The AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The AACTA is a non-profit organisation, whose aim is to "identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television".
The award is presented annually at the AACTA Awards, which hands out accolades for achievements in feature films, television, documentaries, and short films. From 1971 to 2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards). When the AFI launched the AACTA in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current award being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
From 1971 to 1975, it was presented as a special award, and was accompanied with a cash prize, before it became a competitive award from 1976 onward. Judy Davis is the most nominated and winning actress in this category, with nine nominations, including six wins, most recently for her role in Nitram (2021).
Candidates for this award must be female, and cannot be nominated for the same role in the supporting actress category.
Winners and nominees In the following table, the years listed correspond to the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the same year. The actress in bold and in dark blue background have received a special award; those in bold and in yellow background have won a regular competitive award. Those that are neither highlighted nor in bold are the nominees. When sorted chronologically, the table always lists the winning actress first and then the other nominees.Winners and nominees by year: 1971: 1972: 1973: 1974–75: 1976: 1977: 1978: 1979: 1980: 1981: 1982: 1983: 1984: 1985: 1986: 1987: 1988: 1989: 1990: 1991: 1992: 1993: 1994: 1995: 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999: 2000: 2001: 2002: 2003: 2004: 2005: 2006: 2007: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011: Additional winners and nominees references:
AFI Awards 1970s
Year Actress Film Role 1971(13th) Monica Maughan A City's Child Woman 1972(14th) Jacki Weaver Stork Anna 1973(15th) Judy Morris Libido: The Child Sybil 1974–75(16th and 17th) Julie Dawson Who Killed Jenny Langby? Jenny Langby 1976(18th) Helen Morse Caddie Caddie Marsh Briony Behets The Trespassers Penny Judy Morris The Trespassers Dee Helen Morse Picnic at Hanging Rock Mlle. de Poitiers 1977(19th) Pat Bishop Don's Party Jenny Jeanie Drynan Don's Party Kath Henderson Sara Kestelman Break of Day Alice Robyn Nevin The Fourth Wish Connie 1978(20th) Angela Punch McGregor The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Gilda Marshall Geraldine Fitzgerald The Mango Tree Grandma Carr Wendy Hughes Newsfront Amy Mackenzie Kim Krejus Mouth to Mouth Carrie 1979(21st) Michele Fawdon Cathy's Child Cathy Ruth Cracknell The Night the Prowler Doris Bannister Judy Davis My Brilliant Career Sybylla Melvyn Sigrid Thornton Snapshot Madeline
1980s Year Actress Film Role 1980(22nd) Tracy Mann Hard Knocks Samantha Carmen Duncan Harlequin Sandra Rast Judy Morris ...Maybe This Time Fran Mawuyul Yanthalawuy Manganinnie Manganinnie 1981(23rd) Judy Davis Winter of Our Dreams Lou Jenny Agutter The Survivor Hobbs Lorraine BaylyFatty Finn Maggie McGrath Noni Hazlehurst Myrtle Finn 1982(24th) Noni Hazlehurst Monkey Grip Nora Wendy Hughes Lonely Hearts Patricia Curnow Carol Kane Norman Loves Rose Rose Angela Punch McGregor We of the Never Never Jeannie Gunn 1983(25th) Wendy Hughes Careful, He Might Hear You Vanessa Lorna Lesley The Settlement Joycie Kris McQuade Buddies Stella Geneviève Picot Undercover Libby 1984(26th) Angela Punch McGregor Annie's Coming Out Jessica Hathaway Carol Burns Strikebound Agnes Doig Gosia Dobrowolska Silver City Nina Wendy Hughes My First Wife Helen 1985(27th) Noni Hazlehurst Fran Fran Debra Byrne Rebel Kathy McLeod Lynette Curran Bliss Bettina Joy Michele Fawdon Unfinished Business Maureen 1986(28th) Judy