Sunset Boulevard came out on top with an impressive seven wins at this year’s Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday, while Sarah Snook and Andrew Scott’s play also win big.
Nicole Scherzinger broke down into tears as she was handed the Best Actress in a Musical prize for Sunset Boulevard, while her leading co-star Tom Francis took home the Best Actor in a Musical gong.
Nicole, who almost tripped on her way to accept the award, said: ‘Thank God for saving me from that trip right there. But seriously, without him I am nothing.’
‘Thank you to the London theatre community for wrapping your arms and legs around me like a spider monkey and embracing me as one of your own.’
Fighting back tears, she continued: ‘Coming from really humble beginnings I always wanted to be a singer and do musicals’, she also said she wants to do ‘so many roles’ in the future.
Nicole Scherzinger broke down after winning Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Sunset Boulevard which scored an impressive seven wins the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday, while Sarah Snook also won big (Pictured: Nicole Scherziger, left, Sarah Snook, right)
Elsewhere there was triumph of sorts for Andrew Scott, who surprisingly lost out on the award for Best Actor but found himself among the winners after VANYA, director Stephen Simon’s contemporary rendering of the Anton Chekhov classic, claimed the award for Best Revival during the event at London’s Royal Albert Hall (L-R: Simon Stephens, Rosanna Vize, Andrew Scott and Sam Yates, accepting the Best Revival award for VANYA)
Jamie Lloyd won the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director and the show also won Best Musical Revival.
Elsewhere, Jack Knowles took home the White Light Award for Best Lighting Design; Alan Williams won for the Outstanding Musical Contribution award for his musical supervision & musical direction and Adam Fisher won the d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design.
Pop star Nicole joked that she first wanted to thank God for stopping her from tripping on the way to accept her Best Actress in a Musical gong.
The US actress and singer also said that she ‘was coming for blood’ on Broadway ahead of her taking Sunset Boulevard to New York.
After weeks of accolades it was almost inevitable that Sarah Snook might lead the winners as the 2024 Olivier Awards got underway on Sunday evening – and so it proved as the Australian star was named Best Actress, and rightly so.
Snook – best known for her starring role in HBO series Succession – scooped the award for her mesmerising one-woman performance in a new West End production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray.
The Australian actress takes all 26 roles in the production, among them Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane and of course Gray himself.
Elsewhere there was triumph of sorts for Andrew Scott, who surprisingly lost out on the award for Best Actor but found himself among the winners after VANYA, director Stephen Simon’s contemporary rendering of the Anton Chekhov classic, claimed the award for Best Revival during the event at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The Pussycat Dolls singer also said that ‘coming from really humble beginnings I always wanted to be a singer and do musicals’
Pop star Nicole joked that she first wanted to thank God for stopping her from tripping on the way to accept her Best Actress in a Musical gong, while her co-star Tom Francis looked delighted as he collected his statue
Nicole looked stunning as she posed with her award backstage, wearing a glamorous black dress with a low cut sweetheart neckline and a thigh-high split
Nicol was handed the Best Actress in a Musical prize for her performance in Sunset Boulevard while her leading co-star Tom (left) took home the Best Actor in a Musical gong
Nicole could be seen congratulating Tom after the pair both won Best Actress in a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical respectively for their leading roles in Sunset Boulevard
Nicole and Tom shared a friendly kiss on the cheek as they met in the winners’ room after collecting their awards on stage during the ceremony
The US actress and singer also said that she ‘was coming for blood’ on Broadway ahead of her taking Sunset Boulevard to New York
The hit musical, starring Nicole Scherzinger (pictured) claimed multiple awards during Sunday evening’s ceremony
Sarah Snook (left) – best known for her starring role in HBO series Succession – scooped Best Actress for her mesmerising one-handed adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray, while Will Close (right) earned the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for his portrayal of Bayern Munich and England footballer Harry Kane in Dear England
Australian actress Snook takes all 26 roles in her production of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, among them Basil Hallward, Sibyl Vane and of course Gray himself
Scott brings to life multiple characters in adapter and co-creators Stephens’ radical new version of the play, with Sunday’s accolade coming just weeks after the death of his mother, Nora.
Adapted and directed by Sydney Theatre Company’s artistic director Kip Williams, the play has already had successful runs in Adelaide, Auckland and Melbourne with actress Eryn Jean Norvill starring.
Snook paid tribute to Oscar Wilde, the author of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, for coming up with the story in the first place and paid tribute to the one-woman show’s production staff and director.
