Benedict Cumberbatch leads Olivier Awards nominations

Hamlet star Benedict faces competition in the best actor category from Mark Rylance who won a best supporting actor Oscar just a few hours before the Olivier nominations were announced.

Mark is recognised for his role in Farinelli And The King, while also in the running are Sir Kenneth Branagh for The Winter’s Tale, Adrian Lester for Red Velvet and Kenneth Cranham for The Father.

Nicole has been given the nod for her starring turn in Photograph 51, and is joined in the best actress category by Gemma Arterton for Nell Gwynn, Denise Gough for People, Places And Things, Janet McTeer for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Lia Williams for Oresteia.

Dame Judi Dench earns her 15th Olivier Award nomination for best actress in a supporting role for The Winter’s Tale, having previously won six awards and one special award – the most of any performer.

Benedict’s Sherlock co-star Mark Gatiss is up for best actor in a supporting role for Three Days In The Country.

The productions of Gypsy and Kinky Boots lead the nominations with eight and seven nominations respectively.

Imelda Staunton receives her 11th nomination – best actress in a musical – for her performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy.

Shakespeare’s Globe has reason to be celebrating with the transfers of their productions of Farinelli And The King and Nell Gwynn receiving 10 nominations between them.

The transfer of Farinelli And The King is nominated for Virgin Atlantic best new play while Nell Gwynn, which transferred to the Apollo, is nominated for best new comedy.

The MasterCard best new musical nominees are Bend It Like Beckham, In The Heights, Kinky Boots, and Mrs Henderson Presents.

The main nominations are as follows…

Best Revival

Hamlet at Barbican Theatre
Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Donmar Warehouse
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at National Theatre, Lyttelton
The Winter’s Tale at Garrick Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Mark Gatiss for Three Days In The Country at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Michael Pennington for The Winter’s Tale at Garrick Theatre
Tom Sturridge for American Buffalo at Wyndham’s Theatre
David Suchet for The Importance Of Being Earnest at Vaudeville Theatre

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Judi Dench for The Winter’s Tale at Garrick Theatre
Michele Dotrice for Nell Gwynn at Apollo Theatre
Melody Grove for Farinelli And The King at Duke of York’s Theatre
Catherine Steadman for Oppenheimer at Vaudeville Theatre

Virgin Atlantic Best New Play

Farinelli And The King at Duke of York’s Theatre
The Father at Wyndham’s Theatre
Hangmen at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court & Wyndham’s Theatre
People, Places And Things at National Theatre, Dorfman

Best Actor

Kenneth Branagh for The Winter’s Tale at Garrick Theatre
Kenneth Cranham for The Father at Wyndham’s Theatre
Benedict Cumberbatch for Hamlet at Barbican Theatre
Adrian Lester for Red Velvet at Garrick Theatre
Mark Rylance for Farinelli And The King at Duke of York’s Theatre

Best Actress

Gemma Arterton for Nell Gwynn at Apollo Theatre
Denise Gough for People, Places And Things at National Theatre, Dorfman
Nicole Kidman for Photograph 51 at Noel Coward Theatre
Janet McTeer for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Donmar Warehouse
Lia Williams for Oresteia at Almeida Theatre

Best Musical Revival

Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith
Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical

Ian Bartholomew for Mrs Henderson Presents at Noel Coward Theatre
Killian Donnelly for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
David Haig for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre
Matt Henry for Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Jamie Parker for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical

Tracie Bennett for Mrs Henderson Presents at Noel Coward Theatre
Natalie Dew for Bend It Like Beckham at Phoenix Theatre
Laura Pitt-Pulford for Seven Brides For Seven Brothers at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Imelda Staunton for Gypsy at Savoy Theatre
Sophie Thompson for Guys And Dolls at Savoy Theatre

MasterCard Best New Musical

Bend It Like Beckham at Phoenix Theatre
In The Heights at King’s Cross Theatre
Kinky Boots at Adelphi Theatre
Mrs Henderson Presents at Noel Coward Theatre

The Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard will take place on Sunday April 3 at the Royal Opera House.