
John Lithgow and Lesley Manville take home acting gongs at starry Olivier Awards
Jordan Fein's acclaimed revival of the 1964 musical at Regent's Park Open Air theatre won three of its 13 nominations, losing out in the acting categories.
Hosted by Beverly Knight and Billy Porter at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday (6 April), the ceremony was particularly starry this year with several A-listers, including Paapa Essiedu, Imelda Staunton and Adrien Brody, receiving nominations for their contributions to the West End.
Other high-profile names, including Tom Hiddleston, Ewan McGregor, and The Crown 's Elizabeth Debicki, presented awards, with Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Martin Freeman and Naomi Campbell also in attendance.
Fresh from his Oscar win for The Brutalist, Brody – nominated for Best Actor for his role in the Donmar Theatre's The Fear of 13 – missed out on the gong, which went to John Lithgow instead for his towering turn as Roald Dahl in Giant.
Garlanded with five-star reviews last year, Mark Rosenblatt's simmering debut play explores the truculent author's antisemitism. Giant also won Best New Play and Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Accepting the award, Lithgow, 79, told the audience he might 'faint'.
Referring to US President Donald Trump's administration, the New York-born actor said: 'It's not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it's probably a little more complicated than usual.'
Best Actress, meanwhile, went to Lesley Manville for her performance in Robert Icke 's thrilling production of Oedipus at The Old Vic. His reimagining of the Greek tragedy as a political thriller won the prize for Best Revival.
First-time nominee Romola Garai triumphed in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category, in which she was nominated twice for her roles in both Giant and The Years. She won for the latter – an adaptation of French author Annie Ernaux's 2008 masterpiece, for which Eline Arbo won the directing prize.
Imelda Staunton took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical thanks to her performance as a meddling matchmaker in Hello, Dolly!, which premiered on Broadway in 1964.
See below for the full list of winners…
Best director
Eline Arbo for The Years at Almeida theatre and Harold Pinter theatre – WINNER
Jordan Fein for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Nicholas Hytner for Giant at Jerwood theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre
Robert Icke for Oedipus at Wyndham's theatre
Best actress
Heather Agyepong for Shifters at Duke of York's theatre
Lesley Manville for Oedipus at Wyndham's theatre – WINNER
Rosie Sheehy for Machinal at the Old Vic
Meera Syal for A Tupperware of Ashes at National Theatre – Dorfman
Indira Varma for Oedipus at the Old Vic
Best actor
Adrien Brody for The Fear of 13 at Donmar Warehouse
Billy Crudup for Harry Clarke at Ambassadors theatre
Paapa Essiedu for Death of England: Delroy at @sohoplace
John Lithgow for Giant at Jerwood theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre – WINNER
Mark Strong for Oedipus at Wyndham's theatre
Best actor in a supporting role
Jorge Bosch for Kyoto at @sohoplace
Tom Edden for Waiting for Godot at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Elliot Levey for Giant at Jerwood theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre – WINNER
Ben Whishaw for Bluets at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre
Best actress in a supporting role
Sharon D Clarke for The Importance of Being Earnest at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Romola Garai for Giant at Jerwood theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre
Romola Garai for The Years at Almeida theatre and Harold Pinter theatre – WINNER
Gina McKee for The Years at Almeida Theatre and Harold Pinter theatre
Best new play
The Fear of 13 by Lindsey Ferrentino at Donmar Warehouse
Giant by Mark Rosenblatt at Jerwood theatre Downstairs at Royal Court theatre – WINNER
Kyoto by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson at @sohoplace
Shifters by Benedict Lombe at Duke of York's theatre
The Years adapted by Eline Arbo, in an English version by Stephanie Bain at Almeida theatre and Harold Pinter theatre
Best new musical
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, music and lyrics by Darren Clark, book and lyrics by Jethro Compton at Ambassadors theatre – WINNER
MJ the Musical, book by Lynn Nottage at Prince Edward theatre
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, music, lyrics and book by Dave Malloy at Donmar Warehouse
Why Am I So Single?, music, lyrics and book by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss at Garrick theatre
Best actor in a musical
John Dagleish for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors theatre – WINNER
