Juliet presents best actor

Juliet Stevenson - who has been busy shooting a new film with Julia Roberts - will be at The Savoy on Monday to present the Evening Standard Award for Best Actor.

One of our great actresses, Ms Stevenson, 46, has filmed six movies in the past two years but hasn't made a single appearance on the London stage. It is a rare absence: for the 25 years leading up to 2000 she performed in at least one play a year.

The explanation, though, is simple. Looking after her son Gabriel, one, and daughter Rosalind, eight, has been her top priority.

She said: "It's the first time in my life I haven't done a play during the year, because of the birth of my son.

"When Rosalind was born I went into a six-month run of the Duchess of Malfi, and it was a killer - you're out working every day and night, and you hardly get to see her. It was very frustrating."

She added: "When I am filming, though, I can take my children with me."

Her latest project is Mona Lisa Smile, in which she stars alongside Julia Roberts as a teacher in an upper-crust American girls' school during the Fifties.

On Monday, though, Stevenson's attention will return to the stage as she presents our Best Actor award. There are three cracking nominees this year. Tom Georgeson is nominated for his brilliant performance in Frozen, while Simon Russell Beale is in the running thanks to his typically masterful display in Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night.

Up against them is rising star Daniel Craig, for his hypnotic portrayal as a group of clones opposite Michael Gambon in The Royal Court's fantastic production of A Number. Craig's director was Stephen Daldry - and Mr Daldry has kindly agreed to present this year's

Sydney Edwards Award for Best Director.

First nominee is Tim Carroll for his acclaimed production of

Twelfth Night at The Globe theatre. Then there is Sam Mendes, whose swansong productions as Donmar director - Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night - have also made the cut. Finally, Dominic Cooke's disturbing but unmissable production of the new play Plasticine, upstairs at The Royal Court, earns him a place on the shortlist.

  • The Evening Standard Theatre Awards will be presented at a lunchtime ceremony at The Savoy on Monday, and broadcast by Carlton Television at 11.30pm on Thursday 28 November. A full list of this year's nominations can be seen at www.thisislondon.co.uk/theatre

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