As the guests at last night’s Olivier Awards with MasterCard watched the incredible ceremony unfold on the Royal Opera House stage, behind a sound-proofed wall there was a raucous celebration of its own going on, as winners flooded backstage to meet the world’s press and share just what it meant to them to receive the most prestigious award in theatre.
Kate Stanbury and Tom Bowtell were on hand – often with a glass of champagne – to meet the winners as they stepped off stage and into the Olivier Awards press room. Here a selection of the winners from the performance categories talk about their wins.
Richard McCabe, Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Audience
Congratulations! How does it feel to have won?
I wasn’t expecting to feel so emotional, that’s the odd thing. You look out at all those people out there, it’s gorgeous isn’t it? It’s just a bit shocking really. And I genuinely hadn’t really prepared anything to say. So I bumbled a bit really.
Is it a special play to be a part of?
It’s a lovely play, it really is. Helen Mirren is an absolute delight. It’s her play really. We’re there because of her and it’s been fantastic. The audiences love it and we love doing it for them.
What was the most fascinating thing you learnt about Harold Wilson when you were preparing to play him?
His memory. I’d never realised that he had such a phenomenal memory, which of course made it all the more tragic when he got Alzheimer’s. That phenomenal memory went and that’s highlighted in the play. We actually show that, which is hopefully quite moving. In fact, that’s the hardest thing I’ve had to do, learn Pi to 65 places!
Do you know where you’re going to put your award?
No, because I wasn’t expecting to win one. So I don’t know where I’m going to put it, I’ll have to find somewhere.
Helen Mirren, Best Actress for The Audience
How does it feel to have won an Olivier Award?
Very, very wonderful. It’s great for the play when you’re still up and running. It’s more for the Queen than it is for me, I think.
This is your third award for playing the Queen now.
Is it? Yes, it probably is. But in very different circumstances. Obviously doing a play, the play is not related to the film, apart from the fact it’s written by the same person. It’s a very different requirement.
How does it feel to win alongside your co-star Richard McCabe?
Oh I forgot to mention [in her speech] all those other wonderful actors and actresses! That was wonderful, really exciting.
Leigh Zimmerman, Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for A Chorus Line
How does it feel to be an Olivier Award winner?
I am so honoured. So humbled. The people I am in a category with, first of all, I just adore them all. I love my cast, which I didn’t thank. But I love them so please print that, how much I love my cast! I’m just in awe of the process that we get to go through every day and A Chorus Line shows that story.
Are you enjoying being in the production?
So much. It’s a challenge to stand on stage every night and tell really intimate stories and we get to do that with no sets and costumes to do it in a simplistic way. It’s a whole different style of storytelling. We’re very intimate, very small, even though we’re in a huge house, we’re telling the story and people in the audience feel like we’re speaking directly to them. It’s raw and it’s real and it’s the truth that we get to tell.
Michael Ball, Best Actor in a Musical for Sweeney Todd
Congratulations! How does it feel?
It’s awesome, absolutely awesome! I’m thrilled.
How much did you enjoy performing in Sweeney Todd?
It was the best time of my life, without question. It was a thrill every night. Working with her [Imelda Staunton] was the greatest thing.
Have you got somewhere to put the award?
Yes I have. On the mantelpiece next to another one [Ball won in 2008 for Hairspray]. I’ve got bookends!
Imelda Staunton, Best Actress in a Musical for Sweeney Todd
What was the experience like playing Mrs Lovett?
Well I did start learning it about a year and half before we started doing it, and I listened to Angela Lansbury for about two years. For me, it’s like doing Shakespeare to music because it’s very complicated and terribly rewarding, and now to get a prize!
And having played Mrs Lovett, are you still a fan of eating pies?
I can’t get enough of them! You can throw any pie at me you like…
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