The David di Donatello Award for Best Actress is a film award presented annually by the Accademia del Cinema Italiano (ACI, Academy of Italian Cinema) to recognize the outstanding performance in a leading role of an actress who has worked within the Italian film industry during the year preceding the ceremony. Nominees and winner are selected via run-off voting by all the members of the Accademia. The award was first given in 1956. Sophia Loren is the record holder in this category, with seven awards, followed by Margherita Buy and Monica Vitti, with five awards each.

Winners and nominees

Below, winners are listed first in the colored row, followed by other nominees.

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s