Year
Nominees
Program(s)
Network
Ref
1988
Catherine Wilkin
Rafferty's Rules
Seven Network
[2]
1989
Joan Sydney
A Country Practice
Seven Network
[3]
1990
Nicole Kidman
Bangkok Hilton
Network Ten
[4]
1991
Rebecca Gibney
Snowy
Nine Network
[5]
1992
Josephine Byrnes
Brides of Christ
ABC TV
1993
Ruth Cracknell
Mother and Son
ABC TV
1994
Ruth Cracknell
Mother and Son
ABC TV
[6]
1995
Monica Maughan
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
ABC TV
1996
Jacqueline McKenzie
Halifax f.p.
Nine Network
1997
Alison Whyte
Frontline
ABC TV
1998
Catherine McClements
Water Rats
Nine Network
[7]
Rachael Blake
Wildside
ABC TV
Rebecca Gibney
Halifax f.p.
Nine Network
Kangaroo Palace
Seven Network
Alison Whyte
Good Guys, Bad Guys
Nine Network
1999
Sigrid Thornton
SeaChange
ABC TV
[8]
Rachael Blake
Wildside
ABC TV
Rebecca Gibney
Halifax f.p.: Afraid of the Dark
Nine Network
The Day of the Roses
Network Ten
Caroline Goodall
A Difficult Woman
Claudia Karvan
The Violent Earth
2000
Sigrid Thornton
SeaChange
ABC TV
[9]
Kerry Armstrong
SeaChange
ABC TV
Rebecca Gibney
Halifax f.p.
Nine Network
Catherine McClements
Water Rats
Nine Network
2001
Kerry Armstrong
SeaChange
ABC TV
[10]
Georgie Parker
All Saints
Seven Network
Libby Tanner
All Saints
Seven Network
Sigrid Thornton
SeaChange
ABC TV
2002
Deborah Mailman
The Secret Life of Us
Network Ten
[11]
Kate Beahan
Love Is a Four Letter Word
ABC TV
Claudia Karvan
The Secret Life of Us
Network Ten
Georgie Parker
All Saints
Seven Network
Libby Tanner
All Saints
Seven Network
2003
Claudia Karvan
The Secret Life of Us
Network Ten
[12]
Kerry Armstrong
MDA
ABC TV
Deborah Mailman
The Secret Life of Us
Network Ten
Freya Stafford
White Collar Blue
Network Ten
Juliet Stevenson
The Road From Coorain
ABC TV
2004
Deborah Mailman
The Secret Life of Us
Network Ten
[13]
Bridie Carter
McLeod's Daughters
Nine Network
Claudia Karvan
The Secret Life Of Us
Network Ten
Kate Kendall
Stingers
Nine Network
Angie Milliken
The Shark Net
ABC TV
2005
Miranda Otto
Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story
Seven Network
[14]
Rebecca Gibney
Small Claims
Network Ten
Claudia Karvan
Love My Way
Fox8
Asher Keddie
Love My Way
Fox8
Leeanna Walsman
Jessica
Network Ten
2006
Claudia Karvan
Love My Way
Fox8
[15]
Justine Clarke
The Surgeon
Network Ten
Romola Garai
The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant
Network Ten
Asher Keddie
Love My Way
Fox8
Lisa McCune
Hell Has Harbour Views
ABC TV
2007
Susie Porter
RAN Remote Area Nurse
SBS TV
[16]
Daniella Farinacci
The Society Murders
Network Ten
Claudia Karvan
Love My Way
W. Channel
Asher Keddie
Love My Way
W. Channel
Judith McGrath
All Saints
Seven Network
2008
Alison Whyte
Satisfaction
Showcase
[17]
Diana Glenn
Satisfaction
Showcase
Claudia Karvan
Love My Way
Showtime
Asher Keddie
Love My Way
Showtime
Victoria Thaine
Rain Shadow
ABC1
2009
Kat Stewart
Underbelly
Nine Network
[18]
Julia Blake
Bed of Roses
ABC1
Claire van der Boom
Rush
Network Ten
Rebecca Gibney
Packed to the Rafters
Seven Network
Madeleine West
Satisfaction
Showcase
2010
Claudia Karvan
Saved
SBS TV
[19]
Justine Clarke
Tangle
Showcase
Asher Keddie
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Nine Network
Susie Porter
East West 101
SBS TV
Kat Stewart
Tangle
Showcase
2011
Claire van der Boom
Sisters of War
ABC1
[20]
Justine Clarke
Tangle
Showcase
Asher Keddie
Offspring
Network Ten
Catherine McClements
Rush
Network Ten
Kat Stewart
Offspring
Network Ten
2012
Melissa George
The Slap
ABC1
[21]
Essie Davis
The Slap
ABC1
Diana Glenn
Killing Time
TV1
Asher Keddie
Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
ABC1
Kat Stewart
Offspring
Network Ten
2013
Deborah Mailman
Mabo
ABC1
[22]
Catherine McClements
Tangle
Showcase
Mandy McElhinney
Howzat! Kerry Packer's War
Nine Network
Susie Porter
Dangerous Remedy
ABC1
Leah Purcell
Redfern Now
ABC1
2014
Asher Keddie
Offspring
Network Ten
[23]
Danielle Cormack
Wentworth
SoHo
Claudia Karvan
The Time of Our Lives
ABC1
Mandy McElhinney
Paper Giants: Magazine Wars
ABC1
Kat Stewart
Offspring
Network Ten
2015
Danielle Cormack
Wentworth
SoHo
[24]
Marta Dusseldorp
Janet King
ABC
Jessica Marais
Carlotta
ABC
Denise Roberts
Schapelle
Nine Network
Nicole da Silva
Wentworth
SoHo
2016
Deborah Mailman
Redfern Now: Promise Me
ABC
[25]
Essie Davis
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
ABC
Mandy McElhinney
House of Hancock
Nine Network
Pamela Rabe
Wentworth
SoHo
Sarah Snook
The Beautiful Lie
ABC
2017
Anna Torv
Secret City
Showcase
[26]
Danielle Cormack
Wentworth
Showcase
Elizabeth Debicki
The Kettering Incident
Showcase
Marta Dusseldorp
Janet King
ABC
Jessica Marais
Love Child
Nine Network
Yael Stone
Deep Water
SBS
2018
Pamela Rabe
Wentworth
Showcase
Elisabeth Moss
Top of the Lake: China Girl
BBC First
Kate Atkinson
Wentworth
Showcase
Kate Box
Riot
ABC
Leeanna Walsman
Safe Harbour
SBS
2019
Jenna Coleman
The Cry
ABC
Danielle Cormack
Secret City: Under The Eagle
Foxtel
Judy Davis
Mystery Road
ABC
Leah Purcell
Wentworth
Foxtel
Nicole Chamoun
On The Ropes
SBS