Simon Russell Beale has just collected the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance as the eponymous patriarch Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse. The show which heralded the end of Sam Mendes’ tenure as artistic director of the Donmar garnered a great deal of critical acclaim during its sell-out run alongside Twelfth Night.
"Thanks above all to my old friend Sam Mendes who I've had the pleasure of working with over the last twelve years," said Russell Beale on receiving the award.
The win is especially sweet for Russell Beale as he was nominated for the same award last year for his performance in Humble Boy at the Cottesloe and the Gielgud, but lost out on that occasion to Roger Allam. He has previously won Best Supporting Actor in 1996 for Volpone and Best Actor in a Musical for Candide in 2000, both at the National.
The other nominees in this category were Michael Gambon for A Number, Mark Rylance for his performance as Olivia in the Globe production of Twelfth Night and David Tennant for Lobby Hero.
Russell Beale is currently starring in the transfer of Uncle Vanya/Twelth Night in New York, where it has recently opened to rave reviews. British theatregoers need not fear as he will be back in London by June to star in Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers at the National.
