British actress Lesley Manville has won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play.
The accolade was announced during the 79th Annual Tonys ceremony at Radio City Music Hall on June 7.
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Manville earned the honor for her performance as Jocasta in Robert Icke's adaptation of Sophocles' Oedipus. The production was staged as a modern political thriller.
This victory marks a milestone for Manville. It represents both her first Tony nomination and her first win.
The role also served as her official Broadway debut. She had previously received critical acclaim for the same part in the United Kingdom.
Manville secured her second Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Jocasta in the West End production.
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She is also known globally as an Academy Award nominee for her role in the film Phantom Thread.
Reflecting on her character, Manville noted that Jocasta is not a major figure in the original Sophocles play.
"She's there, but it's mostly about the men," she said.
"Robert Icke wanted her story to be equal to the story of Oedipus, so it's a much more meaty role than Sophocles gave her," Manville added.
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She praised the language and words of the adaptation, saying they "utterly wrecked me every night."
