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 The 81-year-old scooped the Olivier for best actress in a
supporting role for "The Winter's Tale".
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am absolutely livid as I had a bet with
my grandson, which I've now lost and I'm never going to be
allowed to forget it," Dench said in her acceptance speech.
"I know everybody says what a wonderful time they had doing
something, I can truly say this time that in 'The Winter's
Tale', it was an absolutely memorable time for me."
Asked backstage if she had any plans to slow her workload down,
Dench told Reuters: "Who wants to slow down? No, I want to be
employed. It's putting the car in the garage that. You will
never get it started."
"Gypsy" picked up four prizes, the most awards for a single
production on the night, including best musical revival and best
actress in a musical for Imelda Staunton, who opened the glitzy
London ceremony in character as Momma Rose.
"Gypsy" also picked up awards for best actress in a supporting
role in a musical for Lara Pulver and best lighting design.
"Kinky Boots" picked up three awards, including best new
musical, best actor in a musical for Matt Henry and best costume
design. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper, who collaborated with
playwright Harvey Fierstein on bringing the 2005 film first to
the Broadway stage before London, also performed on the night.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", inspired by the blues singer, won
best revival while "Hangmen", about the abolition of hanging in
Britain in the 1960s, won best new play.
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Kenneth Cranham beat competition from the likes of Benedict
Cumberbatch, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance to be named best actor
for "The Father", in which he portrays a man with dementia.
In a category including nominees Nicole Kidman and Gemma Arterton,
Denise Gough won best actress for "People, Places And Things", a
rehab drama in which she plays an addict.
In her acceptance speech, Gough lamented the lack of diversity among
nominees - an issue that overshadowed February's Oscars.
"I love this industry so much and to be given an award is fantastic
but we have a responsibility," she said backstage.
Robert Icke picked up the best director award for "Oresteia" while
long-running musical "The Phantom Of The Opera" won the audience
award - the sole prize voted for by the public.
"Nell Gwynn", which stars Arterton, won best new comedy.
The awards, celebrating their 40th anniversary, wrapped up with past
winners performing "What I did For Love" from "A Chorus Line", which
won best new musical at the 1976 ceremony.
(Reporting By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Edward Baran; Writing by
Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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