Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Prior to 1989, the category was not gender-specific, and, thus, was called Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. It is given in honor to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a guest-starring role in a television comedy series. The current recipient is Julianne Nicholson for Hacks. Since the category change in 1989, a total of 34 actresses were awarded for their performances. The most awarded actress is Cloris Leachman, with 3 wins, followed by Tina Fey, Colleen Dewhurst, Kathryn Joosten, Jean Smart, Tracey Ullman, Betty White, and Maya Rudolph, with 2 wins. These awards, like the other "Guest" awards, were previously not presented at the Primetime Emmy Award ceremony, but, rather, at the Creative Arts Emmy Award ceremony.
Beginning with the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, performers are no longer eligible in guest acting categories if they were previously nominated for a lead or supporting award for playing the same character role in the same series.
Performers with multiple wins
;3 wins;2 wins
Programs with multiple awards
;7 awardsSaturday Night Live;3 awardsFrasier
;2 awardsDesperate HousewivesHacksLove & War Mad About YouMalcolm in the Middle
- ''Murphy Brown''
Performers with multiple nominations
;8 nominations;7 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
- Jane Adams
- Christina Applegate
- Becky Ann Baker
- Angela Bassett
- Kathy Bates
- Eileen Brennan
- Kristin Chenoweth
- Olivia Colman
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Joan Cusack
- Blythe Danner
- Colleen Dewhurst
- Carrie Fisher
- Cyndi Lauper
- Judith Light
- Shelley Long
- Bette Midler
- Kaitlin Olson
- Bernadette Peters
- Susan Sarandon
- Molly Shannon
- Jean Smart
- Emma Thompson
- Tracey Ullman
- Nancy Walker
- Harriet Walter
Programs with multiple nominations
;26 nominationsSaturday Night Live;11 nominations30 Rock
;10 nominationsFrasier
;8 nominationsDesperate HousewivesHacksMalcolm in the Middle
;6 nominationsCheersThe Cosby ShowGleeThe Golden GirlsWill & Grace
;5 nominationsThe Big Bang TheoryFriendsMurphy Brown
;4 nominationsThe BearEverybody Loves RaymondMad About YouTed Lasso
;3 nominationsAlly McBealA Black Lady Sketch ShowBlack-ishThe Good PlaceThe Larry Sanders ShowThe Marvelous Mrs. MaiselMonkOrange Is the New Black3rd Rock from the Sun
;2 nominationsA Different WorldEllenFleabagGirlsGrace Under FireLouieLove & WarOnly Murders in the BuildingPoker FaceShamelessTwo and a Half Men
- ''Ugly Betty''