While Scott celebrated Vanya’s triumph with his colleagues on Sunday night, the much-fancied star missed out on the award for Best Actor, with Mark Gatiss pipping him to the coveted gong.
Gatiss plays the late screen and stage legend Sir John Gielgud in Jack Thorne’s The Motive And The Cue, a theatrical take on the fraught history behind a notorious 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet, starring Gielgud and Richard Burton.
The British actor told audience members that the announcer had pronounced his name wrong, saying ‘it is Gatiss’ and thanked his husband, actor and writer Ian Hallard, for putting up with his ‘haircut’.
He beat actors Joseph Fiennes, who played England manager Gareth Southgate in Dear England, Happy Valley’s James Norton, Doctor Who star and Scottish actor David Tennant and Irish star Scott.
Elsewhere there was triumph for Will Close, whose portrayal of Bayern Munich and England footballer Harry Kane in Dear England earned him Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
The play, written by James Graham, sees Joseph Fiennes star as England manager Gareth Southgate at the National Theatre and shines a light on the pressures of penalties and Gareth’s ‘cultural reform’ of the national team in his six years as manager.
While Scott celebrated Vanya’s triumph with his colleagues on Sunday night, the much-fancied star missed out on the award for Best Actor, with Mark Gatiss pipping him to the coveted gong for his role in The Motive And The Cue
Snook as Dorian, one of the 26 characters the actress plays during the production of The Picture Of Dorian Gray at Haymarket Theatre in London
Snook plays every single character in her rendering of The Picture of Dorian Gray, while Best plays England captain Harry Kane in Dear England, which also won Best Play on the night
(Left to right) Presenters Michael Sheen, Simon Stephens, Rosanna Vize, Andrew Scott Sam Yates and Anna Maxwell Martin pose with the Best Revival award for VANYA in the winners room. The award was presented by Sheen and Martin
An overjoyed Sarah Snook makes her way to the press room after collecting her Best Actress award on Sunday evening
Nicole, 45, ensured all eyes were on her in a plunging black gown, with a daringly high slit to showcase her long legs
The Pussycat Doll flashed some major sideboob in the revealing dress, which cinched her in at her tiny waist
Model Cara, 31, showed off plenty of skin as she arrived in a show-stopping backless gown, leaving many of her tattoos on full display
Tom Wexler and Miriam Buether won the award for Best Set Design courtesy of their work on Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Joseph Fiennes as England men’s national team manager Gareth Southgate in Dear England, a play about his tenure in charge of the Three Lions
Joseph Fiennes was seen performing on stage as Gareth Southgate during The Olivier Awards 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday
The play, written by James Graham, sees Joseph star as England manager Gareth Southgate at the National Theatre and shines a light on the pressures of penalties and Gareth’s ‘cultural reform’ of the national team in his six years as manager
Dear England playwright James Graham with award presenters Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson on Sunday evening
With Gareth Southgate’s chances of winning the European Championships this summer remain debatable, Dear England, the play about his tenure as manager of the nation tea, was named best Play (pictured: playwright James Graham)
Close (far right) plays Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane in recent West End hit Dear England
Both Wil Close (left) and Sam Yates (right) made speeches after claiming their respective awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Revival
Best Actor winner Mark Gatiss poses for a photo with award presenters Denise Gough and and Billy Crudup on Sunday night
Gatiss plays the late screen and stage legend Sir John Gielgud in Jack Thorne’s The Motive And The Cue, a theatrical take on the fraught history behind a notorious 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet, starring Gielgud and Richard Burton
Sheridan, 42, stepped out in a sheer black dress as she puts her troubles aside after her musical Opening Night was cancelled two months early
Andrew Scott made a debonair arrival in a black cropped suit jacket over an eye-catching sequinned shirt, left partially unbuttoned to show a glimpse of his chest
One of the other Best Actor nominees, Joseph Fiennes, looked handsome in a black suit and coordinating bow tie
The actor, 53, was joined by his wife Maria Dolores Dieguez, who looked elegant in a black gown with fringed sleeves
Michel Sheen, 55, was joined by his wife Anna Lundberg, 30, who looked ethereal in a floaty strapless white gown
Jak Malone is seen with the Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical award for his role in Operation Mincemeat on stage during The Olivier Awards 2024 at The Royal Albert Hall
Former Strictly judge Dame Arlene Phillips was also among the roll call, with the professional dancer and collaborator Jamie Cousins on hand to collect the award for Best Theatre Choreographer in long-running West End hit Guys & Dolls
The pair were in good spirits as they walked on stage to collect their awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London
Singer Michael Ball presented the Best Choreographer award to Dame Arlene and James
Dame Arlene and James appeared in good spirits as they posed together after collecting their awards on stage during the ceremony
Actor and singer Luke Treadaway is seen arriving on stage with model Cara Delevingne to present an award during the glitzy ceremony
Luke and Cara present Alan Williams with the Outstanding Musical Contribution award on stage during The Olivier Awards 2024
Cara could be seen smiling on stage while wearing a blue and red sequinned dress, with her body art on show
Actor Richard E. Grant, and singer and television star Michelle Visage were seen on stage as they presented the Best New Musical prize to Operation Mincemeat
Close thanked footballer Kane, whom he played in the production, and Joseph Fiennes for being a ‘hero’.
