNT
2004
(56th)
[32]
Mary-Louise ParkerHarper PittAngels in AmericaHBO
Julie AndrewsNannyEloise at ChristmastimeABC
Anne HecheRowena LarsonGracie's ChoiceLifetime
Anjelica HustonCarrie Chapman CattIron Jawed AngelsHBO
Angela LansburyDoraThe Blackwater LightshipCBS
2005
(57th)
[33]
Jane AlexanderSara RooseveltWarm SpringsHBO
Kathy BatesHelena MahoneyWarm SpringsHBO
Camryn ManheimGladys PresleyElvisCBS
Charlize TheronBritt EklandThe Life and Death of Peter SellersHBO
Joanne WoodwardFrancine WhitingEmpire Falls
2006
(58th)
[34]
Kelly MacdonaldGinaThe Girl in the CaféHBO
Ellen BurstynGerda StedmanMrs. HarrisHBO
Shirley JonesAunt BattyHidden PlacesHallmark
Cloris LeachmanPearl SchwartzMrs. HarrisHBO
Alfre WoodardMrs. BrownThe Water Is WideCBS
2007
(59th)
[35]
Judy DavisJoan McAllisterThe Starter WifeUSA
Toni ColletteKathy GrahamTsunami: The AftermathHBO
Samantha MortonMyra HindleyLongford
Anna PaquinElaine GoodaleBury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Greta ScacchiMrs. Nola JohnsBroken TrailAMC
2008
(60th)
[36]
Eileen AtkinsDeborah JenkynsCranfordPBS
Laura DernKatherine HarrisRecountHBO
Ashley JensenMaggie JacobsExtras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Audra McDonaldRuth YoungerA Raisin in the SunABC
Alfre WoodardEdna ReillyPictures of Hollis WoodsCBS
2009
(61st)
[37]
Shohreh AghdashlooSajida Khairallah TalfahHouse of SaddamHBO
Marcia Gay HardenJanina KrzyżanowskaThe Courageous Heart of Irena SendlerCBS
Janet McTeerClementine ChurchillInto the StormHBO
Jeanne TripplehornJacqueline Kennedy OnassisGrey Gardens
Cicely TysonPearlRelative StrangerHallmark

