Hollywood stars lead the way at Olivier nominations

Hollywood stars are leading the way in this year's nominations for the Olivier Awards, with Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Snook and Sarah Jessica Parker chosen.

Jamie Lloyd's musical Sunset Boulevard scooped up 11, including Scherzinger for Best Actress in a Musical and Tom Francis for Best Actor in a Musical.

And Dear England, James Graham's play about Gareth Southgate, has nine, with Joseph Fiennes, receiving his first.

The Oliviers is seen as the most prestigious awards event in UK theatre.

Sunset Boulevard also received nominations for all acting categories in a musical, as well as recognition for Best Musical Revival, and the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director for Lloyd.

The National Theatre garnered the most nominations across its productions, with Dear England, Hadestown, The Motive And The Cue, Till The Stars Come Down and The Effect all recognised across a number of categories.

Its footballing drama Dear England is the most nominated play, with nods including Fiennes for Best Actor, Gina McKee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Rupert Goold for Best Director and The Londoner Award for Best New Play.

Multiple TV, film and music stars have received recognition, including James Norton for A Little Life, and Sarah Jessica Parker who scored her first Olivier nomination for her performance in Plaza Suite.

Further performers in the running for Best Actor and Actress, following their appearances in one-person plays, include Sarah Snook's first Olivier Award nomination for The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Andrew Scott for Vanya and Sheridan Smith for Shirley Valentine.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is based on Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel, is running in London's West End until May.

Snook, who starred in Succession, plays 26 characters in the play, and is surrounded by a camera crew so her performance can be beamed on to overhead screens.

David Tennant also scored a Best Actor nomination for his role in Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse.

Others who made the shortlist include Haydn Gwynne, who has been posthumously nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in When Winston Went To War With The Wireless.

The Mastercard Best New Musical nominees are The Little Big Things, Next To Normal, Operation Mincemeat and A Strange Loop.

The Best Musical Revival category also has a number of strong favourites in it, including Groundhog Day, Guys & Dolls, Hadestown and Sunset Boulevard.

The annual awards ceremony will take place on April 14 at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Hannah Waddingham.