Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
A Tony Award category honoring a leading performance by an actress in a Broadway play. It has been presented since the first Tony Awards in 1947.
Julie Harris: An American stage and screen actress who won five Tony Awards for acting. Her record five wins in this category made her its most decorated performer.
Tony Awards: Annual awards honoring excellence in Broadway theatre. This acting category is one award within the Tony Awards.
Antoinette Perry: An American actress, director, and producer whose nickname inspired the Tony Awards' name. The award honors Perry, whose work helped shape American theatre.
Triple Crown of Acting: An unofficial distinction for winning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award in acting categories. Wins in this category can contribute to an actor's Triple Crown.
Helen Hayes: An American actress whose career spanned stage, film, radio, and television. She won the category at the inaugural Tony Awards in 1947.
American Theatre Wing: A nonprofit organization that co-presents the Tony Awards with the Broadway League. It helps administer the awards and their voting process.
First Tony Awards: The inaugural American Theatre Wing's Antoinette Perry Awards ceremony, held in 1947. The best actress in a play category was among the awards presented at its beginning.
EGOT: An unofficial distinction for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. A win here can count toward the Tony component of an EGOT.
Viola Davis: An American actress who has won competitive awards in theatre, film, and television. Her 2010 win for Fences was one step toward her EGOT.
Broadway League: A trade association representing Broadway theatre producers and presenters. It co-presents the Tony Awards and shares responsibility for their rules.