The award was first presented at the 6th Primetime Emmy Awards on February 11 , 1954 . The acting awards presented during the inaugural years were not genre specific , with actresses in either drama or comedy series receiving nominations and awards . While Eve Arden was the first winner in the female acting category , Loretta Young was the first actress to win for a lead performance in a drama series . By 1966 , the acting awards were split into drama and comedy categories , undergoing several name changes until settling with the current title
6th Primetime Emmy Awards
6th Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series