Daytime Emmy WINNER! Outstanding Lead Actress — General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn

By Hope Campbell

Published Oct 17, 2025 22:04 ET

General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn | Image: Daytime Emmys

This year's Daytime Emmy Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Sharon Case, Sharon Newman

The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Eileen Davidson, Ashley Abbott

The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Melissa Claire Egan, Chelsea Lawson

The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Nancy Lee Grahn, Alexis Davis

General Hospital (ABC)

Michelle Stafford, Phyllis Summers

The Young and the Restless (CBS)

Laura Wright, Carly Spencer

General Hospital (ABC)

And the Daytime Emmy goes to General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn

Nancy Lee Grahn blew us away in 2024 when her longtime character, Alexis Davis, lost her firstborn daughter, Sam. Grahn submitted the unbelievable scenes when Alexis held Sam's lifeless body in her arms and told her about the day she was born and how her heart broke having to give her up for adoption. Sam and Alexis were reunited as adults, so losing her again was heartbreaking.

In her acceptance speech, Grahn thanked General Hospital for giving her the life she wanted. At 39 years old, she wanted to become a mother, and GH gave her the perfect job to do that. She was able to support her daughter and be there for all her milestones while she was growing up.

Grahn is also known for being outspoken and used her acceptance speech to talk about the world we live in.

"With this job comes a literal soap box...My parents would be disappointed in me if I didn't use it," she said. "Our democracy is worth fighting for, the people in it are worth caring about them. Whether you have a platform or not, now is the time to speak up for human decency, for democracy, and stand up."