Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical

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.

Awards

 * Three awards
 * Imelda Staunton


 * Two awards
 * Barbara Dickson
 * Maria Friedman
 * Julia McKenzie
 * Joanna Riding
 * Samantha Spiro
 * Katie Brayben

Nominations

 * Seven nominations
 * Imelda Staunton


 * Six nominations
 * Maria Friedman


 * Five nominations
 * Ruthie Henshall
 * Julia McKenzie
 * Joanna Riding


 * Four nominations
 * Elaine Paige


 * Three nominations
 * Elena Roger
 * Jenna Russell
 * Sheridan Smith
 * Hannah Waddingham

• Katie Brayben
 * Two nominations

• 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

Awards

 * 2 awards
 * Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady
 * Miss Adelaide from Guys and Dolls
 * Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
 * The Baker's Wife from Into the Woods

Nominations

 * 6 nominations
 * Miss Adelaide from Guys and Dolls
 * Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard


 * 3 nominations
 * Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady
 * Lilli Vanessi / Katharine from Kiss Me, Kate
 * Mrs. Johnstone from Blood Brothers
 * Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors
 * 2 nominations

• 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