Davis Kangaroo Harriet Somers Helen Buday For Love Alone Teresa Judy Morris The More Things Change... Connie Justine Saunders The Fringe Dwellers Mollie Comeaway 1987(29th) Judy Davis High Tide Lillie Julia Blake Travelling North Frances Loene Carmen The Year My Voice Broke Freya Olson Wendy Hughes Echoes of Paradise Maria 1988(30th) Nadine Garner Mull Phoebe Mullens Wendy Hughes Boundaries of the Heart Stella Marsden Rosey Jones Afraid to Dance The Female Jo Kennedy Tender Hooks Mitch 1989(31st) Meryl Streep Evil Angels Lindy Chamberlain Judy Davis Georgia Nina Bailley and Georgia White Geneviève Lemon Sweetie Dawn (Sweetie) Irini Pappas Island Marquise
1990s Year Actress Film Role 1990(32nd) Catherine McClements Weekend with Kate Kate Moir Kerry Armstrong Hunting Michelle Harris Rosanna Arquette Wendy Cracked a Walnut Wendy Claudia Karvan The Big Steal Joanna Johnson 1991(33rd) Sheila Florance A Woman's Tale Martha Eri Ishida Aya Aya Angie Milliken Act of Necessity Louise Coleman Geneviève Picot Proof Celia 1992(34th) Lisa Harrow The Last Days of Chez Nous Beth Claudia Karvan Redheads Lucy Tara Morice Strictly Ballroom Fran Miranda Otto Daydream Believer Nell Tiscowitz 1993(35th) Holly Hunter The Piano Ada McGrath Claudia Karvan Broken Highway Catherine Jacqueline McKenzie This Won't Hurt A Bit! Vanessa Prescott Fiona Ruttelle Say a Little Prayer Angie 1994(36th) Toni Collette Muriel's Wedding Muriel Heslop Tara FitzGerald Sirens Estella Campion Kerry Fox Country Life Sally Voysey Victoria Longley Talk Julia Strong 1995(37th) Jacqueline McKenzie Angel Baby Kate Caroline GillmerHotel Sorrento Hilary Moynihan Caroline Goodall Meg Moynihan Lisa Harrow That Eye, the Sky Alice Flack 1996(38th) Judy Davis Children of the Revolution Joan Gia Carides Brilliant Lies Susy Connor Claudia Karvan Dating the Enemy Tash Frances O'Connor Love and Other Catastrophes Mia 1997(39th) Pamela Rabe The Well HesterFrances O'Connor Kiss or Kill Nikki Davies Thank God He Met Lizzie Jenny Miranda Otto The Well Katherine 1998(40th) Deborah Mailman Radiance Nona Cate Blanchett Oscar and Lucinda Lucinda Leplastrier Lynette Curran The Boys Sandra Sprague Rachel Griffiths Amy Tanya Rammus 1999(41st) Sacha Horler Praise Cynthia Jeanie Drynan Soft Fruit Patsy Michela Noonan Strange Fits of Passion She Maya Stange In a Savage Land Evelyn Spence
2000s Year Actress Film Role 2000(42nd) Pia Miranda Looking for Alibrandi Josephine Alibrandi Julia Blake Innocence Claire Rachel Griffiths Me Myself I Pamela Drury Susie Porter Better Than Sex Cin 2001(43rd) Kerry Armstrong Lantana Sonja Zat Alice Ansara La Spagnola Lucia Nicole Kidman Moulin Rouge! Satine Lola Marceli La Spagnola Lola 2002(44th) Maria Theodorakis Walking on Water Anna Judy Davis Swimming Upstream Dora Fingleton Rachel Griffiths The Hard Word Carol Dannielle Hall Beneath Clouds Lena 2003(45th) Toni Collette Japanese Story Sandy Edwards Helen Buday Alexandra's Project Alexandra Rose Byrne The Rage in Placid Lake Gemma Taylor Susie Porter Teesh and Trude Letitia (Teesh) 2004(46th) Abbie Cornish Somersault Heidi Chloe Maxwell Under the Radar Jo Olivia Pigeot A Cold Summer Tia Leeanna Walsman One Perfect Day Alysse 2005(47th) Cate Blanchett Little Fish Tracy Louise Heart Saskia Burmeister Hating Alison Ashley "Erk" Erica "Yuk" Yurken Justine Clarke Look Both Ways Meryl Lee Frances O'Connor Three Dollars Tanya 2006(48th) Emily Barclay Suburban Mayhem Katrina Abbie Cornish Candy Candy Laura Linney Jindabyne Claire Teresa Palmer 2:37 Melody 2007(49th) Joan Chen The Home Song Stories Rose Kerry Armstrong Razzle Dazzle Justine Morgan Brenda Blethyn Clubland Jean Dwight Franka Potente Romulus, My Father Christine 2008(50th) Monic Hendrickx Unfinished Sky Tahmeena Noni Hazlehurst Bitter & Twisted Penelope Lombard Emma LungThe Jammed Crystal Veronica Sywak Ashley 2009(51st) Frances O'Connor Blessed Rhonda Marissa Gibson Samson and Delilah Delilah Sacha Horler My Year Without Sex Natalie Sophie Lowe Beautiful Kate Kate
