Angela Lansbury's triumphant West End return was capped with an Olivier Award

Entertainment
Monday 13 April 2015 at 1:37am

Angela Lansbury's return capped with an Olivier Award. Credit: PA

Angela Lansbury's triumphant West End return was capped with an Olivier Award as the veteran star said her win left feeling like "a million dollars".

The 89-year-old's performance at the Gielgud Theatre saw her follow in the footsteps of her mother, Moyna Macgill, who made her debut in the same stage almost a century ago.

She was named best supporting actress for her performance in Blithe Spirit which saw her return to London theatre for the first time in 40 years.Accepting the award, she said: "I simply can't believe it."

The actress, who was given a standing ovation, said: "I can't remember a lot of things these days but I can remember my lines."

She told the audience that theatre was "life and I'm glad that I'm still in it" and thanked them, saying: "Here I am creeping up to 90 and I feel a million dollars."

Mark Strong was named best actor for his performance in A View From The Bridge, while Penelope Wilton won best actress.

Her performance as a mother whose lawyer son was imprisoned by the Nazis in Taken At Midnight saw her triumph over stars including Gillian Anderson and Kristin Scott Thomas.

The show, at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, Central London, opened with a performance from the cast of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical before host Lenny Henry welcomed the audience.The first award - for best revival - was presented by Russell Tovey and Anne-Marie Duff to A View From The Bridge, before The Play That Goes Wrong was named best comedy.

The award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre went to Ben Monks, while Howard Harrison won the Olivier for lighting design for his work on City of Angels at Donmar Warehouse.

The gong for sound design was given to Gareth Owen for Memphis The Musical before a performance by the cast of Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon.

Costume designer Christopher Oram won next for his work on the stage versions of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.Es Devlin, who is currently designing the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, won the award for set design for her work on Nether.

The best actor in a supporting role award was presented by Sherlock duo Mark Gatiss and Amanda Abbington and went to Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies actor Nathaniel Parker who plays King Henry VIII.