The power of the stage in the West End of London to attract A-list talent was demonstrated yesterday as nominations for the Laurence Olivier Awards featured stars who would not look out of place at the Oscars.

Four nominees for the Best Actor and Best Actress categories — Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Imelda Staunton and James Earl Jones — have previously won or been nominated for an Oscar. Keira Knightley, an Oscar nominee in 2006, received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Misanthrope. A further three nominees — James McAvoy, Juliet Stevenson and Sam West — were previously nominated for a Bafta film award. The Oliviers usually feature a handful of actors who have forged careers in Hollywood, such as Michael Gambon and Patrick Stewart last year, but rarely do so many come at once.

Among the favourites for Best Actor are two men known for their stage work. Mark Rylance, better known for his time as artistic director of the Globe, is nominated for playing Johnny “Rooster” Byron in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem.

Sam West, who was nominated for a Bafta in 1993 for his role in Howard’s End but works mainly on stage, has been shortlisted for playing Jeffrey Skilling in Enron, Lucy Prebble’s drama about the collapse of the American corporate giant. Jerusalem and Enron, which was produced independently, were performed at the Royal Court Theatre, which gathered the most nominations — 15. Its closest rivals were the Donmar Warehouse, which received ten, and the National Theatre, which received nine.

James McAvoy said that he was “absolutely delighted” for his nomination for his performance in Three Days of Rain. “Considering the quality of acting in the last year, I feel very honoured. Thanks to those who voted.” Jude Law, who played the title role in Hamlet at the Donmar as well as on Broadway, said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this nomination for Hamlet — it’s been an extraordinary year for London theatre and in particular straight plays and to be nominated in such great company is a real privilege and a pleasure.”

Keira Knightley surprised some commentators by being nominated for her first appearance in the West End. Terri Paddock, of the theatre website Whatsonstage.com, questioned whether Knightley would have been nominated if she was not already known as a Hollywood star. “She didn’t necessarily wow the critics, but she was better than expected,” she said. “For the past two years the Olivers have been dominated by the Donmar, and last year the Royal Court had only two nominations, so it really is quite a resurgence for the Royal Court. Dominic Cooke took over in 2007, so his regime is bearing fruit.”

The shortlists are decided by a panel drawn from theatre professionals and members of the public who apply to the Society of London Theatre.

The shortlist for this year’s audience award for most popular show, voted for by visitors to the Official London Theatre website pits Billy Elliot, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse, We Will Rock You and Wicked against each other.

The public can choose their winner at www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/vote.

Nominations:

Best Actress

Gillian Anderson for A Doll's House at the Donmar

Lorraine Burroughs for The Mountaintop at Trafalgar Studios 1

Imelda Staunton for Entertaining Mr Sloane at Trafalgar Studios 1

Juliet Stevenson for Duet for One at the Almeida and Vaudeville

Rachel Weisz for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar

Best Actor

James Earl Jones for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello

Jude Law for Hamlet, Donmar at Wyndham’s

James McAvoy for Three Days of Rain at the Apollo

Mark Rylance for Jerusalem at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

Ken Stott for A View from the Bridge at the Duke of York’s

Samuel West for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Hayley Atwell for A View from the Bridge at the Duke of York’s

Michelle Dockery for Burnt by the Sun at the Lyttelton

Alexandra Gilbreath for Twelfth Night at the Duke of York’s

Keira Knightley for The Misanthrope at the Comedy

Rachael Stirling for The Priory at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court

Ruth Wilson for A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Mackenzie Crook for Jerusalam at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

Rory Kinnear for Burnt by the Sun at the Lyttelton

Tim Pigott-Smith for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Eddie Redmayne for Red at the Donmar

Best New Play

Enron by Lucy Prebble at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

The Mountaintop by Katori Hall at Trafalgar Studios 1

Red by John Logan by at the Donmar Warehouse

Best New Comedy

Calendar Girls Tim Firth at the Noël Coward

England People Very Nice by Richard Bean at the Olivier

Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth at the Almeida

The Priory by Michael Wynne at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court

Best Musical Revival

Annie Get Your Gun at the Young Vic

Hello Dolly! at the Open Air

A Little Night Music at the Garrick

Oliver! based on the original production by Sam Mendes at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best New Musical

Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Savoy

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – the Musical at the Palace

Spring Awakening at the Novello

Sister Act at The London Palladium

Best Entertainment

Arturo Brachetti: Change at the Garrick

Derren Brown: Enigma at the Adelphi

Morecambe at the Duchess

Best Actress in a Musical or Entertainment

Melanie C for Blood Brothers at the Phoenix

Patina Miller for Sister Act at the London Palladium

Samantha Spiro for Hello Dolly! at the Open Air

Hannah Waddingham for A Little Night Music at the Garrick

Charlotte Wakefield for Spring Awakening at the Novello

Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment

Rowan Atkinson for Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Aneurin Barnard for Spring Awakening at the Novello

Bob Golding for Morecambe at the Duchess

Alexander Hanson for A Little Night Music at the Garrick

Tony Sheldon for Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical at the Palace

Best Supporting Performance in a Musical or Entertainment

Sheila Hancock for Sister Act at the London Palladium

Maureen Lipman for A Little Night Music at the Garrick

Kelly Price for A Little Night Music at the Garrick

Iwan Rheon for Spring Awakening at the Novello

Best Director

Rupert Goold for Enron at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Michael Grandage for Hamlet, Donmar at Wyndham’s

Lindsay Posner for A View from the Bridge at the Duke of York’s

Ian Rickson for Jerusalem at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

Bijan Sheibani for Our Class at the Cottesloe

Best Revival

Arcadia directed by David Leveaux at the Duke of York’s

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof directed by Debbie Allen at the Novello

The Misanthrope directed by Thea Sharrock at the Comedy

A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Rob Ashford at the Donmar Warehouse

A View from the Bridge directed by Lindsay Posner at the Duke of York’s

Three Days of Rain directed by Jamie Lloyd at the Apollo

Best Theatre Choreographer

Matthew Bourne for Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Bill T. Jones for Spring Awakening at the Novello

Anthony Van Laast for Sister Act at the London Palladium

Stephen Mear for Hello Dolly! at the Open Air

Best Lighting Design

Burnt by the Sun designed by Mark Henderson at the Lyttelton

Enron designed by Mark Henderson the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Spring Awakening designed by Kevin Adams at the Novello

Three Days of Rain designed by Jon Clark at the Apollo

Best Set Design

England People Very Nice designed by Mark Thompson with animation by Pete Bishop

Enron designed by Anthony Ward at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Noel Coward

Jerusalem designed by Ultz at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

Red designed by Christopher Oram at the Donmar Warehouse

Best Costume Design

Hello Dolly! designed by Peter McKintosh at the Open Air

Madame de Sade designed by Christopher Oram, Donmar at Wyndham’s

The Misanthrope designed by Amy Roberts at the Comedy

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical designed by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner at the Palace

Best Sound Design

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour designed by Christopher Shutt at the Olivier

Jerusalem designed by Ian Dickinson for Autograph at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court and now at the Apollo

Mother Courage and her Children designed by Andrew Bruce and Nick Lidster for Autograph at the Olivier

Spring Awakening designed by Brian Ronan at the Novello

The Audience Award for Most Popular Show

Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace

The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s

War Horse at the New London

We Will Rock You at the Dominion

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria

Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre

Soho Theatre/Tiata Fahodzi for Iya Ile (The First Wife)

The Tricycle Theatre for The Great Game

The Royal Court for Cock at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

Best New Opera Production

The Royal Opera’s Der Fliegende Holländer at the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera’s Lulu at the Royal Opera House

English National Opera’s Peter Grimes at the London Coliseum

The Royal Opera’s Tristan und Isolde at the Royal Opera House

Outstanding Achievement in Opera

Anja Kampe for her performance in Royal Opera’s Der Fliegende Holländer at the Royal Opera House

Stuart Skelton for his performance in English National Opera’s Peter Grimes at the London Coliseum

Nina Steme for her performance in the Royal Opera’s Tristan und Isolde at the Royal Opera House

Michael Volle for his performances in the Royal Opera’s Lulu and Tristan und Isolde at the Royal Opera House

Best New Dance Production

Russell Maliphant’s Afterlight at Sadler’s Wells

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s E=MC² at Sadler’s Wells

Goldberg: The Brandstrup Rojo Project, ROH2 at the Royal Opera House

Rambert Dance Company’s A Linha Curva at Sadler’s Wells

Fabulous Beast Dance’s The Rite of Spring at the London Coliseum

Outstanding Achievement in Dance

Colin Dunne for his performance in Out of Time at The Pit

Michael Hulls for his lighting designs for Russell Maliphant’s Two:Four:Ten at the London Coliseum; and for Russell Maliphant’s Afterlight and for Ex Machina & Sylvie Guillem’s Eonnagata at Sadler’s Wells

Rambert Dance Company for an outstanding year of new work