This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Not to be confused with the Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. Currently, Della Reese holds the record for most wins in the category with seven.
Winners and nominees
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
1970s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1970
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Judy Pace
| The Young Lawyers
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1971
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Elena Verdugo
| Marcus Welby, M.D.
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1972 – 79
| colspan="3"
|}
1980s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1980
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Joan Pringle
| The White Shadow
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1981
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1982
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Cicely Tyson
| The Marva Collins Story
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1983
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Madge Sinclair
| Trapper John, M.D.
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1984 – 87
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1988
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Cicely Tyson
| Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1989
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Alfre Woodard
| Unnatural Causes
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Anne-Marie Johnson
| In the Heat of the Night
|-
| Beah Richards
| Frank's Place
|-
| Holly Robinson
| 21 Jump Street
|-
| Lynn Whitfield
| Heartbeat
|}
1990s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1990
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Alfre Woodard
| Mandela
| align="center"|
|-
| align="center"| 1991
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1992
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Alfre Woodard
| A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1993
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Lynn Whitfield
| The Josephine Baker Story
| rowspan="2" align="center"|
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1994
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Regina Taylor
| I'll Fly Away
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Della Reese
| Picket Fences
|-
| Denise Nicholas
| In the Heat of the Night
|-
| Hattie Winston
| Homefront
|-
| Victoria Dillard
| TriBeCa
|-
| align="center"| 1995
| colspan="3"
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1996
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Vanessa Bell Calloway
| Under One Roof
|-
| Victoria Rowell
| Diagnosis: Murder
|-
| Cree Summer
| rowspan="2"| Sweet Justice
|-
| Cicely Tyson
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1997
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| S. Epatha Merkerson
| Law & Order
|-
| Gloria Reuben
| ER
|-
| Lauren Velez
| New York Undercover
|-
| Vanessa Estelle Williams
| Chicago Hope
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1998
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Vanessa Bell Calloway
| Orleans
|-
| Shari Headley
| 413 Hope St.
|-
| S. Epatha Merkerson
| Law & Order
|-
| Lauren Velez
| New York Undercover
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1999
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Victoria Rowell
| Diagnosis: Murder
|-
| Rita Moreno
| Oz
|-
| Lorraine Toussaint
| Any Day Now
|-
| S. Epatha Merkerson
| Law & Order
|}
2000s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2000
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Michael Michele
| Homicide: Life on the Street
|-
| Rita Moreno
| Oz
|-
| Victoria Rowell
| Diagnosis: Murder
|-
| Lorraine Toussaint
| Any Day Now
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2001
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Lorraine Toussaint
| Any Day Now
|-
| Nicole Ari Parker
| Soul Food
|-
| S. Epatha Merkerson
| Law & Order
|-
|-
| Vanessa Estelle Williams
| Soul Food
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2002
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Della Reese
| Touched by an Angel
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Ari Parker
| Soul Food
|-
| Loretta Devine
| Boston Public
|-
| Tangi Miller
| Felicity
|-
| Lorraine Toussaint
| Any Day Now
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2003
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Vanessa Estelle Williams
| Soul Food
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Ari Parker
| Soul Food
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|-
| Lorraine Toussaint
| Any Day Now
|-
| Malinda Williams
| Soul Food
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2004
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Nia Long
| Third Watch
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Ari Parker
| Soul Food
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|-
| Malinda Williams
| rowspan="2"| Soul Food
|-
| Vanessa Estelle Williams
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2005
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Nia Long
| Third Watch
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Ari Parker
| Soul Food
|-
| Vivica A. Fox
| 1-800-Missing
|-
| Malinda Williams
| rowspan="2"| Soul Food
|-
| Vanessa Estelle Williams
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2006
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Vivica A. Fox
| 1-800-Missing
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Khandi Alexander
| CSI: Miami
|-
| Kimberly Elise
| Close to Home
|-
| Marianne Jean-Baptiste
| Without a Trace
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2007
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Kimberly Elise
| Close to Home
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Jennifer Beals
| The L Word
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|-
| Roselyn Sanchez
| Without a Trace
|-
| Regina Taylor
| The Unit
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2008
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Regina Taylor
| The Unit
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Jennifer Beals
| The L Word
|-
| Wendy Davis
| Army Wives
|-
| Nicki Micheaux
| Lincoln Heights
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2009
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Chandra Wilson
| Grey's Anatomy
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Wendy Davis
| Army Wives
|-
| Loretta Devine
| Eli Stone
|-
| Nicki Micheaux
| Lincoln Heights
|-
| C. C. H. Pounder
| The Shield
|}
2010s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2010
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Jada Pinkett Smith
| HawthoRNe
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Regina King
| Southland
|-
| Sandra Oh
| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| Jill Scott
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
|-
| Chandra Wilson
| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2011
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Regina King
| Southland
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Wendy Davis
| Army Wives
|-
| Gugu Mbatha-Raw
| Undercovers
|-
| Jada Pinkett Smith
| HawthoRNe
|-
| Chandra Wilson
| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2012
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Regina King
| Southland
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Khandi Alexander
| Treme
|-
| Taraji P. Henson
| Person of Interest
|-
| Sandra Oh
| rowspan="2"| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| Chandra Wilson
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2013
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Khandi Alexander
| Treme
|-
| Regina King
| Southland
|-
| Sandra Oh
| rowspan="2"| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| Chandra Wilson
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2014
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Khandi Alexander
| Treme
|-
| Nicole Beharie
| Sleepy Hollow
|-
| Regina King
| Southland
|-
| Chandra Wilson
| Grey's Anatomy
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2015
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Beharie
| Sleepy Hollow
|-
| Octavia Spencer
| Red Band Society
|-
| Gabrielle Union
| Being Mary Jane
|-
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2016
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Taraji P. Henson
| Empire
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Nicole Beharie
| Sleepy Hollow
|-
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
|-
| Gabrielle Union
| Being Mary Jane
|-
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2017
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Taraji P. Henson
| Empire
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
|-
| Jurnee Smollett-Bell
| Underground
|-
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2018
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Taraji P. Henson
| Empire
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Jurnee Smollett-Bell
| Underground
|-
| Kerry Washington
| Scandal
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|-
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2019
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Taraji P. Henson
| Empire
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Alfre Woodard
| Luke Cage
|-
| Naturi Naughton
| Power
|-
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|}
2020s
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bebebe;"
! style="width:11%;"| Year
! style="width:42%;"| Actress
! style="width:42%;"| Series
! style="width:5%;"| Ref
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2020
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Angela Bassett
| 9-1-1
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
|-
| Regina King
| Watchmen
|-
| Simone Missick
| All Rise
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2021
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Viola Davis
| How to Get Away with Murder
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Angela Bassett
| 9-1-1
|-
| Simone Missick
| All Rise
|-
| Jurnee Smollett
| Lovecraft Country
|-
| Brandee Evans
| P-Valley
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2022
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Angela Bassett
| 9-1-1
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Dawn-Lyen Gardner
| Queen Sugar
|-
| Octavia Spencer
| Truth Be Told
|-
| Queen Latifah
| The Equalizer (2021 TV series)
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
2023
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Angela Bassett
| 9-1-1
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
| Brandee Evans
| P-Valley
|-
| Queen Latifah
| The Equalizer (2021 TV series)
|-
| Rutina Wesley
| Queen Sugar
|-
| Zendaya
| Euphoria
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
2024
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| India Amarteifio
| Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
|Angela Bassett
|9-1-1
|-
|Octavia Spencer
|Truth Be Told
|-
|Queen Latifah
|The Equalizer
|-
|Zoe Saldaña
|Special Ops: Lioness
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
2025
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Queen Latifah
| The Equalizer
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
|Angela Bassett
|9-1-1
|-
|Emayatzy Corinealdi
|Reasonable Doubt
|-
|Shanola Hampton
|Found
|-
|Zoe Saldaña
|Lioness
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
2026
|- style="background:#B0C4DE"
| Angela Bassett
| 9-1-1
| rowspan="6" align="center"|
|-
|Emayatzy Corinealdi
|Reasonable Doubt
|-
|Lovie Simone
|Forever
|-
|Patina Miller
|Power Book III: Raising Kanan
|-
|Queen Latifah
|The Equalizer
|}
Multiple wins and nominations
Wins
; 7 wins
- Della Reese
; 4 wins
- Taraji P. Henson
; 3 wins
- Angela Bassett
- Alfre Woodard
; 2 wins
- Viola Davis
- Regina King
- Nia Long
- Regina Taylor
- Cicely Tyson
- Kerry Washington
- Lynn Whitfield
Nominations
; 7 nominations
- Angela Bassett
- Viola Davis
- Della Reese
; 6 nominations
- Regina King
- C. C. H. Pounder
- Chandra Wilson
- Kerry Washington
; 5 nominations
- Taraji P. Henson
- Queen Latifah
- Nicole Ari Parker
- Lorraine Toussaint
- Vanessa A. Williams
- Rutina Wesley
; 4 nominations
- Khandi Alexander
- S. Epatha Merkerson
; 3 nominations
- Nicole Beharie
- Wendy Davis
- Sandra Oh
- Victoria Rowell
- Jurnee Smollett
- Regina Taylor
- Malinda Williams
- Cicely Tyson
- Alfre Woodard
- Angela Bassett
; 2 nominations
- Jennifer Beals
- Vanessa Bell Calloway
- Emayatzy Corinealdi
- Loretta Devine
- Kimberly Elise
- Vivica A. Fox
- Nia Long
- Simone Missick
- Nicki Micheaux
- Rita Moreno
- Zoe Saldaña
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Octavia Spencer
- Gabrielle Union
- Lynn Whitfield
- Lauren Velez