Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress | |
---|---|
Awarded for | Best Actress in a Play |
Location | England |
Presented by | Society of London Theatre |
First awarded | 1985 |
Currently held by | Sarah Snook for The Picture of Dorian Gray (2024) |
Website | officiallondontheatre |
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
This award was introduced in 1985, as Actress of the Year, then retitled to its current name for the 1993 ceremony. Prior to this award, from 1976 to 1984 (and again in 1988), there was a pair of awards given each year for this general category, one for Actress of the Year in a New Play and the other for Actress of the Year in a Revival.
Year | Actor | Play | Character |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | |||
Yvonne Bryceland | The Road to Mecca | Miss Helen | |
Wendy Morgan | Martine | Martine | |
Harriet Walter | The Castle | Skinner | |
Joanne Whalley | Saved | Pam | |
1986 | |||
Lindsay Duncan | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | Marquise de Merteuil | |
Julia McKenzie | Woman in Mind | Susan | |
Juliet Stevenson | As You Like It , Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Troilus and Cressida | Rosalind / Madame de Tourvel / Cressida | |
Irene Worth | The Bay at Nice | Valentina Nrovka | |
1987 | |||
Judi Dench | Antony and Cleopatra | Cleopatra | |
Miranda Richardson | A Lie of the Mind | Beth | |
Maggie Smith | Lettice and Lovage and Coming in to Land | Lettice Douffet / Halina | |
Juliet Stevenson | Yerma | Yerma | |
1989/90 | |||
Fiona Shaw | Electra , As You Like It and The Good Person of Szechwan | Electra / Celia / Shen Te | |
Sheila Hancock | Prin | Prin | |
Jane Lapotaire | Shadowlands | Joy | |
Prunella Scales | Single Spies | Elizabeth II |
Year | Actor | Play | Character |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | |||
Sharon D. Clarke | Death of a Salesman | Linda Loman | |
Hayley Atwell | Rosmersholm | Rebecca West | |
Juliet Stevenson | The Doctor | The Doctor | |
Phoebe Waller-Bridge | Fleabag | Fleabag | |
2021 | Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic [upper-alpha 1] | ||
2022 [upper-alpha 1] | |||
Sheila Atim | Constellations | Marianne | |
Lily Allen | 2:22 A Ghost Story | Jenny | |
Emma Corrin | Anna X | Anna | |
Cush Jumbo | Hamlet | Hamlet | |
2023 | |||
Jodie Comer | Prima Facie | Tessa | |
Patsy Ferran | A Streetcar Named Desire | Blanche DuBois | |
Mei Mac | My Neighbour Totoro | Mei | |
Janet McTeer | Phaedra (new version by Simon Stone) | Helen | |
Nicola Walker | The Corn Is Green | Miss Moffat | |
2024 | |||
Sarah Snook | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Performer / Various | |
Laura Donnelly | The Hills of California | Veronica / Joan | |
Sophie Okonedo | Medea | Medea | |
Sarah Jessica Parker | Plaza Suite | Karen Nash / Muriel Tate / Norma Hubley | |
Sheridan Smith | Shirley Valentine | Shirley Valentine | |
Note: The below awards and nominations include individuals awarded and nominated under the now-defunct categories Actress of the Year in a New Play and Actress of the Year in a Revival as well as the current combined Best Actress category.
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith is a British actress. Known for her wit in comedic roles, she has had an extensive career on stage and screen over seven decades and is one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actresses. She has received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for six Laurence Olivier Awards. Smith is one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.
The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply TheOlivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards, but they were renamed in honour of the British actor of the same name in 1984.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Costume Design is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The Oliviers were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The Oliviers were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Contribution is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.
The Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress, also known as the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress since 2009, is an annual award presented by the Evening Standard in recognition of achievement in British theatre.
The Triple Crown or the Grand Slam are terms used in the entertainment industry to describe individuals who have won the three highest accolades recognised in British film, television, and theatre: a British Academy Film Award, a British Academy Television Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award respectively.
From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction — you must stay at home.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Step 4 of the roadmap will allow productions to play without capacity restrictions. June 21 was the goal; now, the government is eyeing July 19.
Any new production that opened between 19 Feb. 2020 to 22 Feb. 2022 are eligible for categories in the 2022 Olivier Awards. With two years worth of shows set for honours in one year's ceremony, the 2022 Olivier Awards will prove tougher competition than before.