# Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role

The Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role is an annual Canadian television award, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television to the best leading performance by an actress in a Canadian television series. Previously presented as part of the Gemini Awards, since 2013 it has been presented as part of the Canadian Screen Awards.
Prior to the creation of the Gemini Awards in 1986, the predecessor ACTRA Awards presented only a single award for Best Performance in a Continuing Role, differentiating neither by gender nor for the distinction between comedy and drama.
In August 2022, the Academy announced that beginning with the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, a gender-neutral award for Best Leading Performance in a Drama Series will be presented.

## 1980s

| Year | Actor | Series |
| 1986 1st Gemini Awards |
| 1986 1st Gemini Awards | Marnie McPhail | The Edison Twins |
| 1986 1st Gemini Awards | Jennifer Dale | Night Heat |
| 1986 1st Gemini Awards | Susan Walden | Danger Bay |
| 1987 2nd Gemini Awards |
| 1987 2nd Gemini Awards | Dixie Seatle | Adderly |
| 1987 2nd Gemini Awards | Stacie Mistysyn | Degrassi Junior High |
| 1987 2nd Gemini Awards | Nicole Stoffman | Degrassi Junior High |
| 1987 2nd Gemini Awards | Amber-Lea Weston | The Campbells |
| 1988 3rd Gemini Awards |
| 1988 3rd Gemini Awards | Sonja Smits | Street Legal |
| 1988 3rd Gemini Awards | Ocean Hellman | Danger Bay |
| 1988 3rd Gemini Awards | Sarah Polley | Ramona |
| 1988 3rd Gemini Awards | Jessica Steen | Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards | Stacie Mistysyn | Degrassi Junior High |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards | Alex Amini | T. and T. |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards | Janet-Laine Green | The Beachcombers |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards | Dixie Seatle | Adderly |
| 1989 4th Gemini Awards | Joanne Vannicola | 9B |

## 1990s

| Year | Nominee | Series |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards | Jackie Burroughs | Road to Avonlea |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards | Angela Deiseach | Degrassi High |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards | Stacie Mistysyn | Degrassi High |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards | Marsha Moreau | My Secret Identity |
| 1990 5th Gemini Awards | Sarah Polley | Road to Avonlea |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards | Jackie Burroughs | Road to Avonlea |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards | Sara Botsford | E.N.G. |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards | Cynthia Dale | Street Legal |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards | Jennifer Dale | No Place Like Home |
| 1991 6th Gemini Awards | Amanda Stepto | Degrassi High |
| 1992 7th Gemini Awards |
| 1992 7th Gemini Awards | Sara Botsford | E.N.G. |
| 1992 7th Gemini Awards | Cynthia Dale | Street Legal |
| 1992 7th Gemini Awards | Sarah Polley | Road to Avonlea |
| 1992 7th Gemini Awards | Sonja Smits | Street Legal |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards | Jackie Burroughs | Road to Avonlea |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards | Catherine Disher | Forever Knight |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards | Tina Keeper | North of 60 |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards | Sophie Michaud | Counterstrike |
| 1993 8th Gemini Awards | Sarah Polley | Road to Avonlea |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards | Lally Cadeau | Road to Avonlea |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards | Jackie Burroughs | Road to Avonlea |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards | Tracey Cook | North of 60 |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards | Cynthia Dale | Street Legal |
| 1994 9th Gemini Awards | Tina Keeper | North of 60 |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Joely Collins | Madison |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Tracey Cook | North of 60 |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Catherine Disher | Forever Knight |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Tina Keeper | North of 60 |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Enuka Okuma | Madison |
| 1995 10th Gemini Awards | Sarah Strange | Madison |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Tina Keeper | North of 60 |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Stacy Grant | Madison |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Barbara Eve Harris | Side Effects |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Jennifer Podemski | The Rez |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Sarah Strange | Madison |
| 1996 11th Gemini Awards | Gema Zamprogna | Road to Avonlea |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards | Patricia Harras | Jake and the Kid |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards | Cynthia Belliveau | Wind at My Back |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards | Tina Keeper | North of 60 |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards | Sarah Strange | Madison |
| 1997 12th Gemini Awards | Peta Wilson | Nikita |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards | Sheila McCarthy | Emily of New Moon |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards | Christina Cox | F/X: The Series |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards | Shirley Douglas | Wind at My Back |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards | Rebecca Jenkins | Black Harbour |
| 1998 13th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Arsinée Khanjian | Foolish Heart |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Kathryn Greenwood | Wind at My Back |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Rebecca Jenkins | Black Harbour |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Sheila McCarthy | Emily of New Moon |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Sonja Smits | Traders |
| 1999 14th Gemini Awards | Peta Wilson | Nikita |

