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Stage-struck Kristin's triumph
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 10.03.08
Great Scott: Kristin Scott Thomas hugs her Olivier award for best actress at the Grosvenor House Hotel
Best actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor won for his magnificent Othello
Special award: Reality TV winners Lee Mead and Connie Fisher with Andrew Lloyd-Webber
Best actress in a musical: Leanne Jones
I've won: Michael Ball was pleased to be named best actor in a musical
Main man: Kate Pakenham, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Michelle Kelly
Starry night: Tamsin Greig, Marianne Elliott and Bill Bailey
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She was nominated for an Oscar for The English Patient and has won a clutch of Baftas and awards for other work in film.
But as she held her Olivier award tight last night, Kristin Scott Thomas declared there was nothing like working in British theatre.
While the Sony Ericsson Empire Film Awards were taking place in another part of the Grosvenor House hotel, the actress was with Kevin Spacey, Ian McKellen and others at the annual celebration of the London stage.
"I don't give a monkeys [about the Empire awards]," 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." The 47-year-old actress, accompanied by her eldest daughter Hannah, was named best actress against competition from Shameless star Anne-Marie Duff and Penelope Wilton.
She won for her performance as Arkadina, a prima donna actress worried about ageing in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Royal Court. She said later: "There were a lot of things to really identify with - the anxiety of getting older, the silly little jealousies of the younger actresses coming up and what to do with her son. I just loved her. As a woman in her late forties with children and wrestling with her career, it was all so poignant."
Her co-star in The Seagull was named best actor - but for a different production. In a year of heavyweight Shakespearean performances from stars including McKellen and Patrick Stewart, Chiwetel Ejiofor claimed the honours for his Othello at the Donmar Warehouse.
Ejiofor dedicated his best actor award to Ed Wilson, the former artistic director of the National Youth Theatre who died last month.
He also paid tribute to his co-stars - Kelly Reilly, who was pipped to best actress by Scott Thomas, Tom Hiddleston, named best newcomer for another Shakespeare production of Cymbeline at the Barbican, and Ewan McGregor, who was overlooked at the Oliviers but named a film icon at the Empire awards."Ewan gave the most extraordinary performance [as Iago] and it was a joy to work with him. This award is also a testament to him."
Concluding a good night for Shakespeare, Rupert Goold won best director for Macbeth which also took the best lighting design awards.
The effervescent musical Hairspray was the big winner with four awards. Leanne Jones, 22, was named best actress in a musical and Michael Ball said it was the "best night of his life" after being named best actor.
Thomas Meehan, one of its American writers, said: "There's no place like London, there's no theatre like London. I'm so pleased to come here and have such a great cast do our play."
The Society of London Theatre's special award was presented to Andrew Lloyd Webber, who 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."
THE WINNERS
Best new comedy Rafta Rafta (Lyttelton Theatre)
Best director Rupert Goold, Macbeth (Gielgud Theatre)
Best new musical Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre)
Best actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Othello (Donmar Warehouse)
Best actress Kristin Scott Thomas, The Seagull (Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court)
Best performance in a supporting role Rory Kinnear, The Man of Mode (Olivier Theatre)
Best actress in a musical Leanne Jones, Hairspray
Best actor in a musical Michael Ball, Hairspray
Best performance in a supporting role in a musical Tracie Bennett, Hairspray
Best newcomer in a play Tom Hiddleston, Cymbeline (Barbican)
Best theatre choreographer Toby Sedgwick, War Horse (Olivier Theatre)
Best new opera production The Royal Opera's Pelleas et Melisande (Royal Opera House)
Outstanding achievement in opera Natalie Dessay, La Fille du Regiment (Royal Opera House)
Best revival Saint Joan (Olivier Theatre)
Best musical revival The Magic Flute, Impempe Yomlingo (Young Vic)
Best new play A Disappearing Number (Barbican)
Best lighting design Macbeth (Gielgud Theatre)
Best sound design Saint Joan (Olivier Theatre)
Best new dance production The Royal Ballet Company's Jewels (Royal Opera House)
Outstanding achievement in dance The Royal Ballet Company for Jewels
Best costume design The Man Of Mode (Olivier Theatre)
Best set design War Horse (Olivier Theatre)
The Society's special award Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Reader views (1)
Well done to Rory Kinnear. His fopp in 'the man of mode' was fantastically funny. I go to the theatre a lot ( 3 to 4 times a month) and it is incredibly difficult to make me laugh - let alone laugh out loud - but he did. Glad to see that his performance has been recognised.
- Sandrina, london