2010s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
2010
(62nd)
[38]
Julia OrmondEustacia GrandinTemple GrandinHBO
Kathy BatesThe Queen of HeartsAliceSyfy
Catherine O'HaraAunt AnnTemple GrandinHBO
Susan SarandonJanet GoodYou Don't Know Jack
Brenda VaccaroMargo Janus
2011
(63rd)
[39]
Maggie SmithViolet CrawleyDownton AbbeyPBS
Eileen AtkinsMaud, Lady HollandUpstairs, DownstairsPBS
Melissa LeoLucy GesslerMildred PierceHBO
Mare WinninghamIda Corwin
Evan Rachel WoodVeda Pierce
2012
(64th)
[40]
Jessica LangeConstance LangdonAmerican Horror StoryFX
Frances ConroyMoira O'HaraAmerican Horror StoryFX
Judy DavisJill TankardPage EightPBS
Sarah PaulsonNicolle WallaceGame ChangeHBO
Mare WinninghamSally McCoyHatfields & McCoysHistory
2013
(65th)
[41]
Ellen BurstynMargaret BarrishPolitical AnimalsUSA
Sarah PaulsonLana WintersAmerican Horror Story: AsylumFX
Charlotte RamplingSally Gilmartin / Eva DelectorskayaRestlessSundance
Imelda StauntonAlma RevilleThe GirlHBO
Alfre WoodardLouisa "Ouiser" BoudreauxSteel MagnoliasLifetime
2014
(66th)
[42]
Kathy BatesDelphine LaLaurieAmerican Horror Story: CovenFX
Angela BassettMarie LaveauAmerican Horror Story: CovenFX
Ellen BurstynOlivia FoxworthFlowers in the AtticLifetime
Frances ConroyMyrtle SnowAmerican Horror Story: CovenFX
Julia RobertsDr. Emma BrooknerThe Normal HeartHBO
Allison TolmanMolly SolversonFargoFX
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
2015
(67th)
[43]
Regina KingAliyah ShadeedAmerican CrimeABC
Angela BassettDesiree DupreeAmerican Horror Story: Freak ShowFX
Kathy BatesEthel Darling
Zoe KazanDenise ThibodeauOlive KitteridgeHBO
Mo'NiqueMa RaineyBessie
Sarah PaulsonBette and Dot TattlerAmerican Horror Story: Freak ShowFX
2016
(68th)
[44]
Regina KingTerri LaCroixAmerican CrimeABC
Kathy BatesIrisAmerican Horror Story: HotelFX
Olivia ColmanAngela BurrThe Night ManagerAMC
Melissa LeoLady Bird JohnsonAll the WayHBO
Sarah PaulsonHypodermic Sally / Billie Dean HowardAmerican Horror Story: HotelFX
Jean SmartFloyd GerhardtFargo
2017
(69th)
[45]
Laura DernRenata KleinBig Little LiesHBO
Judy DavisHedda HopperFeud: Bette and JoanFX
Jackie HoffmanMamacita
Regina KingKimara WaltersAmerican CrimeABC
Michelle PfeifferRuth MadoffThe Wizard of LiesHBO
Shailene WoodleyJane ChapmanBig Little Lies
2018
(70th)
[46]
Merritt WeverMary Agnes McNueGodlessNetflix
Sara BareillesMary MagdaleneJesus Christ Superstar Live in ConcertNBC
Penélope CruzDonatella VersaceThe Assassination of Gianni VersaceFX
Judith LightMarilyn Miglin
Adina PorterBeverly HopeAmerican Horror Story: Cult
Letitia WrightNish LeighBlack Museum (Black Mirror)Netflix
2019
(71st)
[47]
Patricia ArquetteDee Dee BlanchardThe ActHulu
Marsha Stephanie BlakeLinda McCrayWhen They See UsNetflix
Patricia ClarksonAdora CrellinSharp ObjectsHBO
Vera FarmigaElizabeth LedererWhen They See UsNetflix
Margaret QualleyAnn ReinkingFosse/VerdonFX
Emily WatsonUlana KhomyukChernobylHBO

2020s

YearActressRoleProgramNetwork
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
2020
(72nd)
[48]
Uzo Aduba Shirley ChisholmMrs. AmericaFX
Toni ColletteDetective Grace RasmussenUnbelievableNetflix
Margo MartindaleBella AbzugMrs. AmericaFX
Jean SmartAgent Laurie BlakeWatchmenHBO
Holland TaylorEllen KincaidHollywoodNetflix
Tracey UllmanBetty FriedanMrs. AmericaFX
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
2021
(73rd)
[49]
Julianne NicholsonLori RossMare of EasttownHBO
Renée Elise GoldsberryAngelica SchuylerHamiltonDisney+
Kathryn HahnAgatha HarknessWandaVision
Moses IngramJoleneThe Queen's GambitNetflix
Jean SmartHelen FaheyMare of EasttownHBO
Phillipa SooEliza HamiltonHamiltonDisney+
2022
(74th)
[50]
Jennifer CoolidgeTanya McQuoidThe White LotusHBO
Connie BrittonNicole MossbacherThe White LotusHBO
Alexandra DaddarioRachel Patton
Kaitlyn DeverBetsy MallumDopesickHulu
Natasha RothwellBelinda LindseyThe White LotusHBO
Sydney SweeneyOlivia Mossbacher
Mare WinninghamDiane MallumDopesickHulu
2023
(75th)
[51]
Niecy Nash-BettsGlenda ClevelandDahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryNetflix
Annaleigh AshfordIreneWelcome to ChippendalesHulu
Maria BelloJordan ForsterBeefNetflix
Claire DanesRachel FleishmanFleishman Is in TroubleFX
Juliette LewisDeniseWelcome to ChippendalesHulu
Camila MorroneCamila AlvarezDaisy Jones & the SixPrime Video
Merritt WeverFrankie PierceTiny Beautiful ThingsHulu

Programs with multiple wins

2 wins

Programs with multiple nominations

Performers with multiple wins

2 wins

Performers with multiple nominations

See also

References