John Lithgow won the Best Actor award at the London Olivier Awards for his portrayal of Roald Dahl in the play Giant, which delves into the darker aspects of the beloved children’s author. The play, written by Mark Rosenblatt, examines Dahl’s controversial antisemitic views. Lithgow, who has previously earned Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards, expressed his gratitude, saying he hoped to reassure Britons of the strong transatlantic bond between the U.S. and the UK.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was named Best New Musical. The show, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story and the 2008 film starring Brad Pitt, also won Best Actor in a Musical for John Dagleish’s performance as Benjamin Button.
Lesley Manville received the Best Actress award for her role as Jocasta in Oedipus, a modern adaptation of the Greek tragedy directed by Robert Icke, which will soon open on Broadway. Imelda Staunton, known for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, won her fifth Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical in Hello, Dolly!.
Other notable winners included Elliot Levey and Romola Garai, who took home the Supporting Actor and Actress awards for Giant and The Years, respectively. Layton Williams and Maimuna Memon won in the supporting categories for Titanique and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.
The awards ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, hosted by Billy Porter and Beverley Knight. The Oliviers, established in 1976 and named after the legendary actor-director Laurence Olivier, honor excellence in theater, opera, and dance, with winners selected by industry professionals and theater audiences.
