The Nandi Award for Best Actress was commissioned in 1972. The winner is awarded a "Silver Nandi" and a cash award of 30,000. Jayasudha is the only actress to have won the award five times, followed by Vijayshanti with four wins and Soundarya won thrice. Four actresses have won the award twice: Lakshmi, Laya, Aamani and Meena.