Hollywood stars lead the way at Olivier nominationson March 12, 2024 at 4:21 pm

Hollywood stars lead the nominations for this year’s Olivier Awards, with Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Snook and Sarah Jessica Parker all recognised.

The hit musical Sunset Boulevard scooped 11 nods, including Scherzinger for best actress in a musical and Tom Francis for best actor in a musical.

And Dear England, James Graham’s play about Gareth Southgate, has nine, with Joseph Fiennes receiving his first.

The Oliviers is seen as the most prestigious awards event in UK theatre.

Sunset Boulevard, a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s story of a fading film star, also received nominations in all the acting categories for a musical, as well as best musical revival, and best director for Jamie Lloyd.

The National Theatre garnered the most nominations for a single company, with its productions Dear England, Hadestown, The Motive and the Cue, Till the Stars Come Down and The Effect all recognised across a number of categories.

Footballing drama Dear England is the most nominated play, with nods including Fiennes for best actor, Gina McKee for best actress in a supporting role, Rupert Goold for best director and best new play.

Many television, film and music stars have received recognition, including James Norton for A Little Life and Parker, who scored her first Olivier nomination, for Plaza Suite.

The Sex and the City star is appearing opposite her husband Matthew Broderick in Neil Simon’s 1968 play, with critics praising her performance as “a revelation”.

A number of one-person plays received nominations in the best actor and actress categories – include Snook’s first, for The Picture of Dorian Gray, Andrew Scott for Vanya and Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, based on Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel, is running in London’s West End until May.

Snook, who starred in Succession, plays 26 characters in the play and is surrounded by a camera crew so her performance can be beamed onto overhead screens.

“I’m pretty stoked, yeah, just a bit overwhelmed,” the Adelaide-born actress told the BBC upon learning of her nomination.

“Australia’s asleep so I haven’t called my parents yet to tell them. I’m excited when they wake up to give them a call.”

David Tennant also scored a best actor nomination for his portrayal of Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse.

Others who made the shortlist include Haydn Gwynne, posthumously nominated for best actress in a supporting role for When Winston Went to War with the Wireless.

And, in an unusual twist, one performer is still in the dark about their Olivier nomination.

Marisha Wallace is up for best actress in a musical for her portrayal of nightclub singer Adelaide in Guys And Dolls; but she went straight from the West End to the Celebrity Big Brother house, alongside the likes of Sharon Osbourne and Fern Britton.

The reality show’s producers confirmed on Tuesday that she won’t be told about her nomination “until she leaves the house”.

The best new musical nominees are The Little Big Things, Next to Normal, Operation Mincemeat and A Strange Loop.

The best musical revival category also has a number of strong favourites, including Groundhog Day, Guys & Dolls, Hadestown and Sunset Boulevard.

The annual awards ceremony takes place on 14 April at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Hannah Waddingham.

Best actress

Best actor

Best new play

Best actress in a musical

Best actor in a musical

Best new musical

Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director

Best revival

Best musical revival