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Lesley Manville Wins Tony for Lead Actress in Oedipus

Her first Tony caps a Broadway debut in Robert Icke’s election‑night reworking that centers Jocasta’s story.

Overview

  • Lesley Manville won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play at the ceremony on Sunday, June 7, 2026, for her portrayal of Jocasta in Oedipus.
  • The award is Manville’s first Tony nomination and first win and acknowledges a Broadway debut after a limited engagement that opened at Studio 54 in November 2025 and closed in February 2026.
  • Manville previously won an Olivier Award for the role in the West End run, and the revival received seven 2026 Tony nominations including Best Revival of a Play.
  • Mark Strong reprised his Olivier‑nominated title role opposite Manville, and director Robert Icke brought most of the London creative team and several original cast members to the Broadway transfer.
  • The Tony win spotlights Icke’s political‑thriller reimagining of Sophocles, raises Manville’s transatlantic stage profile, and could increase interest in further stagings and transfers of the production.