Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series

It was given annually from 1985 to 2019 to honor a young actress below the age of 25, who had delivered an outstanding performance in a role while working within the daytime drama industry.

[1] The award was originally called Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series, the criteria of the new category were deemed confusing, performers of differing ages were nominated, and critics argued some were of supporting or lead actress standards.

The category was renamed Outstanding Juvenile Female in a Drama Series in 1989, and began using its current title in 1991.

[5] In 2012, Christel Khalil became the first African-American and woman of color to have garnered the award, winning for her role as Lily Winters on The Young and the Restless.

At the 2019 ceremony, Hayley Erin became the last awarded actress in this category, for her role as Kiki Jerome on General Hospital.

Photo of Martha Byrne at the ATWT farewell event in Hilversum (Holland)
Martha Byrne was nominated five time, and won once, in 1987, for her role as Lily Walsh on As the World Turns .
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Jane Krakowski was nominated twice for her role as T. R. Kendall on Search for Tomorrow .
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Robin Wright was nominated three times for her role as Kelly Capwell on Santa Barbara .
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Julianne Moore won in 1988, for her role as Frannie Hughes and Sabrina Hughes on As the World Turns .
Photo of Actress Cady McClain at the 2014 Daytime Emmy® Awards Nominees Cocktail Reception
Cady McClain was nominated twice, and won in 1990, for her role as Dixie Cooney on All My Children .
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Charlotte Ross received two nominations for her role as Eve Donovan on Days of Our Lives .
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Anne Heche was nominated twice, and won in 1991, for her role as Marley Hudson and Vicky Hudson on Another World .
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Tricia Cast was nominated twice, and won in 1992, for her role as Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless .
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Sarah Michelle Gellar was nominated twice, and won in 1995, for her role as Kendall Hart on All My Children .
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Sharon Case garnered two nominations (1996 and 1997) for her portrayal of Sharon Newman on The Young and the Restless .
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Ashley Jones was nominated twice for her role as Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless .
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Eden Riegel was nominated four times, and won in 2005, for her role as Bianca Montgomery on All My Children .
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Emily O'Brien received three nominations (2008, 2009, and 2011) for her role as Jana Hawkes Fisher on The Young and the Restless .
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Shelley Hennig received two nominations (2010 and 2012) for her role as Stephanie Johnson on Days of Our Lives .
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Brittany Allen won in 2011 for her role as Marissa Chandler on All My Children .
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Jacqueline MacInnes Wood received two nominations for her role as Steffy Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful .
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Jennifer Finnigan is one of the actresses who has received the most wins in this category, winning three times for her role as Bridget Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful .
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Heather Tom has received the most nominations in this category, with a total of eight, for her role as Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless .