Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest starring role on a television drama series for the primetime network season.

It has undergone several name changes, originally honoring single leading and supporting appearances in drama and comedy series through 1978.

The award was re-introduced at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards under the name Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series, honoring actors and actresses in guest starring roles on television drama series.

Patricia Clarkson, Cherry Jones, Shirley Knight, Margo Martindale, Amanda Plummer, and Alfre Woodard have won the most awards in this category, with two each.

Meanwhile, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit holds the most awardees, with 5 winners coming from the show.

Zohra Lampert was the first recipient in the category, winning for her performance in Kojak .
Beulah Bondi won in 1977 for her lead guest-starring role in The Waltons .
Olivia Cole won for her portrayal of Mathilda in Roots .
Rita Moreno won the award for her leading guest appearance in The Rockford Files .
Blanche Baker won in this category for her role in the miniseries Holocaust .
Shirley Knight won the award twice for her guest appearances in thirtysomething and NYPD Blue .
Kay Lenz won for her appearance in the Midnight Caller episode " After It Happened " (1989).
Peggy McCay won for her guest role as Irene Hayes in The Trials of Rosie O'Neill .
Elaine Stritch won the award for her guest appearance in Law & Order .
Faye Dunaway won in 1994 for her role in Columbo: It's All in the Game .
Dianne Wiest won the award for her performance in the Road to Avonlea episode "Woman of Importance".
Veronica Cartwright received three consecutive nominations in this category for her appearances on ER and The X-Files .
Debra Monk won the award in 1999 for her guest performance on NYPD Blue as Katie Sipowicz.
Sally Field won an award from two nominations for her performance in ER .
Out of four nominations, Alfre Woodard won two awards for her guest-starring roles in L.A. Law and The Practice .
Sharon Stone won in 2004 for her role as Sheila Carlisle in The Practice .
Patricia Clarkson received two awards for her portrayal of Sarah O'Connor in Six Feet Under .
Leslie Caron won for her guest appearance on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Recall".
Out of three nominations, Ellen Burstyn won in 2009 for her guest role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .
Lily Tomlin received two nominations in the category for her appearances in Homicide: Life on the Streets and Damages .
Loretta Devine won the 2011 award for her role as Adele Webber in Grey's Anatomy .
Carrie Preston won for her guest performance on The Good Wife .
Allison Janney won the award for her role as Margaret Scully in Masters of Sex .
Margo Martindale received two consecutive awards in the category for her performance in The Americans .
Cherry Jones received two consecutive awards in the category for two different programs: The Handmaid's Tale and Succession , respectively.
Claire Foy won for her guest performance on The Crown .