‘My mum who passed away with Covid … here’s to all the single mums in council housing,’ he added.
With Gareth Southgate’s chances of winning the European Championships this summer remain debatable, the production also came out on top by winning Best Play.
Stage veteran Haydn Gwynne also featured among the early winners, with her performance as Stanley Baldwin in When Winston Went to War With the Wireless earning the Best Actress in a Supporting Role award.
Further awards went to Marg Horwell for Best Costume Design in The Picture Of Dorian Gray and Tom Wexler and Miriam Buether for Best Set Design in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, while the Outstanding Achievement in Opera award went to Sir Antonio Pappano for his role as Musical Director of the Royal Opera House.
The Royal Opera House enjoyed a second win after Innocence by Royal Opera won Best New Opera Production, while the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre went to Sleepova by Matilda FeyiṣayọIbini.
Stranger Things, inspired by the popular Netflix series, also won for a second time after claiming the Noël Coward award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play.
Amy Trigg, winner of the Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical award for The Little Big Things, was seen posing with her statue
Amy was seen chatting to Nicole Scherzinger at the Royal Albert Hall as the pair congratulated one another on their wins
Sir Lenny Henry presented Jamie Lloyd with the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director, earned for his work on Sunset Boulevard
Jamie Lloyd with the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director (left) and Marg Horwell onstage with the Mithridate Award for Best Costume Design in in The Picture Of Dorian Gray (right)
Adam Fisher won the d&b audiotechnik Award for Best Sound Design for Sunset Boulevard
Snook addresses the audience at London’s Royal Albert Hall after accepting her award on Sunday evening
Alex Beard holds the Outstanding Achievement In Opera Award, awarded to Antonio Pappano, during the Olivier Awards on Sunday evening
Nicole made a very stylish exit following the ceremony as she clutched her trophy proudly
Sheridan flashed a huge smile as she left the swanky Royal Albert Hall
She no doubt was heading to one of the ceremony’s many after parties with her fellow nominees
Model Clara clutched a programme from the event as she left the venue
Michelle Visage slipped a leather jacket over her stylish dress as she braved the cold
X factor star Joe McElderry beamed as he said his goodbyes
Sunset Boulevard, the West End hit starring Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, featured among the winners thanks to Jamie Lloyd, who claimed the award for Best Director after taking on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
The hugely popular show also picked up the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, Best Sound Design and Best Lighting Design, while the award for Musical Supervision and Musical Direction went to Alan Williams for his contribution to the musical.
The award for Best New Dance Production went to La Ruta by Gabriela Carrizo and the award for Best New Musical went to Operation Mincemeat.
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips was also among Sunday evening’s roll call, with the professional dancer and collaborator Jamie Cousins on hand to collect the award for Best Theatre Choreographer in long-running West End hit Guys & Dolls.
Launched in 1976, the annual ceremony – widely regarded as the most prestigious of its kind – honours the best of London’s vibrant West End theatre schedule.
Sunday’s show was once again presented by seasoned stage and screen star Hannah Waddingham, who returned for the second consecutive year following her consummate job as compere in 2023.
Waddingham opened the event with singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe, while the ceremony finale marked the National Theatre’s 60th anniversary.
Performances came from best new musical nominees including The Little Big Things, Next To Normal, Operation Mincemeat and A Strange Loop, alongside best musical revival nominees Guys & Dolls and Hadestown
Individual presenters on the night included Dominic West, Michael Ball, Michael Sheen, Rosalind Plowright, Sir Lenny Henry and Michelle Visage.
Nominations for the 2024 ceremony were announced on March 12, with Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Snook and Sheridan Smith all receiving nods.