Award success a bittersweet win for Dame Judi

Dame Judi Dench won the first big award of the evening at the Olivier Awards and joked she was “livid” as her win meant she had lost a bet with her grandson.

Dame Judi was named best actress in a supporting role for The Winter’s Tale at the ceremony held in London’s Royal Opera House.

The veteran actress was presented with her award by The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time star Luke Treadaway.

She said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m absolutely livid as I had a bet with my grandson ... and I’m never going to be able to forget it.”

She praised “a really fantastic company and crew and stage management”, saying of the award: “It’s lovely to have, but in actual fact it belongs to all those people just as much as it belongs to me.”

Sherlock creator Mark Gatiss joined the prestigious winners’ list as he was named best actor in a supporting role for Three Days In The Country.

Gatiss said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed, I can’t tell you what this means to me. It was an amazing performance and a gift of a part. I’m thrilled to bits, thank you very much.”

The first award – for best revival – was presented by Downton Abbey star Jim Carter and Julia McKenzie to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Sir Lenny Henry presented the best entertainment and family award to Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.

Oscar-winner Mark Rylance lost out on another big award as Kenneth Cranham took best actor award for The Father.

Denise Gough used her best actress win for People, Places And Things to register her concern that all actresses nominated in her category were white.

Best actor in a supporting role went to Mark Gatiss, while Dame Judi Dench was best supporting actress.