Angela Lansbury finally wins first Olivier Award

Even though Angela Lansbury has a few Tonys, an honorary Oscar and was already made a dame, she had not won an Olivier Award. That changed on Sunday, when she finally won a prize at the ceremony honoring the best in British theater.

Lansbury won for her supporting role in a revival of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit. The 89-year-old stars as psychic Madame Arcati. When she picked up her award, the audience erupted in applause.

“I am so infinitely grateful to have this baby in my hands. You have no idea,” Lansbury told the crowd, reports The Associated Press. “Here I am creeping up to 90 and feeling like a million dollars.”

Sunny Afternoon, a musical about The Kinks, won the most awards with four, including Best New Musical. Ray Davies, the real-life Kinks songwriter, picked up an outstanding achievement award for the score.

A revival of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge was the top-honored play, with three awards. Director Ivo van Hove won Best Director and Mark Strong won Best Actor in a Play. The production itself won Best Revival.

Here’s the full list of winners:

MasterCard Best New Musical: Sunny Afternoon
Best Actress (Musical): Katie Brayben, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Best Actor (Musical): John Dagleish, Sunny Afternoon
Magic Radio Best Musical Revival: City of Angels
Best Supporting Actress (Musical): Lorna Want, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Best Supporting Actor (Musical): George Maguire, Sunny Afternoon
Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music: Ray Davies, Sunny Afternoon
Best Director: Ivo Van Hove, A View From The Bridge
Best Theatre Choreography: Sergio Trujillo, Memphis The Musical
Best Entertainment & Family: La Soiree
Outstanding Achievement In Dance: Crystal Pite
Best New Dance Production: 32 Rue Vandenbranden by Peeping Tom, Mats Ek’s Juliet and Romeo by Royal Swedish Ballet
This Morning Audience Award: Wicked
Best Actress (Play): Penelope Wilton, Taken at Midnight
Best Actor (Play): Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge
Virgin Atlantic Best New Play: King Charles III

Outstanding Achievement in Opera: Richard Jones for his direction of The Girl Of The Golden West, The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg and Rodelinda at London Coliseum
Best New Opera Production: The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg
Best Supporting Actress (Play): Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Best Supporting Actor (Play): Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall, Bring Up The Bodies
XL Video Award for Best Set Design: Es Devlin for The Nether
Best Costume Design: Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies
Best Sound Design: Gareth Owen, Memphis The Musical
White Light Award for Best Lighting Design: Howard Harrison, City Of Angels
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre: Bull at The Maria at Young Vic

Best New Comedy: The Play That Goes Wrong
Best Revival: A View From The Bridge

image courtesy of INFphoto.com