Tony Awards 2015: Helen Mirren and Richard McCabe win for British play The Audience
IT MAY be New York City's biggest celebration of theatre, but it was British talent who won big at the Tony Awards 2015.
Mirren won Best Leading Actress in a Play for her role in The Audience
I'm so thrilled
Among the winners at the 69th annual awards at Radio City Music Hall were UK born actors Helen Mirren and Richard McCabe, who both took home gongs for their roles in The Audience.
The highly acclaimed play – by British playwright Peter Morgan – centres around Queen Elizabeth II and her weekly meetings with the numerous Prime Ministers over her six-decade reign, from Winston Churchill to David Cameron.
Helen beat Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss, fellow Brit Carey Mulligan, Geneva Carr, Ruth Wilson to be named Best Leading Actress in a Play.
The actress described her first Tony Award as a "massive, massive honour" and said: "I'm so thrilled."
Dame Helen found time to pose for a selfie with Debra Messing (right)
The acting icon posed with her gong on the red carpet
Dame Helen dedicated it to a special someone – possibly her husband Taylor Hickford – saying: "Baby, this is for you and you know why."
The 69-year-old praised Peter's "elegant and fleet script" and the "incredible cast of British and American actors".
She was initially reluctant to take the role, having already portrayed the monarch in the The Queen – Morgan's acclaimed film set after the death of Princess Diana.
Richard, 55, took the prize for his role as the late Harold Wilson.
"Given that nobody here has heard of the British Prime Minster I play, I am very pleased," said Richard. "I think Harold Wilson would be tickled."
Helen dedicated her award to someone dear to her – possibly her husband Taylor Hackford
Scottish actor Richard McCabe won for his role as Harold Wilson in The Audience
Also representing British talent was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – which is based on the novel by British author Mark Haddon and won Best Play.
Star of the show Alex Sharp, 25, also took home Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, and dedicated his win to young people who feel misunderstood.
He said: "This play is about a young person who is different and who is misunderstood and I just want to dedicate this to any young person out there who feels misunderstood or who feels different and answer that question at the end of the play for you, does that mean I can do anything? Yes it does."
Other productions to be honoured included Fun Home which won Best Musical, The King and I for Best Revival of a Musical and Skylight for Best Revival of a Play.
Kelli O'Hara won the gong for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The King and I while Michael Cerveris won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Fun Home.
Alex Sharp won a Best Actor gong for his part in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Ruthie Ann Miles, also of The King and I, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical and Annaleigh Ashford won Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for You Can't Take It with You.
Best Direction of a Musical went to Sam Gold for Fun Home and Best Direction of a Play went to Marianne Elliott for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Christian Borle, who stars in Something Rotten took home Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical.
Other winners on the night:
Best Choreography - Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre - Fun Home
Music - Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics - Lisa Kron
Best Book of a Musical - Fun Home, Lisa Kron
Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliott, An American in Paris
Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Bob Crowley and 59 Productions, An American in Paris
Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Natasha Katz, An American in Paris
Best Lighting Design of a Play - Paule Constable, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Best Costume Design of a Play - Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two
Best Costume Design of a Musical - Catherine Zuber, The King and I