Eleanor Bley Griffiths and Kerri-Ann Roper
Dame Judi Dench has made history at the Olivier Awards as she has now won more Oliviers for acting than any other performer.
The veteran actress was named best actress in a supporting role for The Winter’s Tale at the ceremony held at London’s Royal Opera House. Her win for her role as Paulina in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s production takes her total win of Olivier Awards to eight.
As she collected her award, she joked she was “livid” as her win meant she had lost a bet with her grandson.
She said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m absolutely livid as I had a bet with my grandson... and I’m never going to be able to forget it.”
She praised “a really fantastic company and crew and stage management”, saying of the award: “It’s lovely to have but, in actual fact, it belongs to all those people just as much as it belongs to me.”
The best supporting actor award was won by Sherlock creator Mark Gatiss for his role in Three Days in the Country.
Musical revival Gypsy won four awards, the most of the evening, including the much-coveted best actress in a musical for Imelda Staunton.
Staunton said performing in Gypsy was “something special” and thanked her singing teacher.
Best actor in a musical winner Matt Henry, who won the gong for his role in Kinky Boots, dedicated his award to his co-star Killian Donnelly.
Kinky Boots took home three awards, including best actor in a musical for Matt Henry and the best new musical award.
Singer Cyndi Lauper performed Etta James’s Misty Blue, before the show’s host Michael Ball joined her on stage to duet Lauper’s hit True Colours.
The best supporting actor award in a musical went to David Bedella for In the Heights.
Lara Pulver, who won best supporting actress for Gypsy, said she had the “privilege” to act on the London stage after a childhood spent scrap-booking her favourite musicals and plays.
Oscar-winner Mark Rylance lost out on winning another big award as Kenneth Cranham took home the best actor award for The Father.
Denise Gough used her best actress win for People, Places and Things to register her concern that all actresses nominated in her category are white.
After accepting the award from James Norton, she said she was “just a bit disappointed” that, in a year marked by widespread uproar about the lack of diversity at awards shows, she was “sad” about the lack of diversity among the nominees in her own category.
The Magic Radio audience award was won by The Phantom of the Opera.
Full list of winners
Best revival: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best entertainment and family: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at Apollo Theatre
Best costume design: Gregg Barnes for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Best set design: Anna Fleischle for Hangmen at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre and Wyndham’s Theatre
Best lighting design: Mark Henderson for Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Best sound design: Tom Gibbons for People, Places and Things at National Theatre, Dorfman
Best new opera production: Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci at Royal Opera House
Outstanding achievement in opera: English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra for The Force of Destiny, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and The Queen of Spades at London Coliseum
Best actor in a supporting role: Mark Gatiss for Three Days in the Country at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best actress in a supporting role: Dame Judi Dench for The Winter’s Tale at Garrick Theatre
Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre: Pat Kinevane and Fishamble for Silent at Soho Theatre
Best new play: Hangmen
Best actor: Kenneth Cranham for The Father at Wyndham’s Theatre
Best actress: Denise Gough for People, Places and Things
Magic Radio Audience Award: The Phantom of the Opera
Best new comedy: Nell Gwynn at Apollo Theatre
Best new dance production: Woolf Works by Wayne McGregor at Royal Opera House
Outstanding achievement in dance: Alessandra Ferri for her performances in Cheri and Woolf Works at Royal Opera House
Outstanding achievement in musical: In the Heights at King’s Cross Theatre
Best theatre choreographer: Drew McOnie for In the Heights
Best director: Robert Icke for Oresteia at Almeida Theatre
Best actor in a supporting role in a musical: David Bedella for In the Heights
Best actress in a supporting role in a musical: Lara Pulver for Gypsy
Best musical revival: Gypsy
Best actor in a musical: Matt Henry for Kinky Boots
Best actress in a musical: Imelda Staunton for Gypsy
Best new musical: Kinky Boots