March 12, 2024 – 6:47 AM PDT
LONDON (Reuters) – Musical “Sunset Boulevard” and play “Dear England” led nominations for the Olivier Awards on Tuesday, with a spate of famous names from film and television including Sarah Jessica Parker, Joseph Fiennes and Sarah Snook also receiving nods at London’s top theatre honours.
A new production of “Sunset Boulevard” featuring Nicole Scherzinger as movie star Norma Desmond had 11 nominations, including in all the acting in a musical categories as well as for best musical revival.
Soccer play “Dear England” got nine nominations, including a best actor nod for Fiennes for his portrayal of England manager Gareth Southgate. Fiennes’ co-star Gina McKee was also nominated for best actress in a supporting role.
The contenders for best actress include “Succession” star Snook for “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, Sophie Okonedo for “Medea”, Laura Donnelly for “The Hills of California”, Sheridan Smith for “Shirley Valentine” and Parker for “Plaza Suite”, in which she stars opposite her husband, Matthew Broderick.
It is the first time “Sex and the City” star Parker and Snook have been nominated at the awards, which are named after the famed British actor Laurence Olivier.
Fiennes’ fellow contenders for best actor include other famous names: Andrew Scott for “Vanya”, James Norton for “A Little Life”, Mark Gatiss for “The Motive and the Cue” and David Tennant for “Macbeth”.
A stage play based on hit sci-fi series “Stranger Things” got five nods, including in the best director category for Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin.
Called “Stranger Things: The First Shadow”, the play takes place in 1959, two decades before the period explored in the Netflix TV show created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer.
This year’s Olivier Awards will take place on April 14 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Jonathan Oatis