Party Of The Week: Another costume drama for Keira Knightley

The paper-thin star Keira Knightley was centre of attention at the Laurence Olivier Awards nominees lunch at London's Haymarket Hotel, due to her film star status as well as her weird outfit.

She wore a shirt with naked women emblazoned all over it, while her black A-line skirt had puppy patterns on it.

Guests mingled in humid conditions next to the hotel's indoor swimming pool, where they ate mini shepherd's pies and bangers and mash.

Knightley, who is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her debut stage role in The Misanthrope at the Comedy Theatre, refused any champagne, saying she wanted to stay sober for her performance later.

Tensions were not flying between her and the other nominated actresses, including Rachael Stirling, who hugged her enthusiastically despite being nominated in the same category as Knightley for her role in The Priory at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court.

The voice of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones, who is up for Best Actor for his role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre, enjoyed posing for photographs, with as many nominees as possible.

Melanie Chisholm, otherwise known as Sporty Spice from the Spice Girls, who is nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Entertainment for her role in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at the Phoenix Theatre, talked excitedly about the new Spice Girls musical. Lorraine Burroughs, who was the only Best Actress nominee to attend the party, is nominated for her role in The Mountaintop at Trafalgar Studios.