Nicole Kidman wins theatre award for her role in Photograph 51

She played pioneering British scientist Rosalind Franklin as she returned to London’s West End, 17 years after a performance in the Blue Room famously described as “theatrical Viagra”.

Best Actor victor James McAvoy and Best Actress victor Nicole Kidman at The London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Nicole will find out if she is a victor at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday, when the prizes will be handed out at London’s Old Vic theatre in a ceremony co-hosted by stars including Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen.

Kidman said she had taken on the role in memory of her scientist father who died previous year – and revealed how he became part of her nightly ritual before going on stage at the Noel Coward Theatre over the past 10 weeks.

Imelda Staunton, who was given an award for Best Musical Performance for her leading role in Gypsy, played one of the show’s headline songs, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”.

“Every night before I would go on stage I would kneel in front of his photograph and look into his eyes and he would give me the strength to go and do it every night”, she said.

Meanwhile, James McAvoy was up for best actor for his performance in The Ruling Class, along with Kenneth Cranham for The Father, Ralph Fiennes for Man And Superman, and Simon Russell Beale for his role in Temple. She scooped the same category at last month’s UK Theatre Awards.

The Editor’s Award, in partnership with The Ivy, was presented to veteran of the stage Vanessa Redgrave.

The Lebedev Award was presented by Dame Judi and Sir Ian to the award-winning music legend Stephen Sondheim who celebrated his 85th birthday this year.

Radio 2 listeners and readers of the Evening Standard voted Kinky Boots the victor of the audience award for best musical, collected by stars Matt Henry and Killian Donnelly (pictured left).

Gemma Arterton won the Newcomer in a Musical Award for her musical debut in Made In Dagenham, while Redgrave received the Editor’s Award, which was presented to her by Fiennes and her daughter Joely Richardson. There was additionally a performance from Pixie Lott, who sung Moon River from the forthcoming production of Breakfast At Tiffany’s.