40 Women Who Were 40 or Older When They Won Their Emmy
This Sunday, the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will honor another year of amazing female talent in Hollywood. Here's a look back at 40 of the incredible women who won awards in their 40s and beyond.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
If there's a secret to winning an Emmy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus knows it. In 1996, she won her first Emmy for her supporting role in Seinfeld, and in 2006, she was awarded her first of many wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The New Adventures of Old Christine at age 45. Last year marked her sixth lead actress win and the fifth award in a row for her role on Veep-a new record for the comedy category. Louis-Dreyfus is the rightful queen of the winner's circle, contributing largely to the success of some of the most critically-acclaimed comedy shows in history.
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman holds the record for most Emmy's for a female performer with a whopping eight for her work on Malcom in the Middle, Promised Land, Cher, and of course, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She won her first Emmy at age 27 and her most recent at age 56.
Julianna Margulies
Julianna Margulies recently won an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series at age 45 for her role as Alice Florrick in The Good Wife, and reclaimed the title again in 2014. But fans of ER could have predicted the actress' bright future after she won her first ever Emmy for her supporting role on the show in 1995. The Good Wife's seven-season run sadly ended last year, but we can't wait to see what she does next.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis proved she knew how to get away with murdering the competition when she won her first Emmy award at age 50 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2015. How to Get Away With Murder fans praise Davis' ability to bring Shonda Rhimes' character to life in the binge-worthy drama. We have a feeling this win was the first of many for Davis.
Melissa McCarthy
At 41, Melissa McCarthy finally received some much-deserved recognition when she won an Emmy for her lead role in Mike & Molly in 2011. Her star power has earned her several leading roles on the big screen since then. And ahead of the 2017 award show, she won her second Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series as a host on Saturday Night Live.
Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick's role as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson in the hit drama The Closer earned her four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She finally won in 2010 at age 45. Now starring on the new drama Ten Days in the Valley, her excellent work will hopefully get her closer to another win in the near future.
Felicity Huffman
The Desperate Housewives star won her first Emmy at age 42 in 2005. Since then, she has received three Emmy-nominations for her leading role on American Crime. We're eager to see if she takes home another win!
Sally Field
Sally Field won her first Emmy 40 years ago when she brought the story of Sybil to life. Soon after, she became an Emmy regular, earning eight nominations and two more wins. At age 54, Field was awarded outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her role in ER in 2001, and took home the title of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2007 as Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters.
Mariska Hargitay
The beloved Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star has been nominated eight times for her role as Olivia Benson. At age 42 she finally took home the her well earned award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Allison Janney
Allison Janney won her first of seven Emmys at age 40 for her role on The West Wing. More recently, the star's incredible performance on Mom has earned her two more Emmy awards, and we have a feeling more will come.
Edie Falco
Edie Falco won the first of her many Emmy's for her work on The Sopranos in 1999, but she made this list for her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series win for Nurse Jackie at age 40. The star has 13 nominations total in both comedy and drama-what can't she do?
Patricia Heaton
She won her first Emmy at age 43 for her role in Everybody Loves Raymond and earned the award again the following year. With seven Emmy nominations in total, it is clear that everybody loves Patricia Heaton!
Glenn Close
Over the years, the Emmy's have recognized Glenn's incredible talent with 14 nominations and three awards. She earned her first award at 48 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special and then earned two consecutive wins for lead actress in a drama series in 2008 and 2009 for Damages.
Roseanne Barr
With four consecutive nominations from 1992-95 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, the Roseanne star cemented her status as a Hollywood legend forever. The actress took home the award in 1993 at age 40.
Christine Lahti
The actress received four consecutive nominations and a win at age 48 for her work on Chicago Hope. Since the show went off air in 2000, Christine has continued to build an impressive resume, so we are hopeful she'll earn recognition again in the future.
