Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical

The Laurence Olivier Awards are a series of awards presented annually by The Society of London Theatre. They are presented in recognition of achievements in commercial British theatre, most notably plays and musicals in the West End of London, an area commonly referred to as "Theatreland". The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awards in 1976 and, in 1984 they we renamed in honour of the renowned British actor Sir Laurence Olivier. The Olivier Awards are the most prestigious theatrical awards in the United Kingdom and are the UK equivalent of the Tony Awards.

Award winners

1970s

• 1979: Virginia McKenna – The King and I
  • Carol Channing – Hello, Dolly!
  • Antonia Ellis – Chicago
  • Liz Robertson – My Fair Lady

1980s

1980: Gemma Craven – They're Playing Our Song Sheila Hancock – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Julia McKenzie – On the Twentieth Century Siân Phillips – Pal Joey 1981: Carlin Glynn – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Petula Clark – The Sound of Music Patricia Hodge – The Mitford Girls Sylvia Kumba Williams – One Mo' Time 1982: Julia McKenzie – Guys and Dolls Val McLane – Andy Capp Imelda Staunton – The Beggar's Opera Marti Webb – Song and Dance 1983: Barbara Dickson – Blood Brothers Ellen Greene – Little Shop of Horrors Stephanie Lawrence – Marilyn Sarah Payne – Singin' in the Rain 1984: Natalia Makarova – On Your Toes Julia Hills – The Hired Man Clare Leach – 42nd Street Sheila White – Little Me

1985: Patti LuPone – Les Misérables and The Cradle Will Rock Betsy Brantley – Guys and Dolls Carol Sloman – Lennon Elisabeth Welch – Kern Goes to Hollywood 1986: Lesley Mackie – Judy Maureen Lipman – Wonderful Town Elaine Paige – Chess Angela Richards – Side by Side by Sondheim 1987: Nichola McAuliffe – Kiss Me, Kate Dee Dee Bridgewater – Lady Day Julia McKenzie – Follies Carol Woods – Blues in the Night 1988: Patricia Routledge – Candide Kiki Dee – Blood Brothers Ann Miller – Sugar Babies Imelda Staunton – The Wizard of Oz

1990s

1989/1990: Lea Salonga – Miss Saigon Patricia Hodge – Noel and Gertie Judy Kuhn – Metropolis Elaine Paige – Anything Goes 1991: Imelda Staunton – Into the Woods Sally Burgess – Show Boat Maria Friedman – Sunday in the Park with George Julia McKenzie – Into the Woods 1992: Wilhelmenia Fernandez – Carmen Jones Sharon Benson – Carmen Jones Linzi Hateley – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Miriam Margolyes – Dickens' Women 1993: Joanna Riding – Carousel Kim Criswell – Annie Get Your Gun Ruthie Henshall – Crazy for You Kelly Hunter – The Blue Angel 1994: Julia McKenzie – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Haydn Gwynne – City of Angels Patti LuPone – Sunset Boulevard Elaine Paige – Piaf

1995: Ruthie Henshall – She Loves Me Betty Buckley – Sunset Boulevard Sally Dexter – Oliver! 1996: Judi Dench – A Little Night Music Elizabeth Mansfield – Marie Caroline O'Connor – Mack & Mabel Elaine Paige – Sunset Boulevard 1997: Maria Friedman – Passion B J Crosby – Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of Lieber and Stoller Joanna Riding – Guys and Dolls Imelda Staunton – Guys and Dolls 1998: Ute Lemper – Chicago Maria Friedman – Lady in the Dark Ruthie Henshall – Chicago Siân Phillips – Marlene 1999: Sophie Thompson – Into the Woods Krysten Cummings – Rent Maria Friedman – Chicago Josefina Gabrielle – Oklahoma!

2000s

2000: Barbara Dickson – Spend Spend Spend Josette Bushell-Mingo – The Lion King Rachel Leskovac – Spend Spend Spend Siobhan McCarthy – Mamma Mia! 2001: Samantha Spiro – Merrily We Roll Along Nicola Hughes – Fosse Joanna Riding – The Witches of Eastwick Josie Walker – The Beautiful Game 2002: Martine McCutcheon – My Fair Lady Barbara Cook – Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim Ruthie Henshall – Peggy Sue Got Married Marin Mazzie – Kiss Me, Kate 2003: Joanna Riding – My Fair Lady Janie Dee – My One and Only Elaine Stritch – Elaine Stritch at Liberty Sarah Wildor – Contact 2004: Maria Friedman – Ragtime Amanda Holden – Thoroughly Modern Millie Alison Jiear – Jerry Springer: The Opera Maureen Lipman – Thoroughly Modern Millie

2005: Laura Michelle Kelly – Mary Poppins Maria Friedman – The Woman in White Leigh Zimmerman – The Producers 2006: Jane Krakowski – Guys and Dolls Jenna Russell – Guys and Dolls Haydn Gwynne – Billy Elliot the Musical Julie Walters – Acorn Antiques: The Musical! 2007: Jenna Russell – Sunday in the Park with George Nicola Hughes – Porgy and Bess Tonya Pinkins – Caroline, or Change Elena Roger – Evita Hannah Waddingham – Spamalot 2008: Leanne Jones – Hairspray Lara Pulver – Parade Sheridan Smith – Little Shop of Horrors Summer Strallen – The Drowsy Chaperone 2009: Elena Roger - Piaf Sofia Escobar – West Side Story Kathryn Evans – Sunset Boulevard Ruthie Henshall – Marguerite Emma Williams – Zorro

2010s

• 2010: Samantha Spiro – Hello, Dolly!
  • Melanie Chisholm – Blood Brothers
  • Patina Miller – Sister Act
  • Hannah Waddingham – A Little Night Music
  • Charlotte Wakefield – Spring Awakening

• 2011: Sheridan Smith – Legally Blonde
  • Elena Roger – Passion
  • Emma Williams – Love Story
  • Sierra Boggess – Love Never Dies