American actor John Lithgow won the best actor award at the London stage Olivier Awards on Sunday for his portrayal of the darker side of children’s author Roald Dahl in the play “Giant.”
The backwards-told story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” won best new musical at the awards, which are considered Britain’s version of the Tony Awards.
Lithgow, who stars in “Conclave,” added the Olivier to his collection of Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards. He was recognized for his role as the author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” in Mark Rosenblatt’s play, which examines Dahl’s antisemitic views.
“I think I’m going to faint,” said an emotional Lithgow, 79. He shared his gratitude and assured the British audience that the special relationship between the US and UK is still strong.
“It’s not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it’s probably a little more complicated than usual,” he said.
Lesley Manville, known for playing Princess Margaret in “The Crown,” won the best actress award for her role as the shocked royal wife Jocasta in “Oedipus.” The play, which is a modern-day version of the ancient Greek tragedy directed by Robert Icke, was also named best revival of a play. The show will be performed on Broadway later this year.
Imelda Staunton, who played Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of “The Crown,” won her fifth Olivier Award for best actress in a musical for “Hello, Dolly!” John Dagleish won best actor in a musical for playing the lead role in “Benjamin Button,” a musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story, which was also turned into a movie starring Brad Pitt in 2008.
Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman in the Oliver AwardsThe Olivier Awards were presented at a ceremony held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Broadway and TV star Billy Porter and British soul singer Beverley Knight.
Stars in the audience included Adrien Brody, who recently won an Academy Award, and was nominated for best actor at the Oliviers for his role in the death-row drama “The Fear of 13,” as well as Cate Blanchett, who recently performed in “The Seagull” in London.
“Giant” won three awards, including best new play. “Benjamin Button” also took home three awards, as did a lively outdoor production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, which won best musical revival.
Maimuna Memon was named best supporting actress in a musical for her role in the Tolstoy-inspired “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812.” Layton Williams won the supporting actor award for his role in the campy Celine Dion celebration show “Titanique.”
For plays, the supporting actor awards went to Elliot Levey for “Giant” and Romola Garai for “The Years.” Norwegian director Eline Arbo won best director for “The Years,” an adaptation of Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical book.
The Olivier Awards, which celebrate achievements in theater, opera, and dance, were established in 1976 and are named after the late actor-director Laurence Olivier. Winners are selected by voting groups made up of stage professionals and theatergoers.