Kathy Baker
Kathy Baker has made appearances in many critically-acclaimed shows and films, but the Emmy's recognized the star for her leading role in Picket Fences with consecutive nominations from 1993 to 1996. The star took home the win for outstanding lead actress in a drama series at age 43.
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley won her first Emmy at 40 for her role on Cheers. She earned several more nominations for her work on The Last Don and Veronica's Closet, and won again in 1994 for David's Mother.
Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly gained recognition as a police detective on Cagney & Lacey. She was nominated for the role six years in a row, and won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series four times. The actress continues to produce incredible work, earning her a total of 16 nominations. You could say Daly is the true drama queen!
Sharon Gless
Like her co-star, Sharon Gless is responsible for making Cagney & Lacey the wonderful show it was. She won two consecutive Emmy awards for her role, the first at age 43.
Betty White
With 21 nominations, Betty is an Emmy legend. The actress won her first award at age 53 and her latest at 88-quite the golden career for this golden girl!
Gertrude Berg
Gertrude Berg was an actress, screenwriter, and producer who won her first best actress Emmy for KTTV at age 52. She was later nominated for her role on the Gertrude Berg Show.
Imogene Coca
At age 44, actress Imogene Coca won the second-ever best actress award in 1952.
Lucille Ball
A true comedy icon, Lucille Ball earned her first Emmy for best actress at age 45 and went on to win three more awards. Over her lifetime, she was nominated 14 times.
Helen Hayes
Throughout her career, Helen Hayes was nominated nine times and won her first Emmy at age 53.
Loretta Young
Known for series The Loretta Young Show, the actress won her first of three Emmy's at age 42.
Eve Arden
Performing in film, television, and on stage for nearly six decades, Eve Arden won her first Emmy at age 42 for Our Miss Brooks.
Jane Wyatt
Jane Wyatt truly knows best, winning all three of the Emmy
awards she was nominated for-the first at age 48 for Father Knows Best.
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck won her first best actress Emmy for her self-named show at age 59, and went on to win two more during her career.
Jean Stapleton
At age 55, Jean Stapleton won her first of three Emmy's for All In The Family, which she was nominated for eight times.
Mary Tyler Moore
A true comedy icon, Mary Tyler Moore won her first of seven Emmy's at age 28 for her work on The Dick Van Dyke Show, but made this list when she won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series at age 40 for The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Bea Arthur
Bea Arthur is known best for her role on The Golden Girls, which
she won the Emmy for at age 66. Her first win came at 55 when she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Maude.
Sada Thompson
Sada Thompson earned nine Emmy nominations starting in 1976 for her roles in Sandburg's Lincoln and The Entertainer. She won her first Emmy at 51 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the show Family.
Cathryn Damon
Best known for her sitcom Soap, Cathryn Damon was nominated three times for her role on the show and won the Emmy at age 50.
Barbara Bel Geddes
With a career spanning over six decades, Barbara Bel Geddes is best known for her role on Dallas. She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series three times for the show and won at age 58.
Isabel Sanford
It wouldn't have been The Jeffersons without Isabel Sanford. The actress was nominated seven times for her work on the show and took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series win at age 64.
Ruth Gordon
Ruth Gordon was a screenwriter, playwright, and actress best known for her role in Taxi. The star who won her first Emmy at age 83.
Rue McClanahan
Everyone wanted a friend like Rue McClanahan. The Golden Girls star received four nominations for her role and earned the win at age 53.
Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth was primarily a theater actress, but won her first of two Emmy awards for her lead role in the hit show Hazel at age 64.
Jean Marsh
English actress Jean Marsh starred in the series Upstairs and Downstairs Masterpiece Theatre, and won the Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at age 41.
Candice Bergen
Over the course of her career, Candice Bergen has appeared in over 40 movies and television shows including Murphy Brown. Her first Emmy award came at 43 for her role on the CBS sitcom. She went on to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series four more times.
This Sunday, the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will honor another year of amazing female talent in Hollywood. Here's a look back at 40 of the incredible women who won awards in their 40s and beyond.