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Hairspray sweeps the board at Laurence Olivier Awards
Last updated at 15:15pm on 11.03.08West End musical Hairspray has swept the board at the Laurence Olivier Awards, scooping four of the prestigious accolades.
Its star, Leanne Jones, was named best actress in a musical for her role as teenager Tracy Turnblad.
The 22-year-old from Romford, Essex, had never appeared on the professional stage before landing the part and was working in a Halifax bank call centre this time last year.
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Scoop: Hairspray winners Leanne Jones, Michael Ball and Tracie Bennett at the Laurence Olivier Awards in London last night
Michael Ball, who plays Tracy's mother, said it was the “best night of his life” after being named best actor in a musical while Tracie Bennett won best performance in a supporting role.
The show, adapted from the cult John Waters film about a plump teenager who dreams of landing a spot on a local TV dance show in Sixties Baltimore, was also named best new musical.
Richard E Grant hosted the 32nd annual awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.
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Great Scott: Kristin hugs tight her Olivier award for best actress at the Grosvenor House
Best actor and actress: Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kristin Scott Thomas
In the play categories, Kristin Scott Thomas won the best actress award for her performance in The Seagull at the Royal Court Theatre.
She said: "I love working in theatre so much. I love going on stage every night. I love the words I have to say. I'm so proud to get this. It will be cherished.
To do theatre in London - which is the best place in the world for theatre - and to do it at the Royal Court is a dream come true.”
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Ray of sunshine: Summer Strallen, acclaimed for her performance in the Sound of Music, attended in support of Sir Lloyd Webber
She won for her performance as Arkadina, a prima donna actress worried about ageing.
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Support: nominee Anne-Marie Duff, with partnerJames McAvoy, lost out to Kristin Scott Thomas despite her critically acclaimed performance in Joan of Arc
“As a woman in her late forties with children and wrestling with her career, it was all so poignant.”
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Star couples: Denise Van Outen with her Any Dream Will Do boyfriend Lee Mead; Natasha Henstridge and Darius Danesh
Chiwetel Ejiofor took the best actor prize for his starring role in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse while Rupert Goold won best director for Macbeth at the Gielgud Theatre.
The best newcomer prize went to RADA graduate Tom Hiddleston for Cymbeline, which is currently at the Barbican in East London.
This year's Special Award went to Lord Lloyd Webber "for his remarkable achievements over the last few decades as well as his recent role in bringing theatre to new audiences the world over".
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Dark side: Kelly Osbourne was back to black in a demure dress
Lord Lloyd Webber also pulled off a publicity coup when he planted his new Maria, actress Summer Strallen, in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
He said: "I've had the luck to do the one thing I've always wanted to do most of all. Everything I've done is because I love musical theatre.”
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Industry heavyweights: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Madeleine Gurdon; artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre Kevin Spacey