Adam Dannheisser for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Myles Frost for MJ the Musical at Prince Edward theatre
Simon Lipkin for Oliver! at Gielgud theatre
Jamie Muscato for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Best actress in a musical
Chumisa Dornford-May for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Lauren Drew for Titanique at Criterion theatre
Clare Foster for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors theatre
Lara Pulver for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Imelda Staunton for Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium – WINNER
Best set design
Jon Bausor for set design, Toby Olié and Daisy Beattie for puppetry design and Satoshi Kuriyama for projection design for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
Frankie Bradshaw for set design for Ballet Shoes at National Theatre – Olivier
Es Devlin for set design for Coriolanus at National Theatre – Olivier
Tom Scutt for set design for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre – WINNER
Best lighting design
Paule Constable and Ben Jacobs for Oliver! at Gielgud theatre – WINNER
Howard Hudson for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Howard Hudson for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park theatre
Aideen Malone for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Best new opera production
Duke Bluebeard's Castle by English National Opera at London Coliseum
Festen by the Royal Opera at Royal Opera House – WINNER
L'Olimpiade by Irish National Opera and the Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
The Tales of Hoffmann by the Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Outstanding achievement in opera
Aigul Akhmetshina for her performance in Carmen at Royal Opera House
Allan Clayton for his performance in Festen at Royal Opera House – WINNER
Jung Young-doo for his direction of Lear at Barbican theatre
Best family show
Brainiac Live at Marylebone theatre – WINNER
Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas at Apollo theatre
The Nutcracker at Polka theatre
Rough Magic at Shakespeare's Globe – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Best new production in affiliate theatre
Animal Farm at Theatre Royal Stratford East by George Orwell, adapted by Tatty Hennessy
Boys on the Verge of Tears by Sam Grabiner at Soho theatre – WINNER
English by Sanaz Toossi at Kiln theatre
Now, I See by Lanre Malaolu at Theatre Royal Stratford East
What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander at Marylebone theatre
Best new dance production
Assembly Hall by Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young at Sadler's Wells – WINNER
Frontiers: Choreographers of Canada – Pite/Kudelka/Portner by the National Ballet of Canada at Sadler's Wells
Theatre of Dreams by Hofesh Shechter Company at Sadler's Wells
An Untitled Love by A.I.M by Kyle Abraham at Sadler's Wells
Outstanding achievement in dance
Sarah Chun for her performance in Three Short Ballets at Royal Opera House – Linbury theatre
Tom Visser for his lighting design of Angels' Atlas as part of F rontiers: Choreographers of Canada –
Pite/Kudelka/Portner at Sadler's Wells
Eva Yerbabuena for her performance in Yerbagüena at Sadler's Wells – WINNER
Best theatre choreographer
Matthew Bourne for Oliver! at Gielgud theatre
Julia Cheng for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Hofesh Shechter for Oedipus at the Old Vic
Christopher Wheeldon for MJ the Musical at Prince Edward theatre – WINNER
Best costume design
Hugh Durrant for Robin Hood at the London Palladium
Sachiko Nakahara for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
Tom Scutt for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Gabriella Slade for Starlight Express at Troubadour Wembley Park theatre – WINNER
Best sound design
Nick Lidster for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre – WINNER
Christopher Shutt for Oedipus at the Old Vic
Thijs van Vuure for The Years at Almeida theatre and Harold Pinter theatre
Koichi Yamamoto for Spirited Away at London Coliseum
Outstanding musical contribution
Mark Aspinall for musical supervision and additional orchestrations for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Darren Clark for music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements and Mark Aspinall for musical direction, music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at Ambassadors theatre – WINNER
Dave Malloy for orchestrations and Nicholas Skilbeck for musical supervision for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse
Asaf Zohar for compositions and Gavin Sutherland for dance arrangements and orchestration for Ballet Shoes at National Theatre – Olivier
Best actress in a supporting role in a musical
Liv Andrusier for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Amy Di Bartolomeo for The Devil Wears Prada at Dominion theatre
