BILLY ELLIOT - BILLY ELLIOT RULES LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARDS

The SIR ELTON JOHN-scored musical BILLY ELLIOT was the big winner at the Laurence Olivier Awards in London last night (26FEB06) - scooping four prizes.

The show's teen stars JAMES LOMAS, GEORGE MAGUIRE and LIAM MOWER beat off competition from EWAN McGREGOR to be named the joint winners of the Best Actor In A Musical Award, while the ROCKET MAN hitmaker shared the accolade for Best New Musical with writer LEE HALL. Billy Elliot also took home awards for Best Sound Design and Best Theatre Choreographer.

BRIAN DENNEHY's turn in ARTHUR MILLER's DEATH OF A SALESMAN earned him the trophy for Best Actor, while HEDDA GABLER star EVE BEST won Best Actress.

Veteran star SIR IAN McKELLEN was presented with a special accolade for his contribution to theatre, and former ALLY McBEAL star JANE KRAKOWSKI was crowned as Best Actress In A Musical for her role in GUYS AND DOLLS.

Star presenters included SCREAM star NEVE CAMPBELL and KATHLEEN TURNER.