Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress explained

Laurence Olivier Award
for Best Actress
Awarded For:Best Actress in a Play
Presenter:Society of London Theatre
Year:1985
Holder:Sarah Snook for The Picture of Dorian Gray (2024)

The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

This award was introduced in 1985, as Actress of the Year, then retitled to its current name for the 1993 ceremony. Prior to this award, from 1976 to 1984 (and again in 1988), there was a pair of awards given each year for this general category, one for Actress of the Year in a New Play and the other for Actress of the Year in a Revival.

Winners and nominees

1980s

YearActorPlayCharacter
1985
Yvonne BrycelandThe Road to MeccaMiss Helen
Wendy MorganMartineMartine
Harriet WalterThe CastleSkinner
Joanne WhalleySavedPam
1986
Lindsay DuncanLes Liaisons DangereusesMarquise de Merteuil
Julia McKenzieWoman in MindSusan
Juliet StevensonAs You Like It, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Troilus and CressidaRosalind / Madame de Tourvel / Cressida
Irene WorthThe Bay at NiceValentina Nrovka
1987
Judi DenchAntony and CleopatraCleopatra
Miranda RichardsonA Lie of the MindBeth
Maggie SmithLettice and Lovage and Coming in to LandLettice Douffet / Halina
Juliet StevensonYermaYerma
1989/90
Fiona ShawElectra, As You Like It and The Good Person of SzechwanElectra / Celia / Shen Te
Sheila HancockPrinPrin
Jane LapotaireShadowlandsJoy
Prunella ScalesSingle SpiesElizabeth II

1990s

YearActorPlayCharacter
1991
Kathryn HunterThe VisitClaire Zachanassian
Penny DownieScenes from a MarriageMarianne
Barbara JeffordCoriolanusVolumnia
Josette SimonAfter the FallMaggie
1992
Juliet StevensonDeath and the MaidenPaulina
Janet McTeerUncle VanyaYelena
Patricia RoutledgeTalking HeadsMiss Schofield
Fiona ShawHedda GablerHedda Gabler Tesman
1993
Alison SteadmanThe Rise and Fall of Little VoiceMari
Stockard ChanningSix Degrees of SeparationOuisa Kittredge
Judi DenchThe Gift of the GorgonHelen
Jane HorrocksThe Rise and Fall of Little VoiceLittle Voice
1994
Fiona ShawMachinalYoung Woman
Kathryn HunterThe SkrikerSkriker
Diana RiggMedeaMedea
Penelope WiltonThe Deep Blue SeaHester Collyer
1995
Clare HigginsSweet Bird of YouthAlexandra Del Lago
Frances de la TourLes Parents terriblesLeo
Sheila GishLes Parents terriblesYvonne
Margot LeicesterBroken GlassSylvia Gellburg
1996
Judi DenchAbsolute HellChristine Foskett
Diana RiggMother CourageMother Courage
Zoë WanamakerThe Glass MenagerieAmanda Wingfield
Lia WilliamsSkylightKyra Hollis
1997
Janet McTeerA Doll's HouseNora Helmer
Eileen AtkinsJohn Gabriel BorkmanMrs. Gunhild Borkman
Vanessa RedgraveJohn Gabriel BorkmanElla Rentheim
Diana RiggWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Martha
1998
Zoë WanamakerElectraElectra
Judi DenchAmy's ViewEsme Allen
Sally DexterCloserAnna
Maggie SmithA Delicate BalanceClaire
1999
Eileen AtkinsThe Unexpected ManWoman
Sinéad CusackOur Lady of SligoMai O'Hara
Judi DenchFilumena MarturanoFilumena
Nicole KidmanThe Blue RoomVarious Characters
Diana RiggBritannicus and PhèdreAgrippina / Phaedra

2000s

YearActorPlayCharacter
2000
Janie DeeComic PotentialJacie Triplethree
Jennifer EhleThe Real ThingAnnie
Maggie SmithThe Lady in the VanMiss Shepherd
Alison SteadmanThe Memory of WaterTeresa
2001
Julie WaltersAll My SonsKate Keller
Jessica LangeLong Day's Journey Into NightMary Tyrone
Helen MirrenOrpheus DescendingLady Torrance
Julia OrmondMy Zinc BedElsa
Harriet WalterLife x 3Sonia
2002
Lindsay DuncanPrivate LivesAmanda Prynne
Lindsay DuncanMouth to MouthLaura
Victoria HamiltonA Day in the Death of Joe EggSheila
Zoë WanamakerBoston MarriageAnna
2003
Clare HigginsVincent in BrixtonUrsula Loyer
Anita DobsonFrozenNancy
Gwyneth PaltrowProofCatherine
Emily WatsonUncle VanyaSonya
2004
Eileen AtkinsHonourHonor
Helen MirrenMourning Becomes ElectraChristine Mannon
Ann MitchellThrough the LeavesMartha
Kelly ReillyAfter Miss JulieMiss Julie
Kristin Scott ThomasThree SistersMasha
2005
Clare HigginsHecubaHecuba
Victoria HamiltonSuddenly, Last SummerCatharine
Anna Maxwell MartinHis Dark MaterialsLyra
Caroline O'ConnorBombshellsPerformer
2006
Eve BestHedda GablerHedda Gabler Tesman
Clare HigginsDeath of a SalesmanLinda Loman
Helen McCroryAs You Like ItRosalind
Janet McTeerMary StuartMary, Queen of Scots
Harriet WalterMary StuartElizabeth I of England
2007
Tamsin GreigMuch Ado About NothingBeatrice
Eve BestA Moon for the MisbegottenJosie
Sinéad CusackRock 'n' RollEleanor / Esme
Kathleen TurnerWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Martha
2008
Kristin Scott ThomasThe SeagullArkadina
Anne-Marie DuffSaint JoanJoan of Arc
Kelly ReillyOthelloDesdemona
Fiona ShawHappy DaysWinnie
Penelope WiltonJohn Gabriel BorkmanElla Rentheim
2009
Margaret TyzackThe Chalk GardenMrs St. Maugham
Deanna DunaganViolet Weston
Lindsay DuncanThat FaceMartha
Penelope WiltonThe Chalk GardenMiss Madrigal

2010s

YearActorPlayCharacter
2010
Rachel WeiszA Streetcar Named DesireBlanche DuBois
Gillian AndersonA Doll's HouseNora Helmer
Lorraine BurroughsThe MountaintopCamae
Imelda StauntonEntertaining Mr SloaneKath
Juliet StevensonDuet for OneStephanie Anderson
2011
Nancy CarrollAfter the DanceJoan
Tracie BennettEnd of the RainbowJudy Garland
Tamsin GreigThe Little Dog LaughedDiane
Sophie ThompsonClybourne ParkBev
2012
Ruth WilsonAnna ChristieAnna Christie
Celia ImrieNoises OffDotty Otley
Lesley ManvilleGriefDorothy
Kristin Scott ThomasBetrayalEmma
Marcia WarrenThe LadykillersMrs Wilberforce
2013
Helen MirrenThe AudienceQueen Elizabeth II
Hattie MorahanA Doll's HouseNora Helmer
Billie PiperThe EffectConnie
Kristin Scott ThomasOld TimesKate / Anna
2014
Lesley ManvilleGhostsMrs. Helene Alving
Hayley AtwellThe PrideSylvia
Anna ChancellorPrivate LivesAmanda Prynne
Judi DenchPeter and AliceAlice Liddell
2015
Penelope WiltonTaken at MidnightIrmgard Litten
Gillian AndersonA Streetcar Named DesireBlanche DuBois
Kristin Scott ThomasElectraElectra
Imelda StauntonGood PeopleMargie Walsh
2016
Denise GoughPeople, Places and ThingsEmma
Gemma ArtertonNell GwynnNell Gwynn
Nicole KidmanPhotograph 51Rosalind Franklin
Janet McTeerLes Liaisons dangereusesMarquise de Merteuil
Lia WilliamsOresteiaClytemnestra
2017
Billie PiperYermaYerma
Glenda JacksonKing LearKing Lear
Cherry JonesThe Glass MenagerieAmanda Wingfield
Ruth WilsonHedda GablerHedda Gabler Tesman
2018
Laura DonnellyThe FerrymanCaitlin Carney
Lesley ManvilleLong Day's Journey into NightMary Tyrone
Audra McDonaldLady Day at Emerson's Bar and GrillBillie Holiday
Imelda StauntonWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Martha
2019
Patsy FerranSummer and SmokeAlma Winemiller
Gillian AndersonAll About EveMargo Channing
Eileen AtkinsThe Height of the StormMadeleine
Sophie OkonedoAntony and CleopatraCleopatra
Katherine ParkinsonHome, I'm DarlingJudy

2020s

YearActorPlayCharacter
2020
Sharon D. ClarkeDeath of a SalesmanLinda Loman
Hayley AtwellRosmersholmRebecca West
Juliet StevensonThe DoctorThe Doctor
Phoebe Waller-BridgeFleabagFleabag
2021Not presented due to extended closing of theatre productions during COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Sheila AtimConstellationsMarianne
Lily AllenJenny
Emma CorrinAnna XAnna
Cush JumboHamletHamlet
2023
Jodie ComerPrima FacieTessa
Patsy FerranA Streetcar Named DesireBlanche DuBois
Mei MacMy Neighbour TotoroMei
Janet McTeerPhaedra (new version by Simon Stone)Helen
Nicola WalkerThe Corn Is GreenMiss Moffat
2024
Sarah SnookThe Picture of Dorian GrayPerformer / Various
Laura DonnellyThe Hills of California Veronica / Joan
Sophie OkonedoMedeaMedea
Sarah Jessica ParkerPlaza SuiteKaren Nash / Muriel Tate / Norma Hubley
Sheridan SmithShirley ValentineShirley Valentine

Multiple awards and nominations for Best Actress

Note: The below awards and nominations include individuals awarded and nominated under the now-defunct categories Actress of the Year in a New Play and Actress of the Year in a Revival as well as the current combined Best Actress category.

Awards

Five awards
Three awards
Two awards

Nominations

Nine nominations
Six nominations
Five nominations
Four nominations
Three nominations
Two nominations

See also

References