Paltrow faces soap star in contest for best stage actress

Gwyneth Paltrow has the chance of being voted the best actress on the British stage after her nomination yesterday for this year's Laurence Olivier Awards.

In an unlikely battle, one of the Hollywood star's fellow nominees is the former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson. Paltrow's appearance in Proof at the Donmar Warehouse was one of the West End's hottest tickets last year, while Dobson is nominated for Frozen at the National Theatre.

Also nominated in the category are Emily Watson for her performance in Uncle Vanya, and Clare Higgins for her portrayal of Van Gogh's older lover in Vincent in Brixton.

Even more notable than the actresses on the list are the leading ladies who have been left off. The performances of the two dames, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, in David Hare's The Breath of Life have been ignored. Hare receives no nomination for the play.

Also snubbed is Glenn Close, the Hollywood actress who starred in Trevor Nunn's sold-out production of A Streetcar Named Desire at the National Theatre.

The awards next month will see a battle between two Eighties chart acts when stage shows by Madness and Boy George compete for best musical. Our House, featuring the music of Madness, and Boy George's Taboo are up against the Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacular Bombay Dreams and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Taboo, the dance production Contact and the Donmar Warehouse production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya each received four nominations.

Other shows collecting multiple nominations included Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Our House, with three each. The former Royal Shakespeare Company actress Nichola McAuliffe is nominated for best supporting role in a musical for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Two separate versions of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night each managed a trio of nominations. The Donmar landed a total of nine nominations for its productions but the big winner was the National Theatre, which picked up 21.

Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, president of the Society of London Theatre, which organises the awards, said: "It is fantastic to see such a diverse range in this year's nominations, from new musicals by two Eighties icons – Boy George and Madness – to classic productions of Shakespeare and Chekhov."

The Oliviers, in their 27th year, will take place at the Lyceum Theatre on 14 February in a ceremony to be hosted by Clive Anderson.

The Olivier nominations

* Best actress – Anita Dobson (Frozen); Clare Higgins (Vincent In Brixton); Gwyneth Paltrow (Proof); Emily Watson (Uncle Vanya).

* Best actor – Michael Gambon (A Number); Simon Russell Beale (Uncle Vanya); Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night); David Tennant (Lobby Hero).

* Best performance in a supporting role – Essie Davis (A Streetcar Named Desire); Jessica Stevenson (The Night Heron); Mark Strong (Twelfth Night); Sian Thomas (Up For Grabs).

* BBC award for best new play – Jesus Hopped The A Train; The Coast Of Utopia – Voyage, Shipwreck, Salvage; The York Realist; Vincent In Brixton.

* Best new comedy – Damsels In Distress – Roleplay; Dinner; Lobby Hero; The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

* Best revival – Abigail's Party; A Streetcar Named Desire; Twelfth Night/Uncle Vanya (Donmar Warehouse); Twelfth Night (Shakespeare's Globe).

* Hilton award for best new musical – Bombay Dreams; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Our House; Taboo.

* Outstanding musical production – Anything Goes; Oh What A Lovely War.

* Best entertainment – Contact; Play Without Words; Rory Bremner With John Bird and John Fortune; Elaine Stritch At Liberty.

* Best actress in a musical or entertainment – Janie Dee (My One And Only); Joanna Riding (My Fair Lady); Elaine Stritch (Elaine Stritch At Liberty); Sarah Wildor (Contact).

* Best actor in a musical or entertainment – Tim Flavin (My One And Only); Alex Jennings (My Fair Lady); Michael Jibson (Our House); Euan Morton (Taboo).

* Best performance in a supporting role in a musical or entertainment – Paul Baker (Taboo); Sharon D Clarke (We Will Rock You); Jenny Galloway (My One And Only); Nichola McAuliffe (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang); Craig Urbani (Contact).

* Best director – Matthew Bourne (Play Without Words); Richard Eyre (Vincent In Brixton); Edward Hall (Rose Rage); Sam Mendes (Twelfth Night/Uncle Vanya).