Nicole Scherzinger and Sarah Snook win top prizes at Tony Awards

Succession star Sarah Snook and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger were among the big winners at Sunday’s Tony Awards.

Scherzinger was named best actress in a musical for her role in Sunset Boulevard, Jamie Lloyd’s minimalist reboot of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Scherzinger reflected on her recent Broadway success, which came two decades after shooting to fame with the Pussycat Dolls.

“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong and I have come home, at last,” she said. “If there’s anyone out there who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come, don’t give up.”

“Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins.”

The singer and former X Factor judge won the same prize at the UK equivalent of the Tonys, the Olivier Awards, for her performance in the show’s original West End run.

Scherzinger also performed As If We Never Said Goodbye during the ceremony, and was introduced by Glenn Close, who played Desmond in Sunset Boulevard when it played on Broadway in 1995.

The Tony Awards, hosted by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo at Radio City Music Hall in New York, celebrate the best in US theatre, and particularly Broadway.

Snook won best leading actress in a play, for performing all 26 roles in a one-woman stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In her acceptance speech, the actress said: “This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway.

“[The Picture of Dorian Gray] is billed as a one-person show, and I don’t feel alone any night that I do this show. There are so many people on stage making it work and behind the stage making it work.”

Other winners included Maybe Happy Ending, which took home best musical, while Purpose was named best play.

Sunset Boulevard also won best musical revival, while Eureka Day won best revival of a play.

Best musical

WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending

Buena Vista Social Club

Dead Outlaw

Death Becomes Her

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

Best play

WINNER: Purpose

English

The Hills of California

John Proctor is the Villain

Oh, Mary!

Best revival of a play

WINNER: Eureka Day

Romeo + Juliet

Our Town

Yellow Face

Best revival of a musical

WINNER: Sunset Boulevard

Floyd Collins

Gypsy

Pirates! The Penzance Musical

Best actress in a musical

WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard

Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her

Audra McDonald, Gypsy

Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical

Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Best actor in a musical

WINNER: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending

Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw

Tom Francis, Sunset Boulevard

Jonathan Groff, Just in Time

James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical

Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins

Best actress in a play

WINNER: Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California

Mia Farrow, The Roommate

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose

Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain

Best actor in a play

WINNER: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!

George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck

Jon Michael Hill, Purpose

Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face

Harry Lennix, Purpose

Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Best direction of a musical

WINNER: Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending

Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club

David Cromer, Dead Outlaw

Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her

Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Boulevard

Best direction of a play

Knud Adams, English

Sam Mendes, The Hills of California

Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!

Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain

Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray