Nicole Scherzinger scores Olivier Award nod for stage debut

Pop star Nicole Scherzinger is celebrating after scoring a coveted Olivier Award nomination for her West End debut in Cats.

The former Pussycat Dolls singer is up for the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical prize for her portrayal of Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revived stage show, competing against former James Bond star Samantha Bond for her role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Others in the category include Haydn Gwynne (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) and Lorna Want (Beautiful - The Carole King Musical).

Another former Bond star, Gemma Arterton, is included in this year's (15) top theatre awards with a nod for her leading turn in the stage version of Made in Dagenham.

Arterton will compete for the Best Actress in Musical category against Episodes star Tamsin Greig, who is nominated for her role the West End version of Pedro Almodovar's comedy Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, as well as Katie Brayben (Beautiful - The Carole King Musical) and British singer Beverley Knight (Memphis the Musical).

Memphis emerged as the lead as the nominations were announced in London by James McAvoy and Lesley Manville on Monday (09Mar15), scoring nine nods in categories including Best New Musical and Best Actor for Killian Donnelly. It was closely followed by Beautiful - The Carole King Musical with eight.

In the drama categories, Mark Strong is up for Best Actor for his lead role in Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge and he will go up against James McAvoy (The Ruling Class), Richard Armitage (The Crucible) and Tim Pigott-Smith (King Charles III), while the Best Actress nominees include Gillian Anderson (A Streetcar Named Desire), Kristin Scott Thomas (Electra), Imelda Staunton (Good People) and Penelope Wilton (Taken at Midnight).

Other notable nominees include Dame Angela Lansbury for her supporting role in Blithe Spirit, while British musicians David Byrne and Fatboy Slim are up for an achievement in music award for writing musical Here Lies Love. They will compete against The Kinks' Ray Davies for Sunny Afternoon among others.

A View from the Bridge, The Crucible, My Night with Reg, Skylight and A Streetcar Named Desire are up for the Best Revival prize while King Charles III, The Nether, Taken at Midnight and Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies are nominated for Best New Play.

The winners will be announced at London's Royal Opera House on 12 April (15).