Robert Lindsay's Olivier for Oliver

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 9:52pm

I saw on Wikipedia that Robert Lindsay won an Olivier for playing Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Oliver. But I also notice that the production had been running for roughly three years and Lindsay was a replacement. Exactly how was he eligible for the award? Have the Oliviers ever honored a replacement before or was this a one time thing?

Thanks.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 10:02pm

Replacements are eligible for Oliviers (if the producers invite them, of course). Several have been nominated but the only other winners I can think of are Joanna Riding and Alex Jennings who won Lead Actress and Lead Actor in a Musical for My Fair Lady in 2003. I believe the most recent replacement to be nominated was Melanie Chisholm (aka Mel C from the Spice Girls) for Blood Brothers in 2010.

[ajh]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 10:03pm

I can only think of one other occasion when this happened, again with a Cameron Mackintosh production. In it's second year,the Camack/NT revival of My Fair Lady scored Best Actor and Actress for the replacement Higgins and Eliza (Alex Jennings and Joanna Riding) having won the preceding year with its original stars, Jonathan Pryce and Martine McCutcheon. This was after the Lindsay Oliver win though.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/21/15 at 11:14pm

Ah, I see! Well, that clears it up, thanks!