Photos: Olivier Nominees Lunch at the Haymarket

Nominees for this year’s Olivier Awards, including Keira Knightley, James Earl Jones and Melanie C (pictured), gathered by the pool at the Haymarket Hotel this afternoon for the annual nominees’ lunch (click here for the full list of nominees).

Also in attendance was new host Anthony Head, who will compere the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday 21 March. This year’s event will be streamed live online for the first time, and will also be the subject of a two-hour live broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

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The Laurence Olivier Awards were created in 1976, then called the Society of West End Theatre Awards, to recognise excellence on the London stage. They were rebranded in 1984 when Lord Olivier agreed to have his name associated with them.

Speaking at the event, Keira Knightley (who is nominated in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category for The Misanthrope) said it felt “absolutely amazing” to be nominated.

“I honestly thought I was going to fall flat on my face and it was going to be awful, and I was going to be awful … so to come out of it with this nomination is a bit of a dream come true.”

The star of Atonement and Pirates of the Caribbean added “I absolutely don’t think I’m going to win, but just to be here among such wonderful actresses is just extraordinary.”

James Earl Jones, who is nominated in the Best Actor category for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, said: “Audiences love this play. It’s one of Tennessee’s greatest I believe.” He added that he would be keen to return to the London stage again following his recent experiences in the West End.