Sheridan Smith has triumphed in the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2011 Olivier Awards with Mastercard.
Smith, who was previously nominated in 2008 for Little Shop Of Horrors, wins the award this year for her performance as sorority girl turned law student Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical.
The actress won a legion of fans for bringing her own unique style to the role made famous by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 hit film, upon which the musical is based.
Accepting the award, Smith spoke through tears to honour her fellow nominees, saying: “First of all, the girls in my category, you’re amazing, so I don’t think I deserve to be here. Thanks to everyone who let a chav play a rich girl – what a risk! This is the biggest honour. I had the best 14 months, it’s a massive cherry on an already perfectly baked cake.”
This is the first Olivier Award for Smith, who, until recently, was better known for her TV roles in sitcoms Gavin And Stacey, The Royle Family and Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet of Crisps. She left Legally Blonde The Musical in January and can currently be seen in Trevor Nunn’s revival of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.