Chennai-born Singaporean actor wins Olivier Award in London

Singapore, Apr 5 (PTI) Chennai-born Singaporean actor Anjana Vasan has won the best supporting actress in a play at the 47th edition of Olivier Awards, which celebrate the best of London theatre, opera and dance.

Vasan, based out of London, was named the winner in the category on April 2 for her role as Stella Kowalski in the revival of Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

The 36-year-old is the first Singaporean to win the award, reported news outlet Channel News Asia.

Vasan’s castmate, Paul Mescal of “Normal People” fame, won best actor for playing Stanley Kowalski. The drama was also named best revival at the awards show.

In the best supporting actress category, Vasan was up against Rose Ayling Ellis of “As You Like It”, Pamela Nomvete of “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Caroline Quentin of “Jack Absolute Flies Again” and Sharon Small of “Good”.

In her acceptance speech at the ceremony, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the actor thanked her parents. “I love you,” she said.

“It’s hard to put into words how much this show has meant to me. It’s mostly thanks to the people involved in it the creative team, the backstage crew, the stage management and this company, who I love and adore so much,” she added.

She then ended her speech by quipping: “I’m going to find a corner and have a lie down and a cry,” the Channel quoted her as saying.

Vasan is a familiar face in London’s theatre scene her work in the 2019 staging of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” in London earned her an Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination.

Originally known as the ‘Society of West End Theatre Awards’, the Olivier Awards were renamed in honour of the late British actor Laurence Olivier.