ENTERTAINMENT - OLIVIER AWARDS: NOT SO POPULAR STARS OUTSHINE ELITES

Heavyweights of film, TV and theatre including Nicole Kidman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance and Gemma Arterton missed out on Olivier Awards this year as lesser known stars stole the night.

Of course, a record eighth win for veteran actress Dame Judi Dench - for her role in A Winter's Tale - and a Best Actress in a Musical gong for Imelda Staunton for Gypsy, were to be expected, but otherwise, despite a starry nominees list, relatively unknown names shone.

Kenneth Cranham, 71, took Best Actor for The Father - his first ever Olivier win, having only been nominated once before.

He said he could not believe his luck, saying: "I can't believe I've beat big brands like Cumberbatch and Branagh."

The Best Actress award was taken home by another relative unknown, Denise Gough, for her acclaimed role in People, Places and Things, and who only a few years ago nearly gave up acting, telling Sky News: "I could hardly find the rent, so I started waitressing."

The Best Actor in a Musical went to Matt Henry for Kinky Boots, who crossed the invisible line from audience to stage, when 15 years ago he swapped selling ice cream in the interval for walking the boards.

Musical Gypsy was the big winner of the night, winning four prizes - the most for a single production.

Kinky Boots won three awards including Best New Musical, thanks in part to Cyndi Lauper who wrote the music and lyrics - proving perhaps, that for all its pomp and ceremony, at the theatre, girls just want to have fun.

So while Hollywood may shine a light on the West End, these awards were not blinded by celebrity, as the overall feeling from the Royal Opera House, in the Olivier's 40th year, was that the winners were supremely deserving.

Presenters included Dame Shirley Bassey, Vanessa Redgrave and Eddie Izzard and the show was hosted by two-time Oliver Award winner Michael Ball.

It featured performances from Grammy and Tony Award winner Cyndi Lauper, Michael Feinstein, Joe Stilgoe and Jack Savoretti.

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