The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play is presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in Manhattan. The award is given to actresses for quality leading roles in a Broadway play. Despite the award first being presented in 1947, there were no nominees announced until 1956. There have been two ties in this category, and one three-way tie.

Jodie Comer is an English actress. Born and raised in Liverpool, Comer began her career in an episode of The Royal Today in 2008. She gained recognition for appearing in the series My Mad Fat Diary and Doctor Foster, and earned acclaim for starring in the drama miniseries Thirteen.