Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play


The Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play is an award presented by Live Performance Australia, an employers' organisation which serves as the peak body in the live entertainment and performing arts industries in Australia. The accolade is handed out at the annual Helpmann Awards, which celebrates achievements in musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, opera, classical music, theatre, dance and physical theatre.
Cate Blanchett has the most wins in this category with four, for Hedda Gabler, Uncle Vanya, Gross und Klein (Big and Small) and The Maids.

Winners and nominees

In the following list winners are listed first and marked in gold, in boldface, and the nominees are listed below with no highlight.
  • Source:
YearActorProductionCharacter
2001
(1st)		---
2001
(1st)		Caroline O'ConnorPiafEdith Piaf
2001
(1st)		Amanda MuggletonThe Book ClubDeborah
2001
(1st)		Robyn NevinA Cheery SoulMiss Docker
2001
(1st)		Leah PurcellBox the PonyLeah/Steff
2002
(2nd)		---
2002
(2nd)		Amanda MuggletonMaster ClassMaria Callas
2002
(2nd)		Essie DavisThe School for ScandalLady Teazle
2002
(2nd)		Kris McQuadeCloudstreetDolly Pickle
2002
(2nd)		Caroline O'ConnorBombshellsVarious
2003
(3rd)		---
2003
(3rd)		Rachel GriffithsProofCatherine
2003
(3rd)		Deborah MailmanThe Seven Stages of Grieving Woman
2003
(3rd)		Miranda OttoA Doll's HouseNora Helmer
2003
(3rd)		Sigrid ThorntonThe Blue RoomVarious
2004
(4th)		---
2004
(4th)		Maggie SmithTalking Heads – A Bed Among the LentilsSusan
2004
(4th)		Carol BurnsA ConversationThe Mother
2004
(4th)		Judy DavisVictoryBradshaw
2004
(4th)		Helen MorseFrozenNancy
2005
(5th)		---
2005
(5th)		Cate BlanchettHedda GablerHedda Gabler
2005
(5th)		Julie ForsythThe Ham FuneralAlma Lusty
2005
(5th)		Deborah MailmanThe SapphiresCynthia Mcrae
2005
(5th)		Pamela RabeDinnerPaige
2006
(6th)		---
2006
(6th)		Caroline O'ConnorEnd of the RainbowJudy Garland
2006
(6th)		Jennifer FlowersDoubtSister Aloysius
2006
(6th)		Victoria LongleyThe Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?Stevie
2006
(6th)		Leah PurcellStuff HappensCondoleezza Rice
2007
(7th)		---
2007
(7th)		Ursula YovichCapricorniaCapricornia
2007
(7th)		Elena KalininaUncle VanyaSonia
2007
(7th)		Pamela RabeMother Courage and Her ChildrenMother Courage
2007
(7th)		Alison van ReekenThe CarnivoresNill and Neka
2008
(8th)		---
2008
(8th)		Leah PurcellThe Story of the Miracles at Cookie's TableAnnie
2008
(8th)		Kate DickieAalstCathy Delaney
2008
(8th)		Catherine McClementsWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Martha
2008
(8th)		Genevieve PicotRock 'n' RollEleanor/Esme
2009
(9th)		---
2009
(9th)		Robyn NevinWomen of TroyHecuba
2009
(9th)		Alison BellBlackbirdUna
2009
(9th)		Cate BlanchettWar of the RosesRichard II
2009
(9th)		Pamela RabeWar of the RosesRichard III
2010
(10th)		---
2010
(10th)		Julie ForsythHappy DaysWinnie
2010
(10th)		Kathryn HunterKafka's MonkeyApe
2010
(10th)		Jane MenelausAugust: Osage CountyBarbara Fordham
2010
(10th)		Robyn NevinAugust: Osage CountyViolet Weston
2011
(11th)		---
2011
(11th)		Cate BlanchettUncle VanyaYelena
2011
(11th)		Robin McLeavyMeasure for MeasureIsabella
2011
(11th)		Robyn NevinLong Day's Journey into NightMary Cavan Tyrone
2011
(11th)		Ursula YovichWaltzing the WilarraElsa
2012
(12th)		---
2012
(12th)		Cate BlanchettGross und Klein (Big and Small)Lotte
2012
(12th)		Robyn NevinNeighbourhood WatchAna
2012
(12th)		Bernadette RobinsonSongs For NobodiesVarious
2012
(12th)		Helen ThomsonSummer of the Seventeenth DollPearl
2013
(13th)		---
2013
(13th)		Alison BellHedda GablerHedda Gabler Tesman
2013
(13th)		Alison BellConstellationsMarianne
2013
(13th)		Helen ThomsonMrs. Warren's ProfessionMrs Kitty Warren
2013
(13th)		Christen O'LearyEnd of the RainbowJudy Garland
2014
(14th)		---
2014
(14th)		Cate BlanchettThe MaidsClaire
2014
(14th)		Zahra NewmanThe MountaintopCamae
2014
(14th)		Alison WhyteThe Bloody Chamber
2014
(14th)		Ursula YovichMother Courage and her ChildrenMother Courage
2015
(15th)		---
2015
(15th)		Pamela RabeThe Glass Menagerie
2015
(15th)		Julie ForsythNight on Bald Mountain
2015
(15th)		Robyn NevinSuddenly Last Summer
2015
(15th)		Sarah PeirseSwitzerland
2016
(16th)		---
2016
(16th)		Paula ArundellThe Bleeding Tree
2016
(16th)		Cate BlanchettThe Present
2016
(16th)		Noni HazlehurstMother
2016
(16th)		Catherine McClementsThe Events
2017
(17th)		---
2017
(17th)		Kate MulvanyRichard 3
2017
(17th)		Helen MorseJohn
2017
(17th)		Leah PurcellThe Drover's Wife
2017
(17th)		Alison WhyteFaith Healer
2018
(18th)		---
2018
(18th)		Pamela RabeThe Children
2018
(18th)		Miranda DaughtryA Doll's House
2018
(18th)		Helen MorseMemorial
2018
(18th)		Sarah PeirseThe Children
2019
(19th)		---
2019
(19th)		Kate MulvanyEvery Brilliant Thing
2019
(19th)		Helen ThomsonMary StuartQueen Elizabeth I
2019
(19th)		Sarah SnookSaint JoanSaint Joan
2019
(19th)		Melita JurisicArbus & WestMae West
2019
(19th)		Paula ArundellHarry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two)Hermione Granger