The Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a Revival was an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of the "world-class status of 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.
This award was presented from 1976 to 1984, then in 1985 the award was combined with the Actress of the Year in a New Play award to create the Best Actress award. The original Actress of the Year in a Revival award returned one last time, for the 1988 ceremony.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Actor Play Character 1976 Dorothy Tutin A Month in the Country Natalya Petrovna Susan Fleetwood The Playboy of the Western World, Hamlet and Tamburlaine the Great Margaret Flaherty / Ophelia / Zenocrate Geraldine McEwan On Approval Maria Wislack Googie Withers The Cherry Orchard and An Ideal Husband Ranevskaya / Lady Chiltern 1977 Judi Dench Macbeth Lady Macbeth Francesca Annis Troilus and Cressida Cressida Susan Fleetwood The Plough and the Stars Nora Janet Suzman Hedda Gabler Hedda Gabler 1978 Dorothy Tutin The Double Dealer Lady Plyant Eileen Atkins Twelfth Night Viola Ingrid Bergman Waters of the Moon Helen Lancaster Wendy Hiller Waters of the Moon Mrs. Whyte 1979 Zoë Wanamaker Once in a Lifetime May Daniels Paola Dionisotti The Taming of the Shrew Katherina Minola Glenda Jackson Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra Billie Whitelaw Happy Days Winnie
1980s Year Actor Play Character 1980 Judi Dench Juno and the Paycock Juno Boyle Maria Aitken Private Lives Amanda Geraldine McEwan The Browning Version and Harlequinade Millie Crocker-Harris / Edna Gosport Susan Tracy Anna Christie Anna Christie 1981 Margaret Tyzack Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martha Sinéad Cusack The Maid's Tragedy Evadne Rosemary Harris All My Sons Kate Keller Penelope Wilton Man and Superman Ann Whitefield 1982 Cheryl Campbell A Doll's House Nora Helmer Judi Dench The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell Felicity Kendal The Second Mrs Tanqueray Paula Jarman Mary Maddox Rocket to the Moon Belle Stark 1983 Frances de la Tour A Moon for the Misbegotten Josie Sinéad Cusack The Taming of the Shrew Katherina Minola Rosemary Harris Heartbreak House Hesione Hushabye Helen Mirren Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra 1984 Vanessa Redgrave The Aspern Papers Miss Tina Glenda Jackson Strange Interlude Nina Juliet Stevenson Measure for Measure Isabella Zoë Wanamaker Twelfth Night Viola 1988 Harriet Walter A Question of Geography and Twelfth Night and Three Sisters Dacha / Viola / Masha Estelle Kohler Titus Andronicus and Hello and Goodbye Tamora / Hester Vanessa Redgrave A Touch of the Poet Nora Melody Imelda Staunton Uncle Vanya Sonya
See also Best Actress Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play Lists of acting awards Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play References
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