The Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play was an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976, and renamed in 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier.

Quick Facts Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play, Awarded for ...
Laurence Olivier Award
for Actress of the Year in a New Play
Awarded forActress of the Year in a New Play
Location England
Presented bySociety of London Theatre
First awarded1976
Last awarded1988
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This award was presented from 1976 to 1984, then in 1985 the award was combined with the Actress of the Year in a Revival award to create the Best Actress award. The original Actress of the Year in a New Play award returned one last time, for the 1988 ceremony.

Winners and nominees

1970s

More information Year, Actor ...
Year Actor Play Character
1976
Peggy Ashcroft Old World Lidya Vasilyevna
Pauline Collins Engaged Belinda Trehern
Penelope Keith Donkeys' Years Lady Driver
Joan Plowright The Bed Before Yesterday Alma
1977
Alison Fiske Dusa, Fish, Stats and Vi Fish
Glenda Jackson Stevie Stevie Smith
Glynis Johns Cause Célèbre Alma
Rosemary Leach Just Between Ourselves Vera
1978
Joan Plowright Filumena Filumena Marturano
Yvonne Bryceland The Woman Hecuba
Sylvia Miles Vieux Carré Mrs. Wire
Kate Nelligan Plenty Susan
1979
Jane Lapotaire Piaf Édith Piaf
Constance Cummings Wings Emily Stilson
Gemma Jones And a Nightingale Sang Helen
Jessica Tandy The Gin Game Fonsia Dorsey
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1980s

More information Year, Actor ...
Year Actor Play Character
1980
Frances de la Tour Duet for One Stephanie
Shelagh Holliday A Lesson from Aloes Gladys
Glenda Jackson Rose Rose
Joan Plowright Enjoy Connie Craven
1981
Elizabeth Quinn Children of a Lesser God Sarah
Eileen Atkins Passion Play Nell
Janet Dale The Accrington Pals May
Maggie Smith Virginia Virginia Woolf
1982
Rosemary Leach 84, Charing Cross Road Narrator
Judy Davis Insignificance The Actress
Judi Dench Other Places Deborah
Anna Massey Summer Xenia
1983
Judi Dench Pack of Lies Barbara Jackson
Sara Kestelman The Custom of the Country Zenocia
Maureen Lipman Messiah Rachel
Janet Suzman Cowardice Nina
1984
Thuli Dumakude Poppie Nongena Poppie
Brenda Blethyn Benefactors Sheila
Julie Covington Tom & Viv Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot
Julie Walters Fool for Love May
1988
Pauline Collins Shirley Valentine Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw
Gillian Barge Mrs. Klein Melanie Klein
Saskia Reeves Separation Sarah
Penelope Wilton The Secret Rapture Marion French
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See also

References

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