Chiwetel Ejiofor wrests Olivier from stage greats

It was billed as a clash of two thespian heavyweights - Ian McKellen as King Lear and Patrick Stewart as Macbeth - going head to head for best actor at the Laurence Olivier awards on Sunday night. Instead the prize went to Chiwetel Ejiofor, the 33-year-old actor from East London for his powerful portrayal of Othello at London's Donmar Warehouse.

The award cements Ejiofor's growing reputation as one of the most exciting actors of his generation - both on stage and in movies, from Stephen Frears' independent film Dirty Pretty Things to Ridley Scott's Seventies blockbuster American Gangster.

Othello was seen as the hottest ticket in London's West End last December, with theatre-goers prepared to pay £2,000 to see the Hollywood star Ewan Macgregor play Iago. In the event, the critics were disappointed by MacGregor, who did not even make the shortlist for the Oliviers, but applauded Ejiofor. The Daily Telegraph praised his “beautifully spoken, massively dignified Othello”, the Times applauded his “very human Moor”, while the Guardian said he had put himself in the top rank of modern Othellos.

The actor said he was "honoured and humbled" to receive the award, which he dedicated to Ed Wilson, artistic director of the National Youth Theatre for 16 years, who died last month. “I was privileged to work with him. He enthused me with an incredible love for the theatre and Shakespeare."

The best actress award went to Kristin Scott Thomas for her Arkadina in the Royal Court's production of Chekhov's The Seagull. The play also featured Ejiofor as Trigorin. Scott Thomas said the company would re-form in September to reprise the play and it is understood it will go to Broadway.