In the London stage Olivier Awards held on Sunday, American actor John Lithgow was presented with the Best Actor award for his exploration of Roald Dahl’s darker aspects in the play “Giant.” Lithgow, notable for his roles in “Conclave” and as the future Professor Dumbledore in the new HBO Harry Potter remake, adds this Olivier to an already impressive collection of Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards.

Covering a sensitive representation, Mark Rosenblatt’s play “Giant” vividly addresses Roald Dahl’s controversial views. Accepting his award with a joking reference to the current political climate, Lithgow humorously acknowledged the complexity of the transatlantic relationship, affirming its strength. The play also won the award for Best New Play, while Elliot Levey earned Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

At the same event, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was crowned Best New Musical, following F. Scott Fitzgerald’s original story that also inspired David Fincher’s 2008 movie. Lesley Manville was recognized for her portrayal in “Oedipus,” which won Best Revival of a play. Imelda Staunton achieved a significant career milestone, winning her fifth Olivier as Best Actress in a Musical for “Hello, Dolly!”, while John Dagleish was honored as Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in “Benjamin Button.”

The 2025 Olivier Awards saw a diverse range of winners across categories, from Best Family Show to Best New Opera Production. This list underlines the excellence and diversity of talent in the performing arts, rewarding both traditional successes and innovative new productions and performances.

For a complete overview of the 2025 Olivier Awards, refer to the full list of winners mentioned above, highlighting a rich variety of achievements across the theater spectrum.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/04/07/2025-olivier-awards-roald-dahls-dark-side-and-benjamin-button-win-big