British actresses dominate Tony nominations
British actresses dominated at the nominations for the prestigious Tony theatre awards in New York today, and comedian Eddy Izzard was also named as a possible best leading actor.
Nominated for best leading actress were Vanessa Redgrave for her appearance in Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Victoria Hamilton (A Day in the Death of Joe Egg), Claire Higgins (Vincent in Brixton) and Irish-born Fiona Shaw (Medea).
Izzard could win in the male category for his performance in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.
He said in New York today:” This is a great honour and I feel very lucky to be here.
”The last time I was nominated for an acting award was the Eastbourne Gazette Drama Awards (Schools Section) in 1979.”
Also nominated as a possible Best Special Theatrical Event was the Morecambe and Wise homage The Play What I Wrote, directed by Kenneth Branagh.
The Royal National Theatre’s production of Vincent in Brixton was nominated in the best play category.
Hairspray, the bouffant celebration of 1960s Baltimore was nominated for a musical award.
Paul Newman and Antonio Banderas were also nominated in best actor categories - Newman for his role in a revival of Our Town, and Banderas for his starring role in the revival of Nine The Musical.
