The Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical was an annual award given to the best leading actress in a musical on Broadway or Off-Broadway, as determined by Outer Critics Circle. The award was named Best Actress in a Musical until 1999.
The award was preceded by an award for Best Performance, but the newly gendered award for musical performance was first given out the 1987âÂÂ1988 season through the season. The award was retired in 2022 and replaced by Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical and Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical in gender-neutral performance categories.
Prior to its retirement, both Audra McDonald and Sutton Foster won the award the most times, with three wins each, followed closely by Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole and Victoria Clark with two wins each. Kelli O'Hara leads with the most nominations with six, but never won.
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