Their fellow nominees are Helen McCrory, from the Wyndham's Theatre production of As You Like It, Clare Higgins for Death of a Salesman at the Lyric, and Eve Best for Hedda Gabler at the Almeida and Duke of York's theatres.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Elliot show tops stage shortlist

Completing a distinguished line-up of nominees are Brian Dennehy for Death of a Salesman at the Lyric, Con O'Neill for Telstar at the New Ambassadors, and David Threlfall for Someone Who'll Watch Over Me.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Elliot show tops stage shortlist

"Death of a Salesman" later beat out "Gore Vidal's The Best Man, " "Master Class" and "Wit" for the best revival of a play.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

"In a 20-page section...there are explicit references to: The Magic Mountain, John Cheever, Death in Venice, Donald Barthelme, Raymond Carver, Hawthorne and Death of a Salesman, " he wrote.

BBC: By Nightfall jacket