Sarah Snook and Nicole Scherzinger win top prizes at Tony Awards

7 hours ago 3

Steven McIntosh

Entertainment reporter

Succession star Sarah Snook and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger were among the big winners at Sunday's Tony Awards.

Scherzinger was named best actress in a musical for her role in Sunset Boulevard, Jamie Lloyd's minimalist reboot of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Scherzinger reflected on her recent Broadway success, which came two decades after shooting to fame with the Pussycat Dolls.

"Growing up, I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong and I have come home, at last," she said. "If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong or your time hasn't come, don't give up."

"Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins."

The singer and former X Factor judge won the same prize at the UK equivalent of the Tonys, the Olivier Awards, for her performance in the show's original West End run.

Scherzinger also performed As If We Never Said Goodbye during the ceremony, and was introduced by Glenn Close, who played Desmond in Sunset Boulevard when it played on Broadway in 1995.

The Tony Awards, hosted by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo at Radio City Music Hall in New York, celebrate the best in US theatre, and particularly Broadway.

Snook won best leading actress in a play, for performing all 26 roles in a one-woman stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In her acceptance speech, the actress said: "This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway.

"[The Picture of Dorian Gray] is billed as a one-person show, and I don't feel alone any night that I do this show. There are so many people on stage making it work and behind the stage making it work."

Other winners included Maybe Happy Ending, which took home best musical, while Purpose, about an African-American family who reunite in Chicago, was named best play.

Sunset Boulevard also won best musical revival, while Eureka Day, about a school in California which must confront its vaccination policy after an outbreak of mumps among the pupils, won best revival of a play.

Elsewhere in the ceremony, Erivo was joined on stage by singer Sara Bareilles for a rendition of Tomorrow from the musical Annie, in tribute to those in the theatre community who had died throughout the year.

Presenters at the event included Samuel L Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Best musical

WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending

Buena Vista Social Club

Dead Outlaw

Death Becomes Her

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

Best play

WINNER: Purpose

English

The Hills of California

John Proctor is the Villain