Beverley Klein for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Maimuna Memon for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Donmar Warehouse – WINNER
Best musical revival
Fiddler on the Roof, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book by Joseph Stein at Regent's Park Open Air theatre – WINNER
Hello, Dolly!, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart at the London Palladium
Oliver!, book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, new material and revisions by Cameron Mackintosh at Gielgud theatre
Starlight Express, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Richard Stilgoe at Troubadour Wembley Park theatre
Best actor in a supporting role in a musical
Andy Nyman for Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium
Raphael Papo for Fiddler on the Roof at Regent's Park Open Air theatre
Layton Williams for Titanique at Criterion theatre – WINNER
Tom Xander for Mean Girls at Savoy theatre
Best new entertainment or comedy play
Ballet Shoes adapted by Kendall Feaver at National Theatre – Olivier
Inside No 9 Stage/Fright by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith at Wyndham's theatre
Spirited Away adapted by John Caird and co-adapted by Maoko Imai at London Coliseum
Titanique by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli at Criterion theatre
Best revival
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell at the Old Vic
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
2 days ago
- Times
Greg Wise: ‘It wasn't love at first sight when I met Emma'
Actor Greg Wise, 59, grew up in Northumberland. He met his wife, the actress Emma Thompson, on the set of the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility. They have an adopted son, Tindy, and a daughter, Gaia, who is an actress. He has starred in The Crown and the BBC's Cranford, and lives in London. Would you say 'nepo baby' to a doctor whose parents were both doctors? No. I was brought up in a house of two architects and I trained as an architect. Our daughter is a young actor. We were never not going to have a daughter who wanted to be an actress. If a household seeps a certain profession through every pore, you're going to pick up on that as a child. She's the spitting image of a young Emma, and played her in a film.


Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Like a rolling stone, the marvellous Girl From The North Country has rocked back up at the Old Vic theatre...and 8 years on, it's even better than the first time round, says Georgina Brown
Girl From The North Country (Old Vic, London) Verdict: Knocking on Heaven's Door Rating: Conor McPherson's play set in 1930's depression era America is thrice blessed: by McPherson's extraordinary talent as a writer and director for creating a mood; by a remarkable ensemble of actors-singers-dancers playing the failures, fugitives and afflicted who inhabit his play; and by a soundtrack of 23 of Bob Dylan 's songs. He is the only playwright whom Dylan has favoured with such an opportunity. Beautifully integrated and transformed by Simon Hale's bewitching arrangements, the music seems to express the near inexpressible emotions of lost souls blowing in the wind. Revived at the Old Vic, where it started life in 2017, it is even more potent this time round. Back then, we wondered if it would work. Now we know it's a work of wonder. McPherson gathers his misfits in a run-down boarding house in Duluth, Minnesota. Best known for his haunting play, The Weir, he has a feel for lives trailed by the ghosts of dreams turned to dust. On Rae Smith's sepia-toned set, hotelier Nick (Colin Connor) is preparing stew for his guests, all in a rut or on the run. Dementia has robbed his wife Elizabeth of all inhibitions. An outstanding Katy Brayben sings like an angel, stamps like a rock star and dances like a whirling dervish. Meanwhile, Nick is failing to persuade his teenage pregnant black daughter Marianne (Justina Kehinde, marvellous) to accept a 70-year-old widower's offer of marriage. His wannabe-writer son Gene is drowning in rejection slips and drink. His widowed mistress (sparkling Maria Omakinwa) is plotting a way out. The respectable couple with a simple son are hiding something. There's nothing godly about Eugene McCoy's Bible-seller - but there's a true gentleness about Sifiso Mazibuko's once award-winning boxer. The first half finishes with a beautiful, heart-chilling, choral rendition of Like A Rolling Stone but this time, unlike the original production, the evening ends with a redemptive Moving On. Special, and not to be missed. Girl From The North Country is at the Old Vic until August 23. Nye (Olivier, National Theatre) Verdict: The end is Nye Rating: The end is Nye for Rufus Norris as Artistic Director of the National Theatre. His legacy show is a relaunch of last year's play by Tim Price starring Welsh superman Michael Sheen as the Welsh Labour politician Aneurin Bevan — the man who pushed through the foundation of the NHS after the Second World War. It commemorates his life, by recreating key scenes from it, while Nye hallucinates on morphine following surgery for a peptic ulcer in 1959. (The surgery revealed that he was actually dying of cancer.) Price has tweaked the play somewhat but it remains a two-hour 40-minute piece of high-spirited political hagiography. We learn of early experience fighting a speech impediment in an 'I am Spartacus' moment of school room collective action. You could even call it class war. But Nye really finds his voice in Tredegar Council, before becoming the Member for Ebbw Vale in Parliament and getting up the nose of both Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill. At one point, the ghost of his father takes him down the mines to show him how to bring down the most coal by 'striking' in the right place. With Sheen wearing pyjamas throughout, and the huge green hospital curtains of Vicki Mortimer's stage design acting as veils of consciousness, Norris's production is certainly ingenious. Yet its invention masks a deeply nostalgic and deferential attitude. What could have been a coruscating indictment of today's low-alcohol left feels more like an obsequious and sentimental epitaph. National Theatre, London, until August 16; Wales Millennium Centre August 22-30.


Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Strictly's Maisie Smith sent messages of support after major announcement
Former EastEnders actress Maisie Smith had news for adoring fans as she updated on a venture that had been a year in the making Former Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders star Maisie Smith has unveiled an exciting new career venture, and her devoted fans have rallied around to offer their encouragement. The 24-year-old, who rose to fame as Tiffany Butcher on the BBC One soap, has been making headlines with her recent projects. In addition to touring the UK with a stage show, she has now turned her attention to the world of fashion. A self-proclaimed fitness enthusiast and dancer, Maisie has collaborated with Gym King to launch her own clothing line, designed for a variety of activities. Sharing the news with her fans, Maisie posted a teaser video on Instagram, showcasing her new range as she puts it through its paces alongside two other dancers. The clip highlights her impressive moves and toned physique. Maisie captioned the post: "It's here! Almost a year in the making, and the @maisiesmithofficial Limitless collection has finally landed," reports Wales Online. She continued: "A range where style meets dance, Limitless X Maisie has been made to move with you, for you." The collection features sweat-wicking material, seamless sets, and compressive fabric. Maisie shot the promotional video at the renowned Diversity Studio, expressing her gratitude to the team and fellow dancers Shante Samuel and Georgia Lewiss for bringing her vision to life. Maisie added: "Shop this exclusive collection at now!" The comments section was flooded with praise from former co-stars and celebrity friends, all offering their support for Maisie's new endeavour. Jac Jossa, famed for her role as Lauren Branning on EastEnders, couldn't contain her excitement, commenting "Love it all," and "amazing." Diversity's very own Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely chimed in with a fiery emoji and hands raised in celebration. Strictly's dance sensation Karen Hauer also joined the chorus of praise, writing: "Yes, babe." The fanfare didn't stop there, with admirers gushing: "I absolutely love Maisie, I'll be getting some of this my gymdrobe asap," and "I can confirm every item is stunning." In other news, Maisie has been anything but resting on her laurels, having recently announced she'll be gracing stages across the UK, sharing the spotlight with Ed McVey from Netflix's The Crown, in the theatrical rendition of The Talented Mr Ripley. 2025 has been a whirlwind for Maisie, especially after her beau Max George faced a health scare, landing in hospital last December for significant heart surgery, and has since been on the mend. Max George, 36, a member of The Wanted, found himself in A&E needing a pacemaker when a heart block was discovered, causing irregular heartbeats. He later disclosed that he had to undergo a second heart surgery due to the pacemaker wires being inserted too deeply. Talking to The Sun about his ordeal, he shared: "I was trying to get back to good health but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted, and it was gradually getting worse and worse." In March, Max made the decision to return to work and take on the role of a tormented priest in Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds, which is currently touring the UK and Europe.