The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial 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 introduced in 1979, along with the award for Best Actor in a Musical. In 1977 and 1978, there had been a commingled actor/actress award for Best Performance in a Musical, won both times by an actress.

Winners and nominees

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple awards and nominations for Best Actress in a Musical

Awards

Nominations

• Katie Brayben • Rosalie Craig • Janie Dee • Barbara Dickson • Haydn Gwynne • Patricia Hodge • Nicola Hughes • Beverley Knight • Judy Kuhn • Maureen Lipman • Patti LuPone • Siân Phillips • Samantha Spiro • Summer Strallen • Sophie Thompson • Charlotte Wakefield • Josie Walker • Emma Williams

Multiple awards and nominations for a character

Awards

Nominations

• Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors • Caroline Thibodeaux from Caroline, or Change • Desirée Armfeldt from A Little Night Music • Dolly Levi from Hello, Dolly! • Dot / Marie from Sunday in the Park with George • Édith Piaf from Piaf • Eva Perón from Evita • Fosca from Passion • Laurey Williams from Oklahoma! • Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music • Mary Flynn from Merrily We Roll Along • Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins • Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes • Roxie Hart from Chicago • Sally Durant Plummer from Follies • Sarah Brown from Guys and Dolls • The Baker's Wife from Into the Woods • Velma Kelly from Chicago