Jodie Comer is the epitome of chic in a black marabou mini-dress as she leads the winners as female talent triumphs at WhatsOnStage’s first ever gender-neutral Awards

Jodie Comer was the epitome of chic as she lead the winners as female talent triumphed at Sunday’s WhatsOnStage’s first ever gender neutral Awards. 

The actress, 29, looked sensational in a black mini-dress with marabou trim as she accepted her award for Best Performer at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in London.

Jodie won for her role in one-person play Prima Facie, beating the likes of David Tennant and Jonathan Bailey to be crowned winner. 

She teamed the sleeveless frock with dark tights and slipped her feet into a pair of pointed heels. 

Accentuating her gorgeous features with a light dusting of make-up Jodie wore her blonde tresses loose.  

Stunner: Jodie Comer, 29, was the epitome of chic as she nabbed the Best Performer award at Sunday’s WhatsOnStage Awards

The Killing Eve actress oozed confidence as she took posed up a storm with her award. 

The production saw Jodie portraying a brilliant barrister who has progressed from her working class origins to the top of the profession, when an unexpected event forces her to ‘confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge’. 

The Daily Mail’s Patrick Marmion awarded her ‘ferocious yet forensic performance’ a strong four stars out of five.

He wrote: ‘Comer blows us away in a ferocious yet forensic performance that’s related in a blizzard of quickly shifting perspectives. She gets us onside as the high-flying barrister with her native Liverpool accent and anti-Establishment attitude – at one point tossing rubbish into the audience.

‘But her abrupt disintegration into fevered, ashen-faced confusion is seriously distressing. Although her performance runs a stunning gamut from cocky joy to despair and humiliation, it’s the subject matter that dominates the evening.’

Also at the event was former Love Island star Amber Davis who is now treading the boards in Back To The Future The Musical.

The 26-year old sizzled in a brown silk gown which boasted a thigh-high split and plunging neckline.

She completed the look with knee-high black boots and accented her gorgeous features with a radiant palette of make-up. 

Sensational: The actress  looked sensational in a black mini-dress with marabou trim while taking to the stage at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in London

Sensational: Jodie won for her role in one-person play Prima Facie , beating the likes of David Tennant and Jonathan Bailey to be crowned winner

Style: She teamed the sleeveless frock with dark tights and slipped her feet into a pair of pointed heels 

Posing: Jodie oozed confidence on the red carpet 

Jodie led a host of female stars who have scooped top gongs at the WhatsOnStage Awards in its first year with gender-neutral acting categories.

After receiving critical acclaim for her West End debut at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Comer will now be taking the play to Broadway this spring.

The award ceremony, held on Sunday at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End, also saw Gwyneth Keyworth take home the best supporting performer in a play award for her portrayal of Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird at the Gielgud Theatre.

Continuing the night of female triumph, Courtney Bowman picked up the best performer in a musical award for her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, while Lauren Drew won the best supporting performer in a musical prize for her role as Brooke in the show.

On stage: The production saw Jodie portraying a brilliant barrister who has progressed from her working class origins to the top of the profession

Leggy: She put on a very leggy display in the stylish ensemble 

Stunning: Accentuating her gorgeous features with a light dusting of make-up Jodie wore her blonde tresses loose

Toned pins: Also at the event was former Love Island star Amber Davis who is now treading the boards in Back To The Future The Musical

Lovebirds: She was joined at the glitzy event by beau Ben Joyce who looked dapper in a grey suit

Thigh high! The 26-year old sizzled in a brown silk gown which boasted a thigh-high split and plunging neckline

Cheeky: She completed the look with knee-high black boots and accented her gorgeous features with a radiant palette of make-up

Heartstopper’s Joe Locke also scored the best professional debut gong for his performance in The Trials and Lucie Jones won best takeover for her turn as Elphaba in Wicked.

The big winner of the night was the enchanting My Neighbour Totoro, with five wins from nine nominations – including best direction for Phelim McDermott.

The best new musical award went to Bonnie & Clyde the Musical while Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! won best musical revival for its sell-out run at the Young Vic, while also winning best video design for Joshua Thorson.

In the play categories, Prima Facie won the coveted best new play award, and the best play revival went to the West End premiere of Cock at the Ambassadors Theatre.

Beauty: Amber tied back her luscious brown locks 

Beaming: The stunner appeared in great spirits as she arrived at the theatre

Winner: Former Strictly star Arlene Phillips won the Best Choreography Award 

Sophistication: She was the image of sophistication in a black midi-dress

Homegrown hit musical SIX triumphed yet again in the best West End show category, picking up the prize for the third time.

Curve Leicester’s production of Billy Elliot the Musical earned best regional production while best off-West End production went to But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical at The Turbine Theatre.

Producer and theatre owner Nica Burns was also honoured with the services to theatre award in recognition of her “extraordinary career and her unfailing commitment to the health of the theatre industry”.

