Ex-soap star Martine McCutcheon has proved her worth as a stage actress, scoring a nomination for Best Actress in the Laurence Olivier Awards, the most prestigious honour in UK Theatre. The nod for her role as Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady is just one of eight for the hit show, just narrowly surpassed by the London revival of Kiss Me Kate, which led the list with nine.
An untrained singer, the former Eastenders star won over critics in the hit musical, but, plagued by illness throughout the season, she quit the show four months early. Co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Nicholas Le Prevost went on in the West End production, and have garnered nominations for best actor and best supporting actor, respectively.
Kiss Me, Kate has been shortlisted in nine different categories, the most of any play this year. The classic musical, transferred from Broadway to London, is up against My Fair Lady and South Pacific for Outstanding Musical Production. The four visiting US stars from Kiss Me Kate, Marin Mazzie, Brent Barrett, Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse, have been recognised for their performances.
In the non-musical category, Private Lives led the pack with seven nominations. Lindsay Duncan will compete against herself in the Best Actress category after being nominated for the Noel Coward comedy as well as Mouth To Mouth, and will also go head to head against Boston Marriage’s Zoe Wanamaker and Victoria Hamilton for A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg.
Lindsay’s Private Lives co-star Alan Rickman was named in the Best Actor category, up against Sean Foley and Hamish McColl, nominated for their tribute to Morecambe and Wise, The Play What I Wrote, Simon Russell Beale (Humble Boy) and Roger Allam (Privates on Parade).
Other nominees included US Singer Barbara Cook for her Stephen Sondheim tribute show and actor Ned Beatty, nominated for his supporting role in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.The League of Gentlemen, The Vagina Monologues, Gagarin Way and Closer To Heaven are among the honoured productions.
The Laurence Olivier Awards will be presented in London on February 15.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
