Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television

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.)

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
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
First awarded1996
Currently held byCaitríona Balfe for Outlander (2022/2023)
Websitewww.saturnawards.org
Anna Torv has won the award four times, more than any other actress.

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

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1990s

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Year Actress Television Program Network Character
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 Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer The WB Buffy Summers
Jeri Ryan Star Trek: Voyager UPN Seven of Nine
Ally Walker Profiler NBC Samantha Waters
Peta Wilson La Femme Nikita USA Network Nikita
1998
(25th)
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer The WB Buffy Summers
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Claudia Christian Babylon 5 TNT Susan Ivanova
Shannen Doherty Charmed The WB Prue Halliwell
Kate Mulgrew Star Trek: Voyager UPN Kathryn Janeway
Jeri Ryan Seven of Nine
1999
(26th)
Margaret Colin Now and Again CBS Lisa Wiseman
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox Dana Scully
Claudia Black Farscape Sci-Fi Aeryn Sun
Shannen Doherty Charmed The WB Prue Halliwell
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy Summers
Kate Mulgrew Star Trek: Voyager UPN Kathryn Janeway

2000s

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Year Actress Television Program Network Character
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 Alba Dark Angel Fox Max Guevara
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully
Claudia Black Farscape Sci-Fi Aeryn Sun
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer The WB Buffy Summers
Kristin Kreuk Smallville Lana Lang
2002
(29th)
Jennifer Garner Alias ABC Sydney Bristow
Emily Bergl Taken Sci-Fi Lisa Clarke
Claudia Black Farscape Aeryn Sun
Charisma Carpenter Angel The WB Cordelia Chase
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer UPN Buffy Summers
Kristin Kreuk Smallville The WB Lana Lang
2003
(30th)
Amber Tamblyn Joan of Arcadia CBS Joan Girardi
Eliza Dushku Tru Calling Fox Tru Davies
Jennifer Garner Alias ABC Sydney Bristow
Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer UPN Buffy Summers
Kristin Kreuk Smallville The WB Lana Lang
Ellen Muth Dead Like Me Showtime Georgia Lass
2004
(31st)
Claudia Black Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars Sci-Fi Aeryn Sun
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars UPN Veronica Mars
Jennifer Garner Alias ABC Sydney Bristow
Anne Heche The Dead Will Tell CBS Emily Parker
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Amber Tamblyn Joan of Arcadia CBS Joan Girardi
2005
(32nd)
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars UPN Veronica Mars
Patricia Arquette Medium NBC Allison DuBois
Jennifer Garner Alias ABC Sydney Bristow
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Kristin Kreuk Smallville The WB Lana Lang
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
2006
(33rd)
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Patricia Arquette Medium NBC Allison DuBois
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars The CW Veronica Mars
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Katee Sackhoff Battlestar Galactica Sci-Fi Kara Thrace
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
2007
(34th)
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Anna Friel Pushing Daisies ABC Charlotte Charles
Lena Headey Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Fox Sarah Connor
Holly Hunter Saving Grace TNT Grace Hanadarko
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
2008
(35th)
Mary McDonnell Battlestar Galactica Sci-Fi Laura Roslin
Lena Headey Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Fox Sarah Connor
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Anna Paquin True Blood HBO Sookie Stackhouse
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
Anna Torv Fringe Fox Olivia Dunham
2009
(36th)
Anna Torv Fringe Fox Olivia Dunham
Anna Gunn Breaking Bad AMC Skyler White
Jennifer Love Hewitt Ghost Whisperer CBS Melinda Gordon
Evangeline Lilly Lost ABC Kate Austen
Anna Paquin True Blood HBO Sookie Stackhouse
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson

2010s

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Year Actress Television Program Network Character
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 Torv Fringe Fox Olivia 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 Sedgwick The Closer TNT Brenda Leigh Johnson
2012
(39th)
Anna Torv Fringe Fox Olivia Dunham
Moon Bloodgood Falling Skies TNT Anne Glass
Mireille Enos The Killing AMC Sarah 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 Farmiga Bates Motel A&E Norma Louise Bates
Jessica Lange American Horror Story: Freak Show FX Elsa Mars
Rachel Nichols Continuum Syfy Kiera Cameron
Rebecca Romijn The Librarians TNT Eve Baird
2015
(42nd)
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire 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 Nichols Continuum Syfy Kiera Cameron
Krysten Ritter Marvel's Jessica Jones Netflix Jessica Jones
Rebecca Romijn The Librarians TNT Eve Baird
2016
(43rd)
Melissa Benoist Supergirl The CW Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Randall
Kim Dickens Fear the Walking Dead AMC Madison Clark
Vera Farmiga Bates Motel A&E Norma Louise Bates
Lena Headey Game of Thrones HBO Cersei Lannister
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Roanoke FX Audrey Tindall, Shelby Miller and Lana Winters
Winona Ryder Stranger Things Netflix Joyce Byers
2017
(44th)
Sonequa Martin-Green Star Trek: Discovery CBS All Access Michael Burnham
Gillian Anderson The X-Files Fox FBI Special Agent Dana Scully
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Randall
Melissa Benoist Supergirl The CW Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Lena Headey Game of Thrones HBO Cersei Lannister
Adrianne Palicki The Orville Fox Commander Kelly Grayson
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Cult FX Ally Mayfair-Richards and Susan Atkins
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Fargo Nikki Swango
2018/2019
(45th)
Emilia Clarke Game of Thrones HBO Daenerys Targaryen
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Randall
Melissa Benoist Supergirl The CW Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Sandra Oh Killing Eve BBC America Eve Polastri
Adrianne Palicki The Orville Fox Commander Kelly Grayson
Candice Patton The Flash The CW Iris West
Jodie Whittaker Doctor Who BBC America The Doctor
2019–
2020
(46th)
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire Randall
Melissa Benoist Supergirl The CW Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Regina King Watchmen HBO Angela Abar / Sister Night
Sonequa Martin-Green Star Trek: Discovery CBS All Access Michael Burnham
Thandiwe Newton Westworld HBO Maeve Millay
Candice Patton The Flash The CW Iris West
Rhea Seehorn Better Call Saul AMC Kim Wexler

2020s

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Year Actor Television Program Network Character
2021/2022
(50th)
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 Starz Pat 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 Netflix Erin Greene
2022/2023
(51st)
Caitríona Balfe Outlander Starz Claire 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 McIver Ghosts CBS Samantha Arondekar
Elizabeth Tulloch Superman & Lois The CW Lois Lane

Multiple nominations

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8 nominations
  • Gillian Anderson
7 nominations
  • Caitríona Balfe
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar
6 nominations
  • Evangeline Lilly
  • Kyra Sedgwick
5 nominations
  • Melissa Benoist
  • Claudia Black
  • Lena Headey
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt
  • Anna Torv
4 nominations
  • Jennifer Garner
  • Kristin Kreuk
  • Kate Mulgrew
3 nominations
  • Kristen Bell
  • Vera Farmiga
  • Jessica Lange
  • Rachel Nichols
  • Anna Paquin
  • Sarah Paulson
2 nominations
  • Jessica Alba
  • Patricia Arquette
  • Charisma Carpenter
  • Claudia Christian
  • Kim Dickens
  • Shannen Doherty
  • Mireille Enos
  • Anna Gunn
  • Sonequa Martin-Green
  • Adrianne Palicki
  • Candice Patton
  • Rebecca Romijn
  • Jeri Ryan
  • Rhea Seehorn
  • Amber Tamblyn

Multiple wins

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4 wins
  • Caitríona Balfe (2 consecutive)
  • Anna Torv (consecutive)
2 wins
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt (consecutive)

See also

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