Alongside Max Weitzenhoffer she co-founded the Nimax Theatres which comprises of six West End theatres – the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Garrick, Vaudeville and Duchess.

Winner winner chicken dinner: Lucie was awarded Best Takeover Performance for her tole in Wicked 

Saucy: Leather-clad Lucy playfully posed with her award 

Suited and booted: Tracy-Ann Oberman commanded attention in a bright pink trouser suit

Gorgeous: Opting for a radiant make-up palette she styled her blond tresses into bouncy curls 

The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, which are decided entirely by theatregoers, was hosted by Bowman, Laurie Kynaston and Billy Luke Nevers.

WhatsOnStage’s Sarah Coleman and Alex Wood said: “Today’s awards demonstrate that our theatre industry is going from strength to strength, and with the continued support of our wonderful audiences, there has been another vibrant year of productions across the UK.

“We are proud to be the first theatre awards to introduce gender-neutral performance categories to honour our world-leading on-stage talent, and it is heartening to see the ongoing prevalence of new work in our theatres.

Gorgeous: Steps’ Lisa Scott-Lee looked sensational in a figure-hugging black gown with embellished collar 

Keeping warm: She completed the look with black faux fur stole 

Pals: She was joined at the event by pal Sammy Fonfe (left)

Happy as Larry: Aimee Lou Wood (left) playfully posed alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race star  Divina de Campo (right) before heading into the ceremony 

“Our thanks as ever go to the audiences who have remained with us, who have bought tickets, who have seen shows and who have decided our award winners from such a wellspring of creativity.

“All of us at WhatsOnStage look ahead with anticipation to another year of stories brought to life in our theatres.”

It comes after it was revealed Jodie would be  swapping the theatre boards of the West End for the bright lights of Broadway as she heads to the US with her highly successful show.

She  has received critical acclaim for her West End debut in the role as Tessa in Prima Facie, a one-person play by Suzie Miller, and cried on social media as she shared the news with fans last year. 

Chic: Actress Sharon Small looked chic in all black as she graced the red carpet 

Sultry: The actress teased a hint of cleave and opted for a glamorous make-up look for the evening

Floral: Joanna Woodward looked radiant in a green floral dress 

Sharing the news on Instagram, alongside a picture of her with tears in her yes, Comer wrote: ‘I am so honoured to play a part in the telling of this story and beyond thrilled that next week isn’t the end.

‘It means so much to see and hear so many of your positive responses.

‘Thank you to all of you who have supported the show and a special shout out to those who have travelled thousands of miles, now it’s our turn. I love you Tess, we’re going to BROADWAY!’.

Pop star: Singer Jake Shears cut a stylish figure in leather trousers and a colour co-ordinated jacket 

Graphic: He completed the look with a graphic t-shirt 

Hot stuff: Actress Lauren Drew sent temperatures soaring in a black stain cocktail dress

Style: The frock featured a boned bustier as well as a thigh-high split which flashed a glimpse of the stunner’s toned legs

Angelic: Marisha Wallace looked radiant in a white gown with marabou trim 

It comes after she reportedly found herself at the centre of a security scare last month, after an overzealous fan allegedly tried to get under a shutter to the stage door at the theatre of her play.

Her popularity has no doubt soared after picking up the Leading Actress gong for her role in Channel 4 ‘s Help at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards held at London ‘s Royal Festival Hall earlier this month. 

The star who won the category in 2019 for Killing Eve, admitted she was ‘very nervous’ as she took to the stage to receive her award for her outstanding performance in the pandemic drama. 

The Liverpool-born actress has been lauded for her role in BBC spy thriller Killing Eve in which she stars as Russian assassin Villanelle alongside Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri.

Dapper: Star Trek star George Takei looked dapper in a smart blue suit 

Over the pond: The American star is currently performing on the West End stage 

Guests: Jordan Luke Gage (left) also attended the event with a female companion

She has also starred alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names appearing in Sir Ridley Scott’s historical epic The Last Duel alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and sci-fi comedy Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds.

At this year’s Bafta ceremony, Comer claimed the leading actress award for her role in Channel 4’s Help – a fictional drama set in a Liverpool care home during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prima Facie will arrive on Broadway in 2023, Comer confirmed.

WhatsOnStage Award 2023: Winners

Fact-box text

 Best Performance in a play

Jodie Comer – Prima Facie 

Best Performer in a Musical

Courtney Bowman – Legally Blonde 

Best Takeover Performance

Lucie Jones – Wicked

Best Musical Revival

Oklahoma! 

Best West End Show

Six 

 Best Supporting performer in a play

Gwyneth Keyworth – To Kill A Mockingbird 

Best Professional Debut

Joe Locke – The Trails   

Best New Musical

Bonnie & Clyde 

Best New Play

Prima Facie 

Best Regional Production

Billy Elliott The Musical 

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