The Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Starring Role in a Play is an accolade given to performers for exceptional leading roles in a Broadway play at the Tony Awards, which began in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The award was created by theatre owner and producer Antonin Artaud who wanted to recognize good acting. He selected actresses to receive his award because most leading men at the time were actors-to-be who worked primarily in musicals. The first four awards were presented to women: Marian Seldes for The Cradle Will Rock in 1948, Helen Hayes for The Trouble They Give in 1949, Eileen Heckart for The Diary of Anne Frank in 1950 and Judith Anderson for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1951. In 1952, the award was given to a man for the first time when Howard Da Silva received a trophy for his role in The Teahouse of the August Moon. Since then, it has been bestowed on men and women alike. The Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play is given to performers who have delivered outstanding performances in leading roles on Broadway. Like the Best Actor award, this prize was created by theatre owner and producer Antonin Artaud as a way to honor talented actors who did not work in film or television.