Hollywood heart-throbs lose out at awards night

As he received his award, Rylance told the audience: "What an honour to be nominated with James Earl Jones... and also all the other nominees."

He joked: "Someone outside asked me what it felt like to be up against Jude Law.

"I don't know what that experience is like – I bet it's very nice."

Rylance won the prize for his turn as caravan-dwelling anti-hero Johnny "Rooster" Byron in Jerusalem, marking the second time he has won the award, while the production's designers Ultz won best set design.

Paying tribute to Jerusalem writer Jez Butterworth and others who worked on the play, Rylance modestly said: "It's not very much to do with me."

Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz scooped a Laurence Olivier award for best actress for her stage role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Weisz, who like Rylance has won rave reviews and a string of gongs, beat Gillian Anderson, Imelda Staunton and Juliet Stevenson with her role as a faded southern belle.

Clutching her award, Weisz, wearing an off the shoulder dress, told the audience: "What a tremendous honour...

"It means an awful lot. I never thought I would be holding one of these in my lifetime.

"I'm in such prestigious company...

"To get one of these, as my father would say, the wrapping paper alone would have been enough..."

Weisz's co-star Ruth Wilson also won best supporting actress for her performance as Stella, beating Keira Knightley who was in the running for The Misanthrope.

Wilson had been a stand-in for Weisz on the movie The Constant Gardener.

She added: "This is just the cherry on top. It's amazing."

Eddie Redmayne was named best supporting actor for Red and is currently reprising his role on Broadway.

He beat The Office actor Mackenzie Crook who was also in the running for Jerusalem.

Among the performances on the night was a rendition of the song Easy Terms by Blood Brothers star Melanie C, who received whistles from the crowd.

Wearing a long black dress, the restrained performance was a contrast to the singer's early days as Sporty Spice.

The divas from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert wore huge head-dresses for their performance and Sister Act star Patina Miller also sang for the crowd.