![](https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2012/01/03/09/johnhurtST221102_100x110.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=1024)
John Hurt will be at The Savoy on Monday to present this year's Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen McCrory and Clare Higgins are all in the running for the prestigious accolade, thanks to some fantastic performances - but Hurt admits he has not seen them.
But he does have a reasonable excuse. Alongside Penelope Wilton - who was shortlisted at last year's awards - he has been working in the new play from Brian Friel, Afterplay, which runs until the beginning of December.
Of this year's nominees, Hurt said: "I haven't had the opportunity to see much because I've been working myself but I hear they are all terrific. I've spoken to the director John Madden and he said Gwyneth Paltrow was just fabulous in Proof. And everyone has been raving about Vincent In Brixton."
Clare Higgins is nominated for her role in that play, while Helen McCrory's turn in Uncle Vanya earned her nomination. Another great actress, Sinead Cusack, will be on stage at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards to announce this year's Best Play.
The bloody - and hilarious - Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh is up for that award, as is Peter Gill's York Realist and Caryl Churchill's A Number.
For the first time since 1998 there will also be a Special Award at this year's ceremony. Only rarely given, this award recognises particularly outstanding contributions to theatre in London, whether by individuals or organisations.
A former winner of the Special Award, Sir Richard Eyre, will present the accolade. The first winner was Alan Bennett in 1968, and other recipients include Stephen Sondheim, the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sir John Gielgud and Peter Brook.
Guests at the awards ceremony will include Charles Dance, Janie Dee, Jerry Hall, Sir Peter Hall, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Miriam Margolyes, David Suchet and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Read More
The Evening Standard Theatre Awards will be presented at The Savoy on Monday and broadcast by Carlton Television at 11.30pm on Thursday 28 November.