2010s Year Actress Film Role 2010(52nd) Jacki Weaver Animal Kingdom Janine "Smurf" Cody Abbie Cornish Bright Star Fanny Brawne Morgana DaviesThe Tree Simone Charlotte Gainsbourg Dawn
AACTA Awards 2010s Year Actress Film Role 2011(1st) Judy Davis The Eye of the Storm Dorothy de Lascabanes Frances O'Connor The Hunter Lucy Armstrong Charlotte Rampling The Eye of the Storm Elizabeth Hunter Emily Watson Oranges and Sunshine Margaret Humphreys 2012(2nd) Deborah Mailman The Sapphires Gail McCrae Toni Collette Mental Shaz Felicity Price Wish You Were Here Alice Flannery Sarah Snook Not Suitable for Children Stevie 2013(3rd) Rose Byrne The Turning Raelene Carey Mulligan The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan Tasma Walton Mystery Road Mary Swan Naomi Watts Adoration Lil 2014(4th) Sarah Snook Predestination The unmarried mother Kate Box The Little Death Rowena Essie Davis The Babadook Amelia Mia Wasikowska Tracks Robyn Davidson 2015(5th) Kate Winslet The Dressmaker Myrtle 'Tilly' Dunnage Robyn Butler Now Add Honey Caroline Morgan Ningali Lawford-Wolf Last Cab to Darwin Polly Charlize Theron Mad Max: Fury Road Imperator Furiosa 2016(6th) Odessa Young The Daughter Hedvig Maeve Dermody Pawno Kate Maggie Naouri Joe Cinque's Consolation Anu Singh Teresa Palmer Hacksaw Ridge Dorothy Schutte 2017(7th) Emma Booth Hounds of Love Evelyn White Teresa Palmer Berlin Syndrome Clare Helana Sawires Ali's Wedding Dianne Sara West Don't Tell Lyndal 2018(8th) Angourie Rice Ladies in Black LisaAbbey Lee1%KatrinaRooney MaraMary MagdaleneMary MagdaleneKate MulvanyThe MergerAngie BarlowJulia OrmondLadies in BlackMagda 2019(9th) Aisling Franciosi The Nightingale Clare CarrollNazanin BoniadiHotel MumbaiZahraTeresa PalmerRide Like a GirlMichelle PayneMiranda TapsellTop End WeddingLaurenMia WasikowskaJudy and PunchJudy
2020s Year Actress Film Role 2020(10th) Eliza Scanlen Babyteeth Milla Finlay Tilda Cobham-Hervey I Am Woman Helen Reddy Laura Gordon Undertow Claire Elisabeth Moss The Invisible Man Cecilia Kass Lupita Nyong'o Little Monsters Miss Audrey Caroline 2021(11th) Judy Davis Nitram Nitram's mother Rose Byrne Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway Bea McGregor Noni Hazlehurst June Again June Genevieve O'Reilly The Dry Gretchen Naomi Watts Penguin Bloom Sam Bloom 2022(12th) Leah Purcell The Drover's Wife Molly Johnson Jackie van Beek Nude Tuesday Laura Aisha Dee Sissy Cecilia/Sissy Julia Savage Blaze Blaze Tilda Swinton Three Thousand Years of Longing Alithea 2023(13th)Sophie Wilde Talk to MeMia Shantae Barnes-Cowan Sweet As Murra Cate Blanchett The New Boy Sister Eileen Zar Amir Ebrahimi Shayda Shayda Julia Garner The Royal Hotel Hanna Sarah Snook Run Rabbit Run Sarah 2024(14th) Sarah Snook Memoir of a Snail Grace Pudel Laura Gordon Late Night with the Devil Dr. June Ross-Mitchell Jackie van Beek Audrey Ronnie Lipsick Anya Taylor-Joy Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Furiosa Anna Torv Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Alice RussellPhoebe Tonkin Kid Snow Sunny 2025(15th) Sally Hawkins Bring Her Back Laura Alison Brie Together Millie Wilson Emily Browning One More Shot Minnie Vernon Susie Porter The Travellers Nikki Daisy Ridley We Bury the Dead Ava Newman Lily Whiteley Kangaroo Charlie
Notes
A: From 1958–2010, the awards were held during the year of the film's release. However, the 1974–1975 awards were held in 1975 for films released in 1974 and 1975, and the first AACTA Awards were held in 2012 for films released in 2011.
References
External links Official website of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts