| NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | |
| Awarded For: | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series |
| Presenter: | NAACP |
| Country: | United States |
| Year: | 1970 |
| Holder: | India Amarteifio (2024) |
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 are listed first and highlighted in bold.
| Year | Actress | Series | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | |||
| Judy Pace | The Young Lawyers | ||
| 1971 | |||
| Elena Verdugo | Marcus Welby, M.D. | [1] | |
| 1972 – 79 | |||
| Year | Actress | Series | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | |||
| Joan Pringle | The White Shadow | ||
| 1981 | colspan="3" | ||
| 1982 | |||
| Cicely Tyson | The Marva Collins Story | ||
| 1983 | |||
| Madge Sinclair | Trapper John, M.D. | ||
| 1984 – 87 | colspan="3" | ||
| 1988 | |||
| Cicely Tyson | Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story | ||
| 1989 | |||
| Alfre Woodard | Unnatural Causes | [2] | |
| Anne-Marie Johnson | In the Heat of the Night | ||
| Beah Richards | Frank's Place | ||
| Holly Robinson | 21 Jump Street | ||
| Lynn Whitfield | Heartbeat |
| Year | Actress | Series | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | |||
| Alfre Woodard | Mandela | [3] | |
| 1991 | colspan="3" | ||
| 1992 | |||
| Alfre Woodard | A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story | ||
| 1993 | |||
| Lynn Whitfield | The Josephine Baker Story | ||
| 1994 | |||
| Regina Taylor | I'll Fly Away | [4] [5] | |
| Della Reese | Picket Fences | ||
| Denise Nicholas | In the Heat of the Night | ||
| Hattie Winston | Homefront | ||
| Victoria Dillard | TriBeCa | ||
| 1995 | colspan="3" | ||
| 1996 | |||
| Della Reese | Touched by an Angel | [6] | |
| Vanessa Bell Calloway | Under One Roof | ||
| Victoria Rowell | |||
| Cree Summer | Sweet Justice | ||
| Cicely Tyson | |||
| 1997 | |||
| Della Reese | Touched by an Angel | [7] | |
| S. Epatha Merkerson | Law & Order | ||
| Gloria Reuben | ER | ||
| Lauren Velez | New York Undercover | ||
| Vanessa Estelle Williams | Chicago Hope | ||
| 1998 | |||
| Della Reese | Touched by an Angel | ||
| Vanessa Bell Calloway | Orleans | ||
| Shari Headley | 413 Hope St. | ||
| S. Epatha Merkerson | Law & Order | ||
| Lauren Velez | New York Undercover | ||
| 1999 | |||
| Della Reese | Touched by an Angel | [8] | |
| Victoria Rowell | |||
| Rita Moreno | Oz | ||
| Lorraine Toussaint | Any Day Now | ||
| S. Epatha Merkerson | Law & Order |