Olivier Awards 2023: Helen George ditches her blonde locks and debuts her new brunette hairdo

Helen George changed things up on Sunday when she attended the 2023 Laurence Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The Call The Midwife star, 38, ditched her trademark blonde locks and debuted her new brunette hairstyle.

The on-screen star, who also competed on Strictly, looked unrecognizable as she posed for a slew of sizzling snaps.

Helen looked amazing in a gold sequined dress, teamed with a pair of strappy heels.

She went for a flawless glam makeup look, while her dark locks were styled in loose waves.

New look: The Call The Midwife star, 38, ditched her trademark blonde locks and debuted her new brunette hairstyle

Paul Mescal and Jodie Comer won their first Olivier Award at the star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.

While the Killing Eve star’s one-man show Prima Facie won Best New Play, A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Paul, triumphed in the Best Revival category.

The Irish actor, 27, won for his powerful portrayal of Stanley Kowalski after sold-out theater Almeida.

In his speech, Paul thanked his loving mother Dearbhla, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, before adding: ‘I hope you get well.’

Addressing the diagnosis herself on social media, her mother previously told followers she was beginning to “live with cancer” as she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is a type of bone marrow cancer, in July 2022. .

Meanwhile, Killing Eve star Jodie, 30, triumphed, picking up the Best Actress award for her role in the prima facie play by a woman.

During her speech, she told the star-studded audience: ‘I’m so overwhelmed. This work has changed my life. I am very grateful and I have many people to thank.’

‘To Suzie Miller for writing the most exquisite work I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.’

“One thing I’d like to say to any kid who hasn’t been to drama school, who can’t afford to go to drama school, who’s been turned down from drama school, don’t anybody tell them it’s like this is not possible

‘It may take the stars to align and you meet generous, kind and patient people, but it is possible.

“Mom, Dad, I love you, and my grandpa is 82 today, so happy birthday.”

The play that follows the story of a brilliant lawyer who has risen from her working-class roots to the top of the profession before an unexpected event changes her life.

After receiving critical acclaim for her performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Jodie will take the play to Broadway later this month.

Before the ceremony, he told the PA news agency: ‘It’s unbelievable. I could never have dreamed of the response and reaction (to the play), it really feels like the audience has become as much a part of this as we have.

“It’s incredibly moving to be in the theater every night and feel everyone’s presence and shared energy, so I’m very excited, I feel very lucky to be able to visit again.”

Stunning: Helen looked amazing in a gold sequined dress, teamed with a pair of strappy heels

Gorgeous: She went for a flawless glam makeup look while her dark tresses were styled in loose waves

Ceremony: Helen presented the awards for Best Work of Entertainment or Comedy and Best Family Show on stage

Stunning: The screen star, who has also competed on Strictly, looked unrecognizable as she took the stage

Asked if he loved theater as much as TV and movies, Comer told PA: “Yeah, I definitely have the bug.”

Next Paul’s Streetcar co-star Anjana Vasan received the Best Supporting Actress award for her stunning portrayal of Stella Kowalski.

While Will Keen picked up Best Supporting Actor for Patriots, a compelling study of Russian dissent by The Crown’s Peter Morgan.

Former Doctor Who actor Arthur Darvill bagged best actor in a musical for Oklahoma! alongside Katie Brayben for Best Actress for her role as televangelist Tammy Faye on the show of the same name.

The musical was written by Elton John and former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears.

Patrick Marmion of the Daily Mail wrote of the production: “After spending almost three hours testifying to the Elton John musical about American television evangelist and gay icon Tammy Faye Messner, I said a little prayer.”

“I prayed that next time I see a musical about Tammy Faye where I can really learn something about the woman behind the big hair and extra thick mascara.

“Sadly, Almeida’s new show is, at best, an ecstatic but otherwise unholy fusion of Strictly and TV’s Songs Of Praise.”

While Beverley Knight found favor in the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical category for her role as Emmeline Pankhurst in Sylvia.

Emmeline became the leader of the women’s suffrage movement in Britain, and her actions were widely praised for helping women receive the right to vote in 1918.

Speaking about the play on One Show, Beverley divulged: ‘Most of the show is sung. It’s in the Old Vic, so people who go to see shows at the Old Vic would expect something a little more traditional.

This is the complete opposite. I’m not rapping, but I speak rhythmically and sing the way people know I sing.’

The best director award went to Phelim McDermott for his adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s 1988 animated film My Neighbor Totoro.

The show also won the highly sought after Best Entertainment or Comedy named after the famous actor and writer Noel Coward.

Big win: Paul Mescal (left) and Jodie Comer (right) won their first Olivier Awards at the star-studded ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.

Celebrations! The duo posed together backstage after their big wins.

On stage: Paul completed a sold-out run of the play at the Almeida Theater in February and transferred to the Phoenix Theater in the West End for a six-week run last month.

The best A Musical revival was for Oklahoma, which is a dark and brash retelling of the 1943 Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.

MailOnline’s Robert Gore Langton declares that “innovative reboot is a must”.

Writing: “In my opinion, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has always suffered from a tooth-picking sanity.”

‘This, however, links charm with acid. He is radicalized, surly as a teenager and quite direct. In fact, it’s almost Woke-lahoma!

However, the Daniel Fish production, imported from off-Broadway and here co-directed by Jordan Fein, really works.”