The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical was won by Laura Michelle Kelly for her performance as the world’s favourite nanny in Mary Poppins. Maria Friedman (The Woman In White) and Leigh Zimmerman (The Producers) were also nominated in this category.
After much media speculation about the actress who would play Mary Poppins, with names ranging from Joanna Riding to Claire from Steps being bandied about, Laura Michelle Kelly was announced. She has made the part of the all-singing, all-dancing, all-magical nanny her own during the production’s out of town run in Bristol and London run at the Prince Edward theatre. The story of a dysfunctional family who is given a guiding hand by a magical nanny and her multi-occupational friend Bert received a total of nine nominations for the 2005 Olivier Awards, having wowed judges with its many magical moments.
Kelly’s career began at the age of 11 and has included leading roles in Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Peter Pan and Whistle Down The Wind, before she took the role of Eliza Doolittle in Trevor Nunn’s much-loved production of My Fair Lady. Before taking on the role of Mary Poppins, she was starring opposite Alfred Molina in the Broadway production of Fiddler On The Roof.
Kelly was presented with her award by Tim Healy, familiar for his roles in Auf Wiedersehen Pet! and Common As Muck, who is soon to be playing Billy’s dad in the eagerly-awaited stage version of Billy Elliot. Also presenting was eleven-time gold medal paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thomson, a leading ambassador for the 2012 London Olympic bid.