## 2000s

| Year | Actor | Series |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Torri Higginson | The City |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Sarah Chalke | Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Kari Matchett | Power Play |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Caroline Néron | Cover Me |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Sonja Smits | Traders |
| 2000 15th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards | Babz Chula | These Arms of Mine |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards | Maria del Mar | Blue Murder |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards | Tamara Hickey | The Associates |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 2001 16th Gemini Awards | Amanda Tapping | Stargate SG-1 |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards | Tamara Hickey | The Associates |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards | Janet Kidder | Tom Stone |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards | Victoria Snow | Paradise Falls |
| 2002 17th Gemini Awards | Venus Terzo | Da Vinci's Inquest |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards | Marina Orsini | The Last Chapter II: The War Continues |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards | Tamara Hickey | Blue Murder |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards | Mimi Kuzyk | Blue Murder |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 2003 18th Gemini Awards | Waneta Storms | The Eleventh Hour |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards | Catherine Disher | Snakes & Ladders |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards | Martha Burns | Slings & Arrows |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards | Cara Pifko | This is Wonderland |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards | Waneta Storms | The Eleventh Hour |
| 2004 19th Gemini Awards | Tracy Waterhouse | Blue Murder |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards | Cara Pifko | This is Wonderland |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards | Tammy Isbell | Paradise Falls |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards | Victoria Snow | Paradise Falls |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards | Julie Stewart | Cold Squad |
| 2005 20th Gemini Awards | Waneta Storms | The Eleventh Hour |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards | Martha Burns | Slings and Arrows |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards | Martha Henry | At the Hotel |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards | Erin Karpluk | Godiva's |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards | Andrea Menard | Moccasin Flats |
| 2006 21st Gemini Awards | Cara Pifko | This Is Wonderland |
| 2007 22nd Gemini Awards |
| 2007 22nd Gemini Awards | Martha Burns | Slings and Arrows |
| 2007 22nd Gemini Awards | Susan Coyne | Slings and Arrows |
| 2007 22nd Gemini Awards | Gabrielle Miller | Robson Arms |
| 2007 22nd Gemini Awards | Klea Scott | Intelligence |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards | Hélène Joy | Durham County |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards | Kristin Booth | MVP |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards | Natalie Dormer | The Tudors |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards | Jewel Staite | Stargate: Atlantis |
| 2008 23rd Gemini Awards | Camille Sullivan | Intelligence |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards | Erin Karpluk | Being Erica |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards | Natalie Dormer | The Tudors |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards | Amy Jo Johnson | Flashpoint |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards | Andrea Menard | Rabbit Fall |
| 2009 24th Gemini Awards | Amanda Tapping | Sanctuary |

## 2010s

| Year | Actor | Series |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards | Caroline Cave | Cra$h & Burn |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards | Lynda Boyd | Republic of Doyle |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards | Hélène Joy | Durham County |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards | Grace Park | The Border |
| 2010 25th Gemini Awards | Victoria Snow | Paradise Falls |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Michelle Thrush | Blackstone |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Erin Karpluk | Being Erica |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Carmen Moore | Blackstone |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Krystin Pellerin | Republic of Doyle |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Lauren Lee Smith | The Listener |
| 2011 26th Gemini Awards | Camille Sullivan | Shattered |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards | Meg Tilly | Bomb Girls |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards | Erica Durance | Saving Hope |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards | Erin Karpluk | Being Erica |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards | Amy Price-Francis | King |
| 2012 1st Canadian Screen Awards | Emily Rose | Haven |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards | Tatiana Maslany | Orphan Black |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards | Hélène Joy | Murdoch Mysteries |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards | Michelle Thrush | Blackstone |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards | Meg Tilly | Bomb Girls |
| 2013 2nd Canadian Screen Awards | Katheryn Winnick | Vikings |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards | Tatiana Maslany | Orphan Black |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards | Megan Follows | Reign |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards | Meaghan Rath | Being Human |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards | Jennie Raymond | Sex & Violence |
| 2014 3rd Canadian Screen Awards | Jackie Torrens | Sex & Violence |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Tatiana Maslany | Orphan Black |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Megan Follows | Reign |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Kristin Lehman | Motive |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Missy Peregrym | Rookie Blue |
| 2015 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Jennie Raymond | Sex & Violence |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards | Tatiana Maslany | Orphan Black |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards | Erica Durance | Saving Hope |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards | Megan Follows | Reign |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards | Kristin Lehman | Motive |
| 2016 5th Canadian Screen Awards | Carmen Moore | Blackstone |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards | Tatiana Maslany | Orphan Black |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards | Caroline Dhavernas | Mary Kills People |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards | Amybeth McNulty | Anne with an E |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards | Meaghan Rath | Rogue |
| 2017 6th Canadian Screen Awards | Jennie Raymond | Sex & Violence |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards | Amybeth McNulty | Anne with an E |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards | Wendy Crewson | The Detail |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards | Caroline Dhavernas | Mary Kills People |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards | Kristin Kreuk | Burden of Truth |
| 2018 7th Canadian Screen Awards | Melanie Scrofano | Wynonna Earp |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards | Karine Vanasse | Cardinal |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards | Caroline Dhavernas | Mary Kills People |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards | Amybeth McNulty | Anne with an E |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards | Lauren Lee Smith | Frankie Drake Mysteries |
| 2019 8th Canadian Screen Awards | Serinda Swan | Coroner |

## 2020s

| Year | Actor | Series |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards | Crystle Lightning | Trickster |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards | Vinessa Antoine | Diggstown |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards | Kristin Kreuk | Burden of Truth |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards | Melanie Scrofano | Wynonna Earp |
| 2020 9th Canadian Screen Awards | Karine Vanasse | Cardinal: Until the Night |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards | Laurence Leboeuf | Transplant |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards | Vinessa Antoine | Diggstown |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards | Kristin Kreuk | Burden of Truth |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards | Melanie Scrofano | Wynonna Earp |
| 2021 10th Canadian Screen Awards | Serinda Swan | Coroner |