The 50th anniversary Olivier Awards ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday, hosted by Nick Mohammed. Paddington The Musical won seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, while Into the Woods won Best Musical Revival and Best Lighting Design. All My Sons won Best Revival and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Paapa Essiedu. Punch won Best New Play, adding to the evening's major accolades.
In the acting categories, Rosamund Pike won Best Actress for her role in Inter Alia, and Rachel Zegler won Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Evita. Julie Hesmondhalgh won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Punch. Dame Elaine Paige received the Special Award.
1997 it was a very different world, the way we spoke about trans-people... we had little understanding. All I could do at the time was reassure the different trans activist groups who were concerned I was playing the role that I was their ally.
Julie Hesmondhalgh's win comes with a notable background in trans advocacy. She played the trans character Hayley Cropper on Coronation Street from 1998 to 2014, a role originally written as a politically incorrect joke and meant to last only two weeks. Hesmondhalgh has stated that trans roles should be played by transgender actors.
Celebrity attendees made personal announcements during the event. Rosamund Pike appeared to confirm she has secretly married her long-term partner Robie Uniacke. Elizabeth Hurley attended with her boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus and her son Damian Hurley. Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton attended together, with Ashton revealing she welcomed her second child with Hiddleston late last year. Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen reunited at the ceremony.
I think there would have been unbearable pressure on a trans-actor coming out in such a public way on a huge and controversial storyline. It wasn't why I left but [my exit] came at the exact right time.
The ceremony was broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2. Into the Woods and Paddington The Musical each had 11 nominations, while All My Sons, Kenrex, and Stereophonic each had six nominations. Award presenters included Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Helen Mirren, and Dame Arlene Phillips.
Logistically, the Olivier Awards used a green carpet made from sustainable materials. The Olivier Awards were established in 1976, marking this year's milestone anniversary.
People who hadn't bought a ticket could effectively watch it live for free whereas everyone inside had to pay to watch it on a giant screen.