This year's Ian Charleson Award nominees have been announced, with Norah Lopez-Holden nominated for her superb portrayal of Ophelia in Greg Hersov's gender-blind production of Hamlet at the Old Vic in 2021. She starred opposite Cush Jumbo, a previous winner of the same award.
The awards were established in 1991 in memory of the much loved Scottish stage and screen actor Ian Charleson, who died of AIDS in 1990. He was best known for starring in Chariots of Fire and Gandhi. The Awards are supported by The Sunday Times and the National Theatre and celebrate the best performances by actors under 30 in a classical role.
The Awards are a role call of top British stage and screen talent, with previous winners including Andrea Riseborough, David Oyelowo, Cush Jumbo, Rory Kinnear, Rebecca Hall, and Tom Hollander. Past nominees include Michael Sheen, Jodie Whittaker, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adrian Lester, Helen McCrory, Jude Law, Damian Lewis, Hugh Bonneville, David Tennant, and Ben Whishaw.
Norah's performance as Ophelia was universally lauded with the Guardian calling her "magnificent" and praising the "superb chemistry" between Hamlet and Ophelia. WhatsOnStage declared her as "one of the best Ophelias I have ever seen", adding that "nothing is over-stated in this superb performance. She finds the beat of the girl's heart". The New York Times described Norah's performance as 'clear and confident' with 'attitude' and 'quite extraordinary'.
Norah Lopez-Holden is a British-Spanish actress who is available for voiceovers from Anthea Represents. Click her image for her profile page and voiceover showreel.
