Her Majesty the Queen has given Helen Mirren another opportunity to win a showbusiness gong.
The theatrical dame was nominated for best actress for her performance in the smash hit play The Audience in the Olivier Awards, the London theatre's version of the Oscars.
Dame Helen won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrait of Elizabeth II in the film The Queen.
Her
reign continues! Helen Mirren has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier
award for her role as Queen Elizabeth in The Audience
Resounding success: Helen, seen left in The Audience, also played the monarch in 2006 movie The Queen
The Audience reveals how the monarch deals with her prime ministers during her weekly meeting with her top government minister.
In an amusing twist Richard McCabe, one of Mirren's co- stars in The Audience, was also nominated in the best supporting actor category for his portrayal of former PM Harold Wilson who, the play suggests, was the Queen's favourite PM.
Other best actresses on the shortlist included Hattie Morahan for A Doll's House, Billie Piper for The Effect and Kristin Scott Thomas for Harold Pinter's Old Times.
Strong competition: Billie Piper is nominated for The Effect while Kristin Scott Thomas is up for Old Times
Rounding off the group: Hattie Morahan has also been nominated for her role as Nora in A Doll's House
The
Audience also made the Olivier, sponsored by MasterCard, line-up with
nominations for best new play - Stephen Daldry in the director category
and Bob Crowley for his costumes.
Rupert Everett led the best actor category for his acclaimed portrayal of Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss.
James McAvoy was also recognised for Macbeth, Mark Rylance for Twelfth Night, Rafe Spall for Constellations and Luke Treadaway for the National Theatre's The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time.
James Bond actress Helen McCrory, who appears as a government minister in Skyfall, was in the running for a best supporting actress Olivier for her performance in the National Theatre play The Last of the Haussmans.
Leading the way: Rupert Everett headed up the best actor category for his role as Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss
Here
come the boys: Luke Treadaway was nominated in the category for The
Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime while Rafe Spall is up for
Constellations
Michael Ball was short-listed for his title performance in Sweeney Todd for Best Actor in a Musical. His leading lady Imelda Staunton was also nominated in the actress category.
Will Young was nominated for his brilliant master of ceremonies in Cabaret., and was joined in the category by Tom Chambers for Top Hat and Alex Bourne in Kiss Me Kate.
The best new musical section proved to be the most controversial, with Spice Girl musical Viva Forever totally shut out.
Giving it his all: James McAvoy has been nominated for Macbeth
Competition: Mark Rylance was also nominated for his role as Olivia in Twelfth Night
The
show running at the Piccadilly Theatre could have done with the boost
of multiple nominations but was instead noticeably absent from the nods.
Also, as the Olivier Awards, produced by the Society of London Theatre, are being broadcast on ITV on April 28, a performance by Viva's cast, or even the Spice Girls, would have helped ticket sales.
The Bodyguard show and leading lady Heather Headley were honoured with nominations for the show based on the Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner film. Loserville, Soul Sister and Top Hat were also nominated.
Best musical actresses also included Summer Strallen for Top Hat and Hannah Waddingham for Kiss Me, Kate.
Best supporting musical performances nominations went to Adam Garcia for Kiss Me, Kate, Debbie Kurup for The Bodyguard, Sian Phillips for Cabaret and Leigh Zimmerman.
The theatrical dame was nominated for best actress for her performance in the smash hit play The Audience in the Olivier Awards, the London theatre's version of the Oscars.
Dame Helen won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrait of Elizabeth II in the film The Queen.
Her
reign continues! Helen Mirren has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier
award for her role as Queen Elizabeth in The AudienceIn an amusing twist Richard McCabe, one of Mirren's co- stars in The Audience, was also nominated in the best supporting actor category for his portrayal of former PM Harold Wilson who, the play suggests, was the Queen's favourite PM.
Other best actresses on the shortlist included Hattie Morahan for A Doll's House, Billie Piper for The Effect and Kristin Scott Thomas for Harold Pinter's Old Times.
Rounding off the group: Hattie Morahan has also been nominated for her role as Nora in A Doll's HouseRupert Everett led the best actor category for his acclaimed portrayal of Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss.
James McAvoy was also recognised for Macbeth, Mark Rylance for Twelfth Night, Rafe Spall for Constellations and Luke Treadaway for the National Theatre's The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time.
James Bond actress Helen McCrory, who appears as a government minister in Skyfall, was in the running for a best supporting actress Olivier for her performance in the National Theatre play The Last of the Haussmans.
Leading the way: Rupert Everett headed up the best actor category for his role as Oscar Wilde in The Judas KissMichael Ball was short-listed for his title performance in Sweeney Todd for Best Actor in a Musical. His leading lady Imelda Staunton was also nominated in the actress category.
Will Young was nominated for his brilliant master of ceremonies in Cabaret., and was joined in the category by Tom Chambers for Top Hat and Alex Bourne in Kiss Me Kate.
The best new musical section proved to be the most controversial, with Spice Girl musical Viva Forever totally shut out.
Giving it his all: James McAvoy has been nominated for MacbethCompetition: Mark Rylance was also nominated for his role as Olivia in Twelfth NightAlso, as the Olivier Awards, produced by the Society of London Theatre, are being broadcast on ITV on April 28, a performance by Viva's cast, or even the Spice Girls, would have helped ticket sales.
The Bodyguard show and leading lady Heather Headley were honoured with nominations for the show based on the Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner film. Loserville, Soul Sister and Top Hat were also nominated.
Best musical actresses also included Summer Strallen for Top Hat and Hannah Waddingham for Kiss Me, Kate.
Best supporting musical performances nominations went to Adam Garcia for Kiss Me, Kate, Debbie Kurup for The Bodyguard, Sian Phillips for Cabaret and Leigh Zimmerman.