Enduring British star Vanessa Redgrave has won her first Tony Award, for her performance on Broadway in the play Long Day's Journey Into Night. The 66-year-old, who beat off competition from fellow Briton Fiona Shaw, made an emotional acceptance speech, saying American actors had taught her "what theatre should be like".
Her co-star Brian Dennehy took the best actor gong at the ceremony, which is the most prestigious prize-giving in US theatre. The burly actor joked that his fellow nominee, Eddie Izzard, should have won for his performance in A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg.
"You're the man Eddie," he said. "You deserve it. You're in a class by yourself." Other well-known players who made the shortlist but left empty-handed included Antonio Banderas, for the play Nine and Paul Newman for Our Town.
The big winner of the night was the play Hairspray which led the field with 13 nominations. The stage adaptation of John Water's legendary film took home eight of the awards, including best musical, best score, best actress in a musical and best actor in a musical.
"Boy am I glad this wasn't a beauty contest," quipped Hairspray's lead performer Harvey Fierstein. In the production he plays the heroine's mother, dressed in drag. And his co-star Marissa Jaret Winokur was equally enthusiastic upon winning her gong: "If a 4-foot-11 chubby New York girl can get a leading role in a Broadway show and get a Tony – anything can happen."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
