The singer and former X Factor judge starred as Grizabella – originally played by Elaine Paige – in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production, which is also up for best musical revival.

The former Pussycat Doll, 36, will vie for the title of best supporting actress in a musical at the London ceremony next month.

Today’s announcement sees Gemma Arterton up for best actress in a musical, for her Made In Dagenham performance – her first onstage singing role – as factory worker Rita O’Grady.

The production is due to close in April after six months in the West End as other new musicals, including Stephen Ward, about the Profumo affair, Viva Forever, which was based on the Spice Girls, and Harry Hill’s X Factor tribute I Can’t Sing! suffered a similar fate.

Gemma, 29, is pitted against Tamsin Greig (Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown), Beverley Knight (Memphis The Musical) and Katie Brayben (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical).

New productions Memphis The Musical and Beautiful lead the nominations for individual productions, with nine and eight nods respectively.

They will compete in the outstanding achievement in music category against DJ Fatboy Slim and Talking Heads star David Byrne for their show Here Lies Love at the National Theatre.

In the best actress category, Gillian Anderson is in the running for her much-lauded Young Vic performance in A Streetcar Named Desire.

The Olivier Awards with Mastercard take place at the Royal Opera House on April 12, with highlights broadcast on ITV.

Source: express.co.uk