The actress picked up the award for her role as Paulina in "The Winter's Tale" at the ceremony at London's Royal Opera House, and her win means she has now been honoured more than anyone else since the awards, which recognise excellence in theatre, began 40 years ago.
But the 81-year-old star joked she was "livid" to have won, as it meant she had lost a bet with her grandson.
"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."
"Gypsy" was the big winner with four prizes, including best actress in a musical and best supporting actress in a musical for Imelda Staunton and Lara Pulver respectively, as well as best musical revival and best lighting design.
In celebration of the ceremony's 40th anniversary, the finale saw 15 past Olivier winners, including Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall and Jill Halfpenny, perform "What I Did for Love", which features in the first-ever Best New Musical winner, "A Chorus Line".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
