Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television explained

Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
Awarded For:Best performance of the year by a female in a leading role in a genre television series
Presenter:Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
Country:United States
Year:1996
Holder:Caitríona Balfe for Outlander (2022/2023)

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.)

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

1990s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia ChristianBabylon 5SyndicatedSusan Ivanova
Melissa Joan HartSabrina, The Teenage WitchABCSabrina Spellman
Lucy LawlessSyndicatedXena
Helen ShaverShowtimeDr. Rachel Corrigan
Megan WardDark SkiesNBCKimberly Sayers
Kate MulgrewUPNKathryn Janeway
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBBuffy Summers
Jeri RyanStar Trek: VoyagerUPNSeven of Nine
Ally WalkerProfilerNBCSamantha Waters
Peta WilsonLa Femme NikitaUSA NetworkNikita
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBBuffy Summers
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia ChristianBabylon 5TNTSusan Ivanova
Shannen DohertyCharmedThe WBPrue Halliwell
Kate MulgrewStar Trek: VoyagerUPNKathryn Janeway
Jeri RyanSeven of Nine
Margaret ColinNow and AgainCBSLisa Wiseman
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia BlackFarscapeSci-FiAeryn Sun
Shannen DohertyCharmedThe WBPrue Halliwell
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerBuffy Summers
Kate MulgrewStar Trek: VoyagerUPNKathryn Janeway

2000s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
Jessica AlbaDark AngelFoxMax Guevara
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Claudia BlackFarscapeSci-FiAeryn Sun
Charisma CarpenterAngelThe WBCordelia Chase
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerBuffy Summers
Kate MulgrewUPNKathryn Janeway
Yancy ButlerWitchbladeTNTSara Pezzini
Jessica AlbaDark AngelFoxMax Guevara
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesDana Scully
Claudia BlackFarscapeSci-FiAeryn Sun
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBBuffy Summers
Kristin KreukSmallvilleLana Lang
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Emily BerglTakenSci-FiLisa Clarke
Claudia BlackFarscapeAeryn Sun
Charisma CarpenterAngelThe WBCordelia Chase
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerUPNBuffy Summers
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
Amber TamblynJoan of ArcadiaCBSJoan Girardi
Eliza DushkuTru CallingFoxTru Davies
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Sarah Michelle GellarBuffy the Vampire SlayerUPNBuffy Summers
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
Ellen MuthDead Like MeShowtimeGeorgia Lass
Claudia BlackSci-FiAeryn Sun
Kristen BellVeronica MarsUPNVeronica Mars
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Anne HecheThe Dead Will TellCBSEmily Parker
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Amber TamblynJoan of ArcadiaCBSJoan Girardi
Kristen BellVeronica MarsUPNVeronica Mars
Patricia ArquetteMediumNBCAllison DuBois
Jennifer GarnerAliasABCSydney Bristow
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Kristin KreukSmallvilleThe WBLana Lang
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Patricia ArquetteMediumNBCAllison DuBois
Kristen BellVeronica MarsThe CWVeronica Mars
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Katee SackhoffBattlestar GalacticaSci-FiKara Thrace
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Anna FrielPushing DaisiesABCCharlotte Charles
Lena HeadeyFoxSarah Connor
Holly HunterSaving GraceTNTGrace Hanadarko
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Mary McDonnellBattlestar GalacticaSci-FiLaura Roslin
Lena HeadeyTerminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesFoxSarah Connor
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Anna PaquinTrue BloodHBOSookie Stackhouse
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Anna GunnBreaking BadAMCSkyler White
Jennifer Love HewittGhost WhispererCBSMelinda Gordon
Evangeline LillyLostABCKate Austen
Anna PaquinTrue BloodHBOSookie Stackhouse
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson

2010s

YearActressTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Sarah Wayne CalliesThe Walking DeadAMCLori Grimes
Erica DuranceSmallvilleThe CWLois Lane
Elizabeth MitchellVABCErica Evans
Anna PaquinTrue BloodHBOSookie Stackhouse
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Mireille EnosThe KillingAMCSarah Linden
Lena HeadeyGame of ThronesHBOCersei Lannister
Jessica LangeAmerican Horror StoryFXConstance Langdon
Eve MylesTorchwoodStarzGwen Cooper
Kyra SedgwickThe CloserTNTBrenda Leigh Johnson
Anna TorvFringeFoxOlivia Dunham
Moon BloodgoodFalling SkiesTNTAnne Glass
Mireille EnosThe KillingAMCSarah Linden
Sarah PaulsonFXLana Winters
Charlotte RileyWorld Without EndReelzCaris Wooler
Tracy SpiridakosRevolutionNBCCharlotte Matheson
Vera FarmigaBates MotelA&ENorma Louise Bates
Jennifer CarpenterDexterShowtimeDebra Morgan
Anna GunnBreaking BadAMCSkyler White
Jessica LangeFXFiona Goode
Rachel NicholsContinuumSyfyKiera Cameron
Keri RussellThe AmericansFXElizabeth Jennings
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Hayley AtwellMarvel's Agent CarterABCPeggy Carter
Vera FarmigaBates MotelA&ENorma Louise Bates
Jessica LangeFXElsa Mars
Rachel NicholsContinuumSyfyKiera Cameron
Rebecca RomijnThe LibrariansTNTEve Baird
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxDana Scully
Melissa BenoistSupergirlCBSKara Danvers / Supergirl
Kim DickensFear the Walking DeadAMCMadison Clark
Rachel NicholsContinuumSyfyKiera Cameron
Krysten RitterMarvel's Jessica JonesNetflixJessica Jones
Rebecca RomijnThe LibrariansTNTEve Baird
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Kim DickensFear the Walking DeadAMCMadison Clark
Vera FarmigaBates MotelA&ENorma Louise Bates
Lena HeadeyGame of ThronesHBOCersei Lannister
Sarah PaulsonFXAudrey Tindall, Shelby Miller and Lana Winters
Winona RyderStranger ThingsNetflixJoyce Byers
Sonequa Martin-GreenCBS All AccessMichael Burnham
Gillian AndersonThe X-FilesFoxFBI Special Agent Dana Scully
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Lena HeadeyGame of ThronesHBOCersei Lannister
Adrianne PalickiThe OrvilleFoxCommander Kelly Grayson
Sarah PaulsonFXAlly Mayfair-Richards and Susan Atkins
Mary Elizabeth WinsteadFargoNikki Swango
Emilia ClarkeGame of ThronesHBODaenerys Targaryen
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Sandra OhKilling EveBBC AmericaEve Polastri
Adrianne PalickiThe OrvilleFoxCommander Kelly Grayson
Candice PattonThe FlashThe CWIris West
Jodie WhittakerDoctor WhoBBC AmericaThe Doctor
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Randall
Melissa BenoistSupergirlThe CWKara Danvers / Supergirl
Regina KingWatchmenHBOAngela Abar / Sister Night
Sonequa Martin-GreenStar Trek: DiscoveryCBS All AccessMichael Burnham
Thandiwe NewtonWestworldHBOMaeve Millay
Candice PattonThe FlashThe CWIris West
Rhea SeehornBetter Call SaulAMCKim Wexler

2020s

YearActorTelevision ProgramNetworkCharacter
Network/Cable
Rhea SeehornBetter Call SaulAMCKim Wexler
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Fraser
Kylie BunburyBig SkyABCCassie Dewell
Courteney CoxShining ValeStarzPat Phelps
Melanie LynskeyYellowjacketsShowtimeShauna
Rose McIverGhostsCBSSamantha Arondekar
Elizabeth TullochSuperman & LoisThe CWLois Lane
Streaming
Ming-Na WenThe Book of Boba FettDisney+Fennec Shand
Millie Bobby BrownStranger ThingsNetflixEleven
Britt LowerSeveranceApple TV+Helly
Erin MoriartyThe BoysAmazon Prime VideoAnnie January
Elizabeth OlsenWandaVisionDisney+Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch
Beth RiesgrafAmazon FreeveeParker
Kate SiegelMidnight MassNetflixErin Greene
Caitríona BalfeOutlanderStarzClaire Fraser
Lauren CohanAMCMaggie Rhee
Emma D'ArcyHouse of the DragonHBORhaenyra Targaryen
Rebecca FergusonSiloApple TV+Juliette Nichols
Tatiana MaslanyDisney+Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk
Rose McIverGhostsCBSSamantha Arondekar
Elizabeth TullochSuperman & LoisThe CWLois Lane

Multiple nominations

8 nominations
7 nominations
6 nominations
5 nominations
4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

Multiple wins

4 wins
2 wins

See also

External links