Sunset Boulevard Musical Starring Nicole Scherzinger Sweeps Olivier Awards
The musical adaptation of Sunset Boulevard, featuring former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger, dominated the Olivier Awards, picking up seven wins including best actress for Scherzinger herself. The star-studded event also saw Sarah Snook and Mark Gatiss among other actors receiving awards.
One of the standout moments of the night was when Sarah Snook, known for her role in Succession, shared some Australian slang with the BBC News team. She revealed that “chookas” is the Australian way of saying good luck, which originated from receiving chickens after a successful show back in the day.
Andrew Scott, known for his role in Fleabag, expressed his desire to see theatre expand beyond London, highlighting the importance of reaching a wider audience. Meanwhile, James Norton opened up about the challenges of his role in A Little Life, describing it as one of the most difficult things he has ever done.
Hannah Waddingham, who hosted the awards in 2023, wowed the audience with her performance and multiple outfit changes throughout the ceremony. David Tennant also turned heads with his unique velvet suit, causing some jacket envy among attendees.
Nicole Scherzinger, who won best actress in a musical, shared her love for the UK and its traditional roast dinners. Mark Gatiss, who won best actor, humorously called his win “vulgar” given his character’s disdain for awards.
The team behind Stranger Things: The First Shadow celebrated their win for best new entertainment or comedy play, expressing their excitement at finally winning after multiple nominations. Arlene Phillips, at the age of 80, received her first Olivier award for choreography on Guys & Dolls.
Operation Mincemeat, winner of best new musical, jokingly apologized to Monday’s theatregoers for their upcoming celebration plans. The cast humorously debated between having a few drinks or partying in full style, ultimately deciding on the latter.
Overall, the Olivier Awards showcased the best of the theatre world, with talented actors and productions being recognized for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
