Dame Judi Dench has won a record-breaking eighth Olivier Award.
The veteran actress picked up Best Supporting Actress for her role as Paulina in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ at tonight’s (03.04.16) ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House, and her win means she has now been honoured more than anyone else since the awards – which recognise excellence in theatre – began 40 years ago.
But the 81-year-old star joked she was "livid" to have won, as it meant she had lost a bet with her grandson.
Taking to the stage, she said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I’m absolutely livid as I had a bet with my grandson … and I’m never going to be able to forget it."
She went on to praise the "really fantastic company and crew and stage management", and added of the award: "It’s lovely to have, but in actual fact it belongs to all those people just as much as it belongs to me."
Elsewhere at the MasterCard-sponsored ceremony, ‘Gypsy’ was the big winner with four prizes, including Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a musical for Imelda Staunton and Lara Pulver respectively, as well as Best Musical Revival and Best Lighting Design.
Imelda had opened the ceremony with a rendition of ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’ while other performers included Cyndi Lauper – whose production ‘Kinky Boots’ was named Best New Musical – and Jack Savoretti.
In celebration of the ceremony’s 40th anniversary, the finale saw 15 past Olivier winners, including Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall and Jill Halfpenny, perform ‘What I Did for Love’, which features in the first-ever Best New Musical winner, ‘A Chorus Line’.
Michael Ball was the evening’s host.
Olivier Awards with MasterCard 2016 full list of winners:
Best New Musical:
‘Kinky Boots’ at Adelphi Theatre
Best Musical Revival:
‘Gypsy’ at Savoy Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical:
Matt Henry for ‘Kinky Boots’
Best Actress in a Musical:
Imelda Staunton for ‘Gypsy’ at Savoy Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical:
David Bedella for ‘In The Heights’ at King’s Cross Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical:
Lara Pulver for ‘Gypsy’ at Savoy Theatre
Best New Play:
‘Hangmen’ at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and Wyndham’s Theatre
Best Actor:
Kenneth Cranham for ‘The Father’
Best Actress:
Denise Gough for ‘People, Places And Things’ at National Theatre, Dorfman
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Mark Gatiss for ‘Three Days In The Country’ at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Judi Dench for ‘The Winter’s Tale’ at Garrick Theatre
Best Revival:
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ at National Theatre, Lyttelton
Best New Comedy:
‘Nell Gwynn’
Best Director:
Robert Icke for ‘Oresteia’ at Almeida Theatre
Best Entertainment and Family:
‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ at Apollo Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre:
Pat Kinevane and Fishamble for ‘Silent’ at Soho Theatre
Best Theatre Choreographer:
Drew McOnie for ‘In The Heights’ at King’s Cross Theatre
Outstanding Achievement in Music:
‘In The Heights’ – Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda at King’s Cross Theatre
Best Lighting Design:
Mark Henderson for ‘Gypsy’ at Savoy Theatre
Best Sound Design:
Tom Gibbons for ‘People, Places And Things’ at National Theatre, Dorfman
Best Costume Design:
Gregg Barnes for ‘Kinky Boots’ at Adelphi Theatre
Best Set Design:
Anna Fleischle for ‘Hangmen’ at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and Wyndham’s Theatre
Best New Opera Production:
‘Cavalleria Rusticana’/’Pagliacci’ at Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement in Opera:
English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra for ‘The Force Of Destiny’, ‘Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk’ and ‘The Queen Of Spades’ at London Coliseum
Best New Dance Production:
‘Woolf Works’ by Wayne McGregor at Royal Opera House
Outstanding Achievement in Dance:
Alessandra Ferri for her performances in ‘Chéri’ and ‘Woolf Works’ at Royal Opera House