Paddington Bear with the Cunard bell boys at the 2026 Olivier Awards where Paddington won 7 awards including ‘Best New Musical’
Chris Ison
The coveted Actress in a Musical went to Rachel Zegler, for her triumphant turn in Evita. (Dame Elaine Page, who originated the title role, was honoured last night with 2026 Special Award). The production, staged last summer, was unmissable. Three standing ovations broke out mid-performance during the press night, one instigated by Pablo Pascal and Sarah Paulson. Lord Lloyd Webber, Theo Fennell and Ben Whishaw were there, not to mention Keanu Reeves, Nita Ambani and Hayley Atwell – and everyone left with one resounding feeling: Rachel Zegler is a star and Jamie Lloyd is a genius. (Tatler returned the next day to interview set and costume designer Soutra Gilmour). Theatre devotees who missed out on a ticket – and even those who had already seen it – hot-footed it to Argyll Street circa 9.15pm to catch Zegler as she emerged, blonde-wigged and Christian Dior-dressed, fully transformed into Eva Perón, onto the balcony to perform ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’. The crowds descended every night like it was a religious experience. Goose pimples, guaranteed.
Away from Musical, the Best Actress award was scooped up by the deity that is Rosamund Pike. Tatler caught the opening night of Suzie Miller’s Inter Alia at the Wyndham’s Theatre last Tuesday. To quote our own review, Pike is a ‘blinding elemental force to be reckoned with – a fully-cooked tornado of a mother, a judge, a wife.’ You’ve got to see it to believe it. Pike is constantly in motion, there’s not a moment of respite. The subject matter is hard-hitting, yet she masterfully manages to weave in humour that doesn’t land dead. Pike was jaw-dropping, and a deserved winner, beating the likes of Cate Blanchett in The Seagull, Julia McDermott in Weather Girl (another miracle of a one-woman performance, produced by Fleabag and Baby Reindeer super-producer – and former Tatler interviewee – Francesca Moody) as well as Marianne Jean-Baptiste in